Joan Anita Kinder

Joan A. (Joni) Kinder, 80, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, passed away enveloped by the love of her family and friends, on Sunday, November 12, 2023.  Born March 11, 1943, in South Bend, Indiana, she was raised by her beloved mother, Annis (Blue) Bergman, in the Ft. Wayne area.  She graduated from Central Catholic High School in Ft. Wayne in 1961.  She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas J. Kinder, in 1963.  He was the love of her life and they enjoyed 60 years of marriage together.  She devoted her life to making a loving home for her husband and their four children and succeeded beyond measure.  She was blessed with countless friends whom she treasured and who adored her in return.  Family was everything to her and she was overjoyed when grandchildren came into her life, doting on them shamelessly.  Her happy place was wherever family was gathered and on her last day she was surrounded by them.  She is survived by her husband, Tom Kinder; son, Tom (Cate) Kinder, Jr.; daughter, Pam (Chris) Fountain; son, Doug (Jill) Kinder; son, Bill (Lisa) Kinder; grandchildren Brooke, Billy, Nathan, Max, Sam, Blake, Lily, CJ, Preston, Julia, Mali; sister, Jeanne Wiedman; brothers, Mike Bergman and Jeff Sanford; and many beloved sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her mother, and her sister, Judy Anderson.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am, Saturday, November 18, 2023, at St. Therese Catholic Church at 2304 Lower Huntington Road, Ft. Wayne, with visitation one hour prior to the service. A visitation also will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 4:00pm-7:00pm, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home at 3500 Lake Avenue, Ft. Wayne.  A luncheon and reception will follow the service, location and times to be announced.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Inspiration House (601 E. Taber Street, Ft. Wayne, IN  46803).  For information, and to sign the online guestbook, visit divinemercyfuneralhome.com.