PLYMOUTH – Jeremy A. Blackburn, 29, went home to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with brain cancer Feb. 6, 2015. He was born Jan. 13, 1986, in Chicago, Ill., to Sonya L. Hickman. He graduated from Warsaw Community High School with the class of 2005. He had a loving spirit, and after high school volunteered with the non-profit organization Water for Good, which helped get clean water to the children in Africa. He also worked as a server in the restaurant industry for many years. He overcame many obstacles as an infant and life struggles as an adult, but in spite of those challenges, he still loved people well and lived his life with so much passion. He was the greatest brother, being notorious for late night phone calls. He was an amazing son and was a friend to everyone. He was the glue that got the family together for the holidays and enjoyed cooking, beef stroganoff being his specialty. He was an avid runner, and he also loved the Chicago Cubs, the Bears and the Bulls. As a child he was a member of the Community Full Gospel Church in Plymouth. In his adult years, he attended the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, where he was a member of the church’s softball team, serving as the pitcher and second baseman. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Sonya and Dennis Hickman; his siblings: Eddie Rand, Plymouth; Arielle Blackburn, Bourbon; Stephen Roberts, Kissimmee, Fla.; Kenneth Gutshall, and Rebecka Gutshall, both of Chicago; maternal grandmother, Barbara Blackburn, Culver; an aunt, Anna (and spouse Dan) Seago, North Judson; an uncle, Tom (and spouse Maria) Blackburn Jr., Kentucky; his best friend and mentor, Doug Koontz, Warsaw; several cousins, including Michael (and spouse Hollee) Ramey, Fort Wayne; and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Thomas Blackburn Sr.; a great-grandmother, Margie Kincaid; and a great-aunt, Marian “WeWe” Meadows. Services will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Community Full Gospel Church, 915 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Culver Masonic Cemetery. Calling is from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. ***** Memorial contributions can be made to the family. Condolences via www.johnson-danielson.com
