Stanley J. Holdeman

The Reverend Stanley J. Holdeman died peacefully on the evening of March 24, 2026, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with his loving wife and daughter by his side. He was born on November 30, 1936, in Wakarusa, Indiana, to Harry B. Holdeman and Sarah E. (Grove) Holdeman. He was the youngest of six siblings, all of whom predeceased him.

The siblings who survived to adulthood were Robert, Ruth, and James; Raymond and George died in childhood. On June 25, 1960, Stan married his college sweetheart, Karen (Clouse) Holdeman, who survives. They raised two children, both of whom also survive: Stanley David Holdeman, married to Karen J. DeVinney, and Ruth E. Jajko, married to Richard. Stan is also survived by four grandchildren: Samuel D. Holdeman, Sarah R. Holdeman, Nel M. Zarlenga (Joe), and Brigette M. Jajko, soon to be married to Dominick Castellano.

As a young man, Stan was a stellar athlete. Two of his Wakarusa Indians basketball teams won the Elkhart County championship, with Stan starting on both teams and captaining the second as a senior. He also played baseball and ran track. Later, he became a diehard Indiana Hoosiers basketball fan, often attempting to influence games through emphatically delivering instructions to the TV (“DEFENSE!”). Once, attending an IU game against Kentucky at Assembly Hall, he unthinkingly wore a blue jacket, one of the few serious faux pas of his life.

After graduating from Wakarusa High in 1954, Stan attended, first, Indiana State University in Terre Haute, and then Indiana University, Bloomington, where he earned a degree in accounting in 1958. He then worked for a year as a CPA in Chicago, enjoying jazz clubs and attending Cubs and Blackhawks games before being drafted into the U. S. Army in 1959. Stan grew up at a time when most parents were less expressive than they are now, and he retained a vivid memory of being surprised by his mother with a bear hug as he boarded the bus for basic training. He served until 1962.

Having been married and then honorably discharged from the army, Stan settled down with Karen in the Indianapolis area, eventually purchasing a home in Hancock County, with Stan working for an accounting firm downtown. Stanley David came along in 1963, Ruth Ellen in 1965. In 1973, Stan felt strongly called to a new, spiritual vocation. He resigned his job as a CPA, enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved his family to Decatur County, where he served as pastor of Sandcreek Baptist Church until 1977. After earning his master’s degree in divinity, he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sullivan, Indiana, and then at Garden Baptist Church on the west side of Indianapolis. As a minister, Stan was known for his resonant preaching voice, his thoughtful, Biblically-focused sermons, and his empathetic devotion to all parishioners, young and old. He loved to sing hymns and spiritual songs, and his soulful rendition of “I Wonder as I Wander” was a highlight of many candlelit Christmas Eve services. Throughout his career, Stan was actively supported by Karen, who taught Sunday School and assumed many other duties of the “preacher’s wife.” Their marriage of more than 65 years was a true life partnership. Stan was also a devoted father who expected good conduct from his children while also respecting their independence. “Freedom within limits” was his parental credo.

In retirement, Stan and Karen moved to Fort Wayne to be closer to their native stomping grounds. They enjoyed attending family gatherings and their annual high school reunions in Wakarusa and Albion, and they relished local apples, beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, and strawberries. They also became active members of Plymouth Congregational Church. For many years, they spent several months every winter in Green Valley, Arizona, where they made many friends and were avid hikers and birders with special affection for Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains.

Perhaps the greatest challenge faced by Stan in the second half of his life was the gradual and eventually near-total loss of his vision due to macular degeneration. It is difficult to imagine anyone facing such an ordeal with greater bravery and adaptability.

Stan Holdeman could occasionally get angry about things he perceived as unjust, but for the most part he remained cheerfully good-humored. He modeled a confident, optimistic outlook rooted in faith and in loving relationships with family and friends. He was our hero and he never let us down. We loved him more than words can say.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana with a visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Plymouth Congregational Church or the League for the Blind and Disabled.