Henry J. Dobbelaere

OAKWOOD - Henry J. Dobbelaere, 86, of Oakwood died at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Lutheran Hospital Fort Wayne.  He was born September 23, 1937, in Melrose to the late Julius and Marie (Vynckier) Dobbelaere. On November 11, 1955, he married Sharon Feeney, they later separated. He is survived by his special friend Char of Oakwood.

Other survivors include five children: Mike (Sandy) Dobbelaere, Rick (Connie) Dobbelaere, Craig "Butch" (Andrea) Dobbelaere, Cheryl (Rodney Miller) Halter, all of Oakwood and Sharisa (Randy) Robbins of Defiance; a daughter-in-law, Beth Dobbelaere of Oakwood; two brothers: Morris Dobbelaere of Oakwood and Bob (Connie) Dobbelaere of Michigan; and one sister, Doris Richman of Wolcottville, IN; 18 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a son, Mark Dobbelaere; three grandchildren: Brandon, Audrey and Amanda Dobbelaere; three brothers: George, Gerard and Paul Dobbelaere; an infant sister Marie Louise Dobbelaere; and a special friend Susan Yoh.

Henry graduated from Oakwood High School, he was a lifetime farmer and private pilot. He went on to attend Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK and was granted a certified aviation mechanic certificate by the F.A.A.. He was a gold miner in Alaska in his later years. Henry was an avid pilot and loved tinkering with airplane projects. He was also a fisherman, when in his younger years, owned and operated a Marina.

Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday January 5, 2023 at HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Oakwood. Burial will follow in Sherman Cemetery, Oakwood. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Oakwood and one hour prior to the service Friday.

Memorial donations may be made to St Jude's Children Hospital.

Condolences may be expressed at www.heitmeyerfuneralhome.com