Melanie Lee (Kniss) Deal

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MELANIE LEE DEAL, age 77, of Avilla died on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

She was born in Fort Wayne on July 9, 1937 to George and Cleora (Hoffman) Kniss.

Mrs. Deal graduated from Northside High School in Fort Wayne in 1955.          

She married Theodore L. Deal Sr. on August 27, 1955 in Fort Wayne.  He preceded her in death on December 23, 2014.

Mrs. Deal worked for Dr. Rex Flenar in Kendallville for 10 years retiring in 2007.

She was a very active member of the First Assembly of God in Fort Wayne.  Her main passion in life was Jesus Christ!

Mrs. Deal was a member of the Indiana Bird Fanciers and was a longtime volunteer for the Fort Wayne Zoo where she raised exotic birds.  Mrs. Deal also had several national champion parrots.  When she was younger she showed horses in 4H.  She enjoyed scuba diving with her husband and she was an avid IU Basketball and Indianapolis Colts fan.  Most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren. 

Survivors include:

Son; Ted Deal Jr. and his wife Margie of Avilla.
Daughter; Tami and William Anderson of Avilla.
Daughter; Christina and Phil Gustin of Avilla.
Daughter; Jennifer and Mike Fleck of Avilla.
12 grandchildren; Timothy Deal, Joanna and Erik Smith, Rachel Deal, Libby Deal, Danielle Deal, Jeremy Anderson, Kassandra and Cameron Bond, Jacob Gustin, Janel Gustin, Faith Fleck, Owen Fleck and Hope Fleck.
Brother; Kinnaird and Mary Kniss of Avilla.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her Husband; Theodore Deal.

Visitation will be Monday, April 27, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Hite Funeral Home, 403 South Main Street in Kendallville.  Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the First Assembly of God Church in Fort Wayne from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM at First Assembly of God, 1400 West Washington Center Road in Fort Wayne. 

Officiating the funeral service will be Pastor Barry Jorris.

Burial will be at Swan Cemetery in LaOtto.

Preferred memorials may be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814 and Noble County Humane Society, 1305 Sherman Street, Kendallville, Indiana 46755.

Send a condolence to the family of Mrs. Deal at www.hitefuneralhome.com or  Find Us On Facebook.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hite Funeral Home, 403 South Main Street, Kendallville, Indiana 46755.

Funeral Directors Brian DeCamp (260-343-8177 mobile) and Andy David (260-318-2712 mobile) are available at anytime to assist your needs.  Please call our office phone 260-347-1653 (24 hours/day…7 days/week).  

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