Howard E. Baumgartner

Howard E. Baumgartner, age 101, passed away at Swiss Village on October 30, 2025. He was born on June 8, 1924, to Elmer W. Baumgartner and Bertha (Lehman) Baumgartner in Berne, Indiana. He married Phyllis J. Hartzler on August 17, 1947, and they were happily married for 76 years until she predeceased him in 2024.

Howard was an alumnus of Bluffton University and Indiana University (BS in Business) and Indiana University School of Law (JD). He practiced law in Berne from 1950 until 1994, founding Baumgartner Law Office (later Baumgartner & Beitler, and now Baumgartner Attorneys PC). His law practice was concentrated in the areas of real estate law, corporations, estate planning, settlements, and municipal law. He was Berne City Attorney for 16 years, attorney for Berne-French and South Adams Schools for 25 years, and was a member of the Adams County, Indiana, and American Bar Associations. Howard was involved in his local community as a member of the Berne Rotary Club, Berne Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors of First Bank of Berne (40 years).

Howard enjoyed being involved with the local and broader Mennonite Church. At First Mennonite Church in Berne, he served as congregation recording secretary, chairman of the Finance Committee, member of the Board of Deacons, co-chairman of the Historical Committee, taught Sunday School for 25 years, and sang in the Men’s Chorus, Chancel Choir and the Mennonite Choral Society. He was a member of Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship in Berne. In the broader Mennonite Church, he was a member and the Chairman of the Division of Administration of the General Conference Mennonite Church and a member of the Schowalter Foundation Board of Directors (12 years). He also served on the Board of Directors of Mennonite Mutual Aid (now Everence), the Board of Trustees of Bluffton University (30 years), and was president of the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA. Howard and Phyllis enjoyed traveling together throughout the world and spending time with their family.

He is survived by his daughter and partner, Barbra J. Gant and James Myers of East Liberty, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Wendell Miller of Bluffton, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Marvin Hall of State College, Pennsylvania; son and daughter-in-law, James and Naomi Baumgartner of Goshen, Indiana; and son and daughter-in-law, David and Tanya Baumgartner of Berne. There are 11 grandchildren surviving: Zachary (Catlin) Miller, Erika (Matt) Fisher, Lauren (Vaughn Climenhaga) Hall, Andreas (Brynn) Baumgartner, Nathan (Janelle) Miller, Lukas (Erica) Baumgartner, James (Rachel Ekaireb) Hall, Caroline Hall, Nicholas (Shelby) Baumgartner, Stefan (Jacob Kraybill) Baumgartner, and Anika (Alex) Enriquez; 2 step grandsons, Vince Gant and Paul Gant; 14 great grandchildren: Elena Fisher, Lucia Fisher, Emerson Miller, Luka Miller, Mae Climenhaga-Hall, Cora Climenhaga-Hall, Addison Hall, Lena Enriquez, Zoey Baumgartner, Arlo Baumgartner, Chase Baumgartner, Mia Baumgartner, Ren Baumgartner and Ari Baumgartner; and a step great-grandson, Pierre M. Gant. Preceding him in death are his parents; son-in-law, Pierre V. Gant; parents-in-law, Mahlon E. Hartzler and Verda M. Hartzler; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elaine and Dale Lantz, Marjorie and Noel Sprunger, Eddyth and Wayne Reusser, and Verna and Roger Sprunger; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Donavon and Ellen Hartzler; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Donita and Edward Brookmyer.

Services are pending at this time.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana