Arthur Jess Rufus "Joby" Werst, 82 years old of Berne, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at his residence. He had also been a resident of Goose Lake near Columbia City, Indiana from 1990 to 2005. He was born on Tuesday, October 5, 1926 in Noble County, Indiana the son of the late Charles Joby Werst and the late Edna Arloa (DeBolt) Werst. He married Rebecca R. Hirschy on July 30, 1949 in Berne, Indiana. Art was a member of Cross Community Church in Berne, Indiana. He was a great basketball player. He led the county in scoring his junior and senior year of high school playing for Monmouth High School from 1943 to 1944 and for Kirkland High School from 1944 to 1945. After graduating he served our country in the United States Marines. He was a well known Adams County farmer and had previously been employed by Central Soya from 1951 to 1961 and C.T.S from 1970 to 1990. Surviving are his wife, Rebecca Werst of Berne, son, Gregory J. (Madonna) Werst of Bella Vista, Arkansas, daughter, Ladonna (Ron) Habegger of Berne, son, Mark A. (Pamela) Werst of Berne, son Kent A. (Rebecca) Werst of Geneva, Indiana son, Matthew T. (Glenda) Werst of Elkhart, Indiana, daughter, Christina R. (Tim) Dellinger of Willshire, Ohio, brother, Rex Gene (Jennie) Werst of Celina, Ohio, brother, Gary (Barbara) Werst of Pleasant Mills, Indiana, brother, Patrick A. (Cindy) Werst of Decatur, nineteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Preceding Arthur in death were four grandchildren; Dustin, Zachary & Jennifer Werst and Andrew Dellinger and one sister, Deloris Burger. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 24, 2009 in the Cross Community Church with Rev. Randy Luther officiating. Interment will follow in the M.R.E. Cemetery, Berne. Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service on Monday church. Preferred memorials are to theYouth Ministry at the Cross Community Church.
