Kent VanGorder

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Kent Robert VanGorder, age 71, of Avilla, Indiana, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach, Florida.  Kent was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on December 23, 1946 to the late Robert Paul VanGorder and Dorothy Jean (Jarrett) VanGorder.  He married Susan Kay Tonkel on January 5, 1964 at the United Methodist Church in Avilla.  He graduated from Avilla High School in 1965.  Kent was employed for 23 years with Allen County Tractor Sales in Fort Wayne before starting VanGorder Sales in Avilla in 1989, which he currently owned and operated. He was a member of First Christian Church in Kendallville.

Survivors include:
Wife, Susan VanGorder of Avilla.
Son, David and Shelly VanGorder of Avilla.
Five grandchildren: Kimberlee VanGorder and her fiancé, Dustin Schemerhorn both of Avilla; Ethan and Brianne VanGorder of San Diego, California; Jacob VanGorder of Avilla; Rickey and Brittany Duty of Wolcottville; and Amanda and Cody Ley of Avilla.
Two great grandchildren: Owen Schemerhorn and Addyson Duty.
Sister, Karen VanGorder and brother-in-law, Stuart Buell of Fort Wayne.
Sister, Sue and brother-in-law, Randy Ruich of Fort Wayne.
Sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sally and John Huelsenbeck of Avilla.
Brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Terry and Robin Tonkel of South Bend.
Brother-in-law, Mike Haines of Kendallville.
He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Kent VanGorder in May of 2016; his mother, Dorothy VanGorder in 1948; his father and step mother, Robert and Dorothy VanGorder both in 2014; and his mother and father-in-law, Jean Ann (Davis) Rhodes and Donald Rhodes.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 23, 2018 from 12:00 noon until 8:00 PM at First Christian Church, 110 West Waits Road, Kendallville.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 11:00 AM at First Christian Church with Pastor Michael DiSanto officiating.  There will be one hour of visitation prior to the funeral service.
Burial will take place at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery near Avilla.
Pallbearers will be Austen Ruich, Quinn Ruich, Hayden Ruich, Travis Buell, Dustin Schemerhorn, Ethan VanGorder, Jake VanGorder, and Owen Schemerhorn. 
Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church.
Arrangements entrusted to Hite Funeral Home of Kendallville.
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