SYRACUSE — Jon Watson Sroufe passed away Sept. 23, 2018, at the age of 76.
He was born in Warsaw on Sept. 22, 1942, to Edward Sroufe and Donna Beezley Sroufe (later Kline), who are both deceased. His early days were spent in Wilmot, and he graduated from North Webster High School in 1960.
He married Edwina Grace Eves of Kokomo in Fort Wayne on Dec. 20, 1968.
He is survived by Win, sister-in-law Edie Watson and niece Erin Smith (Gary), all of North Webster; nephew Dr. Troy Watson, Santa Fe, N.M.; brother-in-law Ed (Barb) Eves, Kokomo; nephew Brian (Anitra) Eves, Bradenton, Fla.; Lisa (Eric) Gronowski of Geneva, Ill.; grandnieces Abi and Ali Smith, North Webster; Jordan Witmer, Muncie; and Kayla Gronowski, Geneva; grandnephews Ryker Watson, Santa Fe, and Parker Gronowski, Geneva; and great-niece Sage Watson, Santa Fe. Other survivors include numerous Beezley cousins; Jeff Wells, best friend and business partner ever; and many, many dear friends throughout the Lake Region.
Jon and Win started Sroufe Manufacturing in their basement in Fort Wayne in 1973, moved to Ligonier in 1974 to accommodate a growing business and eventually merged with Syracuse Products (Jeff Wells), with Sroufe Healthcare being established in 1990. The business was sold then to Remington Products (Tim) of Wadsworth, Ohio, but still retained the Sroufe Healthcare business name.
Jon was one of the founders of North Webster Community Center and served as president of the board for 10 years. He also served on the Shoop Foundation Board, and K21 Foundation Board for seven years, where he was president for three of those years. He was a 40-year member, as well as past commander, of Post 253 American Legion, North Webster, having served six-plus years in the National Guard. He was honored to serve 13 years as president of the North Webster Town Council. He was a member of North Webster United Methodist Church.
He was an outstanding basketball player at North Webster High School, playing varsity all four years. He was a “walk-on” at Indiana University in 1960 but returned home after one year to open a pizza shop in North Webster, thus following his entrepreneurial spirit. He was elected to the Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Jon had a kind and generous heart, a gentle nature; and he genuinely delighted in making life better for others. He will be greatly missed and remembered always by many in the community for his contributions to the betterment of all, but he will be especially missed by all of those who were so blessed to call him “Uncle Jon.”
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the funeral home, with Pastor Brad Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery in Wilmot with military honors.
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Memorials to the Foreign Language Department of Wawasee High School, Lakeland Youth Center or The Animal Welfare League.
