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WINONA LAKE - Two Kosciusko County residents who have lived their lives committed to children and their community are the 2025 Man and Woman of the Year.
Pardee Gunter and Tara Carlile, respectively, were surprised when they were presented the prestigious awards - sponsored by 1st Source Bank and the Times-Union - Thursday night at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Carlile stated, “I had no idea. I love this community. I love my family, I love my friends. I love you all. I’m flabbergasted. I’m shocked. Thank you so much for being a community that loves and gives and supports. Thank you.”
Upon receiving his award, Gunter said, “I accept this with humility. I enjoyed my time teaching. In fact, I’d like to see how many students I’ve had ... would you stand up?”
About a dozen people attending the dinner stood.
“Thank you very much for this honor,” Gunter stated.
In presenting the Man of the Year Award to Gunter, Doug Hanes, 1st Source Bank Warsaw City President, said, “1st Source Bank is honored to present this year’s prestigious Man of the Year Award to an individual who has made a positive impact to our community. Tonight, we honor a man who has quietly shaped Kosciusko County for decades. A true hidden gem whose influence reaches far beyond what most people will ever see. His life’s work has been marked not by desire for recognition, but by steady, unwavering commitment to making people and places around him better.”
For more than 45 years, Gunter devoted himself to education, spending 44 of those years with Warsaw Community Schools. During that time, he taught nearly every grade level from kindergarten to high school; served as a principal while still teaching; became the district’s first computer coordinator; and shared his love for learning abroad by teaching English at Japanese junior and senior high schools.
Today, Gunter’s students are scattered across every profession imaginable, many of them crediting Gunter’s influence for setting them on a path of excellence and service, Hanes said.
When Gunter retired from education, he did not slow down but simply redirected his energy.
“His passion for natural resources, gardening and preservation became a second calling. For 12 years he served as the gardener and curator for the Warsaw Biblical Gardens, while also helping maintain the full gardens at Central Park,” Hanes said.
One award nominator wrote about Gunter, “He’s always so happy to answer questions, give tours and do the physical labor. He truly does it all.”
Gunter’s leadership extends well beyond the gardens. He was instrumental in bringing the Indiana Master Naturalist Program to Kosciusko County, helping it grow into one of the most respected programs in the state, Hanes said. Gunter continues to serve on its local committee and the state council. He served on the Kosciusko County Master Gardener Association Board for eight years, including as president and treasurer.
“Yet what defines this man most is not his resume. It’s his character. He listens deeply. He gives generously. He treats every person worthy of his time and attention,” Hanes said of Gunter.
“For a lifetime of humility, service, leadership and lasting impact on Kosciusko County, it is my great honor to present the 2025 Man of the Year Award to Pardee Gunter,” Hanes concluded.
In presenting the 2025 Woman of the Year honor to Tara Carlile, Times-Union Managing Editor David Slone said, in part, “Tonight, we honor a woman whose life reflects service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the children and families of Kosciusko County. This year’s recipient is someone who leads not for recognition, but from a deep sense of purpose —and whose impact can be felt across our entire community. For many years, this individual has worked tirelessly to strengthen local charitable organizations, thoughtfully identifying where her talents and energy could best improve lives.”
Her service with Boomerang Backpacks has helped ensure children facing food insecurity have access to meals outside of school hours. As a volunteer and advocate with CASA, she has stood as a powerful and compassionate voice for children navigating the court system. In these roles, she offers consistency, protection and hope to children experiencing instability, Slone said of Carlile. She has also organized and supported fundraising efforts to ensure CASA’s work continues to reach those who need it most.
“Perhaps her most defining contribution began at home,” Slone said. “As a parent of children with dyslexia, she encountered firsthand the frustration and heartbreak of limited local resources. Rather than accept that reality, she chose action. Through extensive research, perseverance, and countless volunteer hours, she founded a community-based tutoring center that provides evidence-based, therapeutic literacy instruction. Partnering with Joe’s Kids, this initiative has transformed reading outcomes for students who learn differently.”
Her commitment to families extends well beyond academics. She has volunteered with MOPS to support young mothers, coached elementary basketball and high school girls golf, served at the soup kitchen, and stepped into moments of crisis for friends and neighbors alike.
One supporter shared, “I’ve watched her go to extraordinary lengths to care for others — always steady in her faith and always selfless.”
Across every role she fills — whether as a volunteer, board member, tutor or advocate — she brings humility, integrity and deep empathy, Slone said. Carlile sees needs others overlook and quietly steps forward to meet them.
Her leadership has not only changed individual lives; it has built lasting systems of support that will serve our community for generations.
Other award recipients at the Chamber’s dinner Thursday included
• Creighton Brothers receiving the Legacy Impact Award, presented by Kosciusko County Community Foundation;
• Zimmer Biomet receiving the LaunchPad Impact Award, presented by Stillwater Hospice;
• Glam Boutique receiving the Main Street Impact Award, presented by PNC Bank;
• The Magical Meadows receiving the Making A Difference Award, presented by K21 Health Foundation;
• Rocksteady Pizza Parlour receiving the Rising Star Award, presented by Horizon Bank;
• Team Fab receiving the Community Development Award, presented by Old National Bank;
• Instrumental Machine & Development receiving the Business of the Year Award, presented by Lake City Bank;
• Dawn Jaggers receiving the Ambassador of the Year Award, presented by Everwise Credit Union;
• Cary Lewis receiving the Young Adult Professional Award, presented by Crossroads Bank;
• and Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty receiving the Government Excellence Award, presented by Zimmer Biomet.
Keynote speaker, sponsored by Lake City Bank, was Mel Raines. She is in her 11th season with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, currently serving as CEO of the company.
