Marilee H. Koontz

Marilee Helen Roahrig Koontz was born on the family farm in Bourbon, IN on March 27, 1924. She was the fourth and youngest child of Coral Eva Banks Roahrig and Urben Guy Roahrig. Her siblings (now deceased) included Henry Roahrig, Thelma Hall and Guy Roahrig. Marilee graduated from Bourbon High School in 1942 before heading to Purdue where she received a B.S. in home economics. After college she taught home economics at Rochester High School and Lapaz High School where she also managed the school cafeteria, including: planning the menus, ordering the food and managing the staff. In addition to being a teacher and class sponsor, she also taught sewing and food preparation in an after school program. After the births of her two children and surviving a near-fatal car accident Marilee devoted her life to her family and teaching young people homemaking skills. In the 1960s she was a Cub Scout den mother and a 4-H leader and helped develop a 4-H program for suburban youth. In the 1970s she worked as a volunteer teaching disadvantaged young mothers meal planning and food preparation. In addition, Marilee is a past president of the Indiana Cooperative Extension Homemakers Association. Before there was access to the internet, she became an expert genealogist exploring the history and origins of several branches of her extended family. She was a master seamstress and also famous (according to her family) for her holiday dinners, featuring family-favorite desserts, cookies and candies — especially her peanut brittle. For many years she planted and cultivated a vegetable garden with her husband, but in the past 20 years she has focused on planting and caring for perennials and spring bulbs, especially red emperor tulips which still bloom each spring at her home on Harvest Bay Drive. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Alvin Eugene Koontz; children Rachel E. Oglesby and Tom E. Koontz; grandchildren Grant T. Boyd, Charles (Charlie) E. Koontz, Ashley M. Quach, and Katherine (Kat) E. Oglesby, and great granddaughter Amelia J. Quach; her son and daughter in-laws John H. Oglesby and Cathy J. Koontz; and her grandson-in-law Anthony B. Quach. Funeral service will be 1pm, Tuesday, November 20, at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St Joe Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Calling will also be held from 5 to 7pm, Monday, November 19, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bourbon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Parkview Home Health and Hospice.