Lynne A. Salomon

Lynne Ann Salomon, 70, died Monday, September 17, at Kingston Memory Care Community on Dupont, following a lengthy illness. Lynne had been a resident there since 2011, where she was a recipient of compassionate care from the Kingston and Heartland Hospice staffs. An only child, Lynne was born in Fort Wayne to Christian and Maxine Salomon. She grew up in Indian Village, graduated from South Side High School, and attended Indiana Purdue University, Fort Wayne, where she pursued an education degree. Rather than maintaining her focus on the classroom Lynne chose to join the family business, Industrial Photocopy, Inc: a company that created copies of large blue prints for area architects and contractors. Following her parents’ retirement, Lynne continued to manage the business, while her father, Chris, greeted clients with candy and offered his daughter advice from the chair he occupied by the front window of their Wayne Street business building. When not at the workplace, Lynne found great solace on the family farm, which had been occupied by five generations of the Salomon family dating back to 1871. During her younger days she made frequent visits to her grandparents who resided there. Continuing the family tradition, Lynne and her parents made the farm their permanent home too, and, later, the original house was expanded to accommodate the three of them. Chris and Maxine remained on the homestead until their deaths. Lynne, as the final generation of Salomon to live on the farm, reluctantly moved in 2011 for health reasons. Lynne and her family garnered public praise for their generosity when they donated their homestead located on Dupont Road to the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation and the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne. In addition to establishing a new park, wetland, and YMCA facility, their dream was to re-create a working farm, reminiscent of the 1920’s and 30’s. Former Fort Wayne Mayor, Paul Helmke, called the donation “a momentous gift from a family who has been generous to the community for many years.” Since then, the area has since seen construction of the Parkview YMCA, the restoration of the large barn, and the creation of the Wolf Learning Center, smaller barns and other complementary buildings; the original farm house is presently undergoing a restoration. As originally intended, the current activities at the Salomon Farm Park which range from classroom learning opportunities with live farm animals to wedding celebrations are serving the community, while also honoring the legacy of the Salomon family. As a proud member of the Fort Wayne community, Lynne was engaged in a number of community boards and committees for various organizations, including the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Heartland Sings, and the Fort Wayne History Center. Her greatest passion, however, was serving at her church, Trinity English Lutheran, where she was actively involved in the Chancel Choir, Church Council, Worship and Music Committee, and various search committees. A day she prized more than any other was the annual “Septemberfest” church picnic, which has occurred at the Salomon Farm for forty-three consecutive years. A service of celebration for eternal life will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7th, at Trinity English Lutheran Church, 450 W. Washington Blvd. The service will be preceded by twenty minutes of special music provided by members of Trinity’s Chancel Choir. A private burial will take place at Lindenwood Cemetery, where Lynne will be interred next to her parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the music department of Trinity English Lutheran Church or to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Services provided by Klaehn, Fahl, Melton Funeral Home. www.klaehnfahlmelton.com