Reverend Gene Edwin Rohrer , 93, of Columbia City, passed away at 2:05 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester.

Born on December 17, 1931, in Peru, Indiana, he was the son of the late Fred E. and Doris E. (Shively) Rohrer.  Growing up in the Peru area, he graduated from Peru High School in 1949.  He continued his education at Indiana University.

On September 15, 1950, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean Conflict.  He obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged on September 14, 1953.

After returning to Peru, he married Charlotte Ann Rarigh.  They made their home in Peru, raising four children.  Charlotte died in 1990.  In 1992, he married Carol L. Rule, moving to Tri-Lakes, Columbia City.  From 1998 until 2001, the couple spent their winters in Gulf Shores, AL.  Carol died on December 28, 2002.  On January 3, 2004, he married Jeanette L. Snyder Hart. They made their home at Tri-Lakes, moving to Columbia City in 2016.  She survives.

After his military service, Gene went to work for the Wabash Railroad, later becoming the Norfolk and Southern, where he was a brakeman and sometimes conductor and train master.  During that time, he continued to work on his college degree, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University.  Called to the ministry, he became a lay minister in 1976.  He graduated from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.  In 2003, he became the pastor at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Columbia City, retiring in 2020.

With a servant's heart, Gene worked for several years as the Veterans Service Officer for Whitley County, the chaplain for the American Legion Post 98, and belonged to the Leatherneck Coffee Club. He was a past master of Columbia City Lodge #189 F&AM, belonged to the Scottish Rite, Mizpah Shrine, and the Columbia City Elks Lodge.   A statue depicting his service in Korea is on display at the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum on O'Day Road in Fort Wayne.

Surviving is his wife, Jeanette of Columbia City; his children, Alice (Doug) Campbell of North Manchester, James (Barbara) Rohrer of Fort Atkinson, WI, Mary (Bruce) Dexter of Wilmington, OH, and Carol (Jay) Ryals of Brownsburg; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; step-children, Jeff, James, Jody Wigent, and Tracy Schnorr, and family; and a half-sister, Mary Mayberry of Hammond.

Additionally, he was preceded in death by a half-brother, Craig Rohrer.

Visitation is 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday (Sept 8th) with a Masonic Service to begin at 8 p.m. at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.  The funeral service is 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home with military honors presented by the Korean War Honor Guard.  Burial will take place at the Ever Rest Cemetery near Logansport.

Memorials in Gene's honor are to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.