Ronald Lee Nicodemus , 86, of rural Churubusco, died peacefully in the company of family at 1:47 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023, at The Waters, Columbia City, where he had been a resident since June.

Born on September 19, 1936, at the Linvill Memorial Hospital in Columbia City, he was a son of the late Jessie B. and Velma R. (Crawford) Nicodemus. He completed elementary school at Coesse and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1955.

On February 8, 1957, he entered the U.S. Army, training in chemical warfare at Fort Hood, Texas. He was honorably discharged on February 9, 1959.

On September 19, 1959, he married Marilyn A. White. They made their first home south of Coesse. They later moved to Collins, Huntington, and then in 1967, Huntertown. In 1971, they moved to their farm in Smith Township, Whitley County. After 58 years of marriage and raising three children, Marilyn died on March 19, 2018.

A career-long farmer, he maintained dairy cows and grew grain crops. In 1996, he retired from dairy farming and began driving fuel trucks for his son-in-law. Missing farming, he joined his life-long friend, Richard Hosler, in his farming operation, working for eleven years.

Through the years, Ronald enjoyed horse and pony pulls, participating in the area events with his own team of ponies. A fan of the orange Allis Chalmers tractors, he used them throughout his farming operation.  During the winter months, he followed IU basketball. When the grandkids came along, he attended their school, 4H, and sporting events.

He was a member of the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene.

Surviving are three children, Karen Ann (Tim) Blake, Merrie Kaye (Richard) Parish, and Randal M. (Sharon) Nicodemus, all of Columbia City; eight grandchildren; one step-grandchild; eight great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Marilyn Gross of Columbia City and sisters-in-law, Bonnie Nicodemus of Columbia City and Alice Nicodemus of South Whitley.

Additionally, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Brenda Lee Nicodemus; brothers Keith, Kenneth, Gail, Jay, Glen, and Larry Nicodemus; sisters, Dolores Ziegler, Elaine Guiff, and Sharon "Pink" Diffendarfer; and a great-grandson, Levi Ronald Blake.

The funeral service is at 4 p.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is beside his wife at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation from 1 p.m. until the service Friday at the funeral home. The family requests casual attire be worn.

Preferred memorials are to the Whitley County 4H.