Hutchins, John Berhalter Community Fund

To be used for grantmaking through grant requests submitted to the community foundation.

Donor Story

John B. Hutchins graduated from Kendallville High School in 1952 and Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1953. He received a B.A. Degree from Hanover College in 1957 majoring in Business and Psychology. He served six years with the U.S. Army Reserve.

John was a well-known Kendallville businessman. He served 55 years in funeral service. In 1958, he joined the family funeral home in Kendallville. In 1973, John purchased the Williams Funeral Home in Wolcottville. As a fifth-generation funeral director, he celebrated 125 years of his family’s service to the community in 1985. The funeral homes were sold in 1989, with all personnel remaining, including John. In 2006, the funeral homes were sold back to longtime employees Kathy and Pat Young.

John’s professional affiliations included membership and serving as past president (1985-86) of the National Funeral Directors Association. He was also member and past president (1972-73) of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, member of the International Federation of Thanatologists and the Associated Funeral Directors Service. He served as past chairman of the American Board of Funeral Service Education and received continuing education awards from the Indiana Funeral Directors Association from 1976 through 2007.

He was a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Kendallville; a 50-year member of the Kendallville Lodge No. 276, F.&A.M.; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; The Shrine; past president of the Kendallville United Fund; Kendallville Elks Lodge No. 1194; lifetime member and past president of the Kendallville Rotary Club. During his year of presidency the Kendallville Rotarians were awarded the Outstanding Club Award in District 654. He helped to form the first Interact Club of Rotary for young people in Indiana. He was a past member of the Kendallville Park and Recreation Board; past member of the Noble County Red Cross Board; President of the school board building corporation for North Side and Wayne Center School construction; past member of the Baseball Commission; board member and past president of Junior Achievement; Vice President of Factory Sites of Kendallville; and chairman of fund raising for the Cole Center YMCA.

John was awarded The Sagamore of the Wabash by the State of Indiana; a Kentucky Colonel by the State of Kentucky; and an Arkansas Traveler by then Governor Bill Clinton. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary.

The John Berhalter Hutchins Community Fund was established in 2008 by his family in his honor. This unrestricted endowment fund will provide for the every changing needs of Noble County for generations to come through grants for community projects.