By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — John Elliott left Kosciusko County several years ago to move closer to family.

But though he left the area, it never left him.

Elliott, who was heavily involved in politics and community service locally, died at age 78 on Sunday, Jan. 8. He remained attuned to area happenings even after he relocated, said Lynn Howie.

She and her late husband Terry Howie were longtime close friends of Elliott and his wife Elaine Elliott.

“He knew more about what was going on in Warsaw than the people in Warsaw,” she said.

Leaders also vouched for Elliott’s continued involvement locally.

Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said Elliott would still communicate with them from out of state, offering them advice on different issues.

“He was always someone you could count on to tell (it like it is),” said Thallemer.

Allebach called Elliott “a very kind soul, very interested in what was going on in the community.”

Community, Faith, Family

Elliott would more than offer advice though: he also worked to accomplish projects.

That was partially done through his banking career clients. As a trust officer, Elliott would work to ensure his clients could use their money for good, including through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, said its CEO Stephanie Overbey.

“He always kept his clients’ wishes front and center,” she said.

Overbey’s KCCF predecessor Suzie Light said some projects Elliott helped accomplish with his clients through the foundation were establishing Glover Pavilion at Central Park for performances and the Good Samaritan Fund to help families with medical problems.

She deemed him “a champion for our community and our citizens.”

Elliott also supported various causes personally, being a longtime member of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and involved with the Baker Youth Club and Right to Life. He served on numerous boards.

Faith and family also were large parts of Elliott’s life.

Light recalls the large photo Elliott had of his only daughter Katherine in his office, noting he was “a strong, faith-filled family guy.”

“He loved the Lord, and the Lord was his life,” said Howie.

Former Grace professor Terry White notes Elliott helped bring Robert and Molly Shaffer to speak in the area in 2021. The two are helping restore the church building in Michigan where the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” was first publicly performed.

OSU, Golf, the GOP

Elliott’s passions also included The Ohio State University, his alma mater, with White calling him a “rabid Ohio State fan.”

Rick Swaim remembers how Elliott, who played in the OSU band, helped bring the group later on to perform at Warsaw Community Schools.

Elliott also cared about students having the opportunity for a college education like he did. Swaim said he first got to know him when he was a Warsaw Community Schools counselor and Elliott was helping students obtain golf scholarships via the Western Golf Association.

Howie said that was due to Elliott himself obtaining a golf scholarship through the same organization. As an Evans Scholar (named after Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. who helped start the program), Elliott received school funding via his time spent as a caddie.

Elliott enjoyed golf in his later years, with his friend Kosciusko County Councilman and former State Rep. Dave Wolkins mentioning how the two and their sons played together in charity scrambles. They did quite well, though Wolkins notes that was mainly their sons’ doing.

Wolkins and Elliott were friends with the late Kent Adams, also a former state legislator. Related to public service, Wolkins remembers how Elliott was the planner of the three, with the other two acting on his suggestions.

Elliott helped with Republican politics at various levels. He supported former Warsaw politician Jeff Plank when he opted to switch from being a Democrat to a Republican, even when others were wary of doing so, said Wolkins.

Elliott also worked for Eric Miller’s campaign in the GOP primary for governor in 2004, with Wolkins noting that support was crucial in helping Miller win Kosciusko County.

That led to a humorous incident at an event at which eventual 2004 GOP gubernatorial nominee and later Gov. Mitch Daniels and Elliott both attended later that year. Daniels spied the Miller bumper sticker still on Elliott’s Ford Mustang and helped him trade it out with his own.

For his community service, Elliott was nominated for and presented with a Sagamore of the Wabash in 2019 by Wolkins before the former moved out of state.

“He gave his heart and soul to this community,” said Wolkins.