Submitted by Dan Rich
From Indianapolis Star, March 14, 2005
Weissert, John D
March 14, 2004
John D. Weissert Prominent businessman and
civic leader, 74, Indianapolis, died March 11, 2004. Mr. Weissert
was born on February 1, 1930 in South Bend, Indiana to the late
Charles D. and Dolly (Schlosser) Weissert. He graduated from
Indiana University in 1952 and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta
Fraternity, Beta Chapter. He proudly served in the United States
Army during the Korean War. Mr. Weissert was the Sales Manager
for Handley & Miller for several years and later became the
President and General Manager of the Indiana Pacers, a position
he held for 5 years. Mr. Weissert then served as the Senior Vice
President of Indiana National Bank for 14 years, prior to moving
to Peru, Indiana. While living in Peru, he was President of Peru
Trust Company. In 1986, he became Senior Vice President of INB
Banking Company NE in Fort Wayne and later served as the Senior
Vice President of Ft. Wayne National Bank. Upon retirement in
1995, he, along with his wife Blanche, moved back to
Indianapolis. While living in the communities of Indianapolis,
Peru, and Ft. Wayne, Mr. Weissert was a member and past board
member of Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, Advisory
Board Member of Indiana University-Kokomo and Ft. Wayne, Vice
President and Board Member of the International Circus Museum in
Peru, past Board Member and Chairman of the Greater Ft. Wayne
Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the Peru YMCA, Board Member
and Treasurer of the Association for Retarded Citizens of Allen
County, and past President of the Ft. Wayne Sports Corp. In
addition, he was named Ft. Wayne Sportsman of the Year in 1993,
was a Board Member of the Private Industry Council, past
President of United Way in Peru, past Chairman of the Grissom Air
Force Base Community Council, and was named Peru Tribune Citizen
of the Year in 1985. He was a member, Elder, and Trustee of First
Presbyterian Church in Peru and was a member, Elder, and
Foundation Board Member of First Presbyterian Church in Ft.
Wayne. In 2003, Mr. Weissert was named a Sagamore of the Wabash
by the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon. Survivors include his wife of 51
years, Blanche (Cochran) Weissert; sons, John Weissert (Michele)
and Robert Weissert (Martha); granddaughters, Kathryn, Julia, and
Ann Weissert; great grandson, Dylan Rooney; brother, Martin
Weissert (Shirley). Friends may greet the family on Monday from 4
to 7 p.m. in Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel. Funeral services will
begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Second Presbyterian Church, of
which he was a member. Interment will follow in Crown Hill
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis Great Banquet (co
Second Presbyterian Church), or the American Cancer Society.