Susan VanGorder

Susan Kay VanGorder, age 76, of Avilla, passed away at her home Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Susan was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on November 1, 1947 to the late Robert Wayne Tonkel and Jean Ann (Davis) Rhodes. She graduated from Avilla High School and married Kent Robert VanGorder on January 5, 1964 at United Methodist Church in Avilla. Kent preceded her in death on February 18, 2018. Susan was a teacher’s aide at Avilla Elementary School for many years. She helped run VanGorder Farms with Kent prior to starting his Grasshopper Mower business. Since 1989 and for over 30 years, Susan was co-owner and secretary of VanGorder Sales in Avilla until the recent sale of the business. Susan was one of just four women who received 1999 Citizen of the Year. At that time, she was the Vice President of Avilla Chamber of Commerce and started a Christmas walk. She was a 4H leader and a long-standing member of the Xi Delta Epsilon Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Susan loved purple…anything purple she loved. She loved decorating for different seasons and holidays. She always put up a Christmas village every year. She was quite the hostess and loved entertaining in her home. She was an excellent cook and loved baking as well. Susan loved to fish whether it was deep sea fishing, bluegill fishing or her favorite catfish fishing with a cane pole, she enjoyed spending time on the water.  Kent and Susan both loved spending time in Florida during the cold winter months of Indiana. She also loved a good card game. Susan truly enjoyed living life to the fullest. She will be deeply missed by those who loved her the most. 

Survivors include:
Son, David and Shelly VanGorder of Avilla.
Five grandchildren: Kimberlee and Dustin Schemerhorn of Avilla; Ethan and Brianne VanGorder of Fort Wayne; Jacob VanGorder of Avilla and his girlfriend, Dylen Fox; Rickey and Brittany Duty of Wolcottville; and Amanda Duty of Avilla.
Four great grandchildren: Owen Schemerhorn, Addyson Duty, Finn VanGorder and Lucas Fornell.
Brother, Terry and Robin Tonkel of South Bend, Indiana.
Brother, Michael Haines of Kendallville.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Robert Tonkel in 1954 and her mother, Jean Tonkel Rhodes on November 6, 2013; her son, Robert Kent VanGorder on May 20, 2016; stepfather, Donald Charles Rhodes on November 17, 2016; her husband, Kent VanGorder in 2018; sister and brother-in-law, Sally and John Huelsenbeck; mother-in-law, Dorothy VanGorder in 1948; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Dorothy VanGorder both in 2014. 

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 3:00 - 8:00 PM at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Hite Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Farmer officiating. There will also be one hour of visitation before the funeral service. 
Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery rural Kendallville.
Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church of Kendallville, National Liver Foundation or National Kidney Foundation. 

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