Risa Jeanette Beams Herber

Risa was born on June 28, 1963 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Howard (Jerry) and Glenna (Cole) Beams.

Risa grew up in Fremont, Indiana and graduated from Fremont High school. She attended and graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Public Relations. She also held a B.S. in Business Education and English from Trine University, a Masters in School Administration from Indiana University and an Ed.S. (School Specialist) from Indiana State.

She worked as a Head Master and boy’s Varsity Basketball coach at Howe Military. She was then the middle school principal at Lakeland Middle school. She was the assistant superintendent prior to being the superintendent of Lakeland School Corporation for 17 years.

Risa loved her family, music and sports. She enjoyed singing and had a beautiful voice. She was a big Colts and Purdue fan. “Boiler up!” Risa cherished time with family. She had a passion for traveling in the United States and abroad, and had many stories of her adventures to tell. She enjoyed gardening and the lakes of the area. Risa had a quick wit and great sense of humor.

She is survived by her sons, Mitchell (Paige) Herber of Elkhart, Indiana, and Eric Herber of Fremont, Indiana, step-children, Matthew (Nicole) Herber of Tallmadge, Ohio, and Khristina (Jason) Rolleston of Fort Wayne, Indiana, step-grandchildren, Liam Herber, Lincoln Herber, and Joanna Rolleston, her parents, Howard (Jerry) and Glenna Beams of Fremont, Indiana, a sister, Valerie (Ted) Bookwalter of Fremont, Indiana, a brother, Mike (Kay) Beams of Wilmington, North Carolina, a niece, Ashley Reese Bookwalter of Fremont, Indiana, and nephews, Keith (Arin) Bookwalter of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jared Beams of Greenville, South Carolina, and Alex Beams of Toledo, Ohio.

Risa was preceded in death by an infant brother Gary L. Beams.

Visitation hours will be held from 5 to 8 pm Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Beams Funeral Home, Fremont, Indiana.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am Friday, November 30, 2018 at Beams Funeral Home, with Rev. Jon Bruney officiating.

Following services burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Fremont, Indiana.

Memorial donations in her memory are requested to Fremont United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 653, Fremont, Indiana 46737, or to Zion Missionary Church, P.O. Box 702, Fremont, Indiana 46737.