Carol June Sprunger

Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend Carol June Hooley Sprunger, age 96, died on February 27, 2025 at Swiss Village in Berne, Indiana. She was born to Cletus and Lela (Lantz) Hooley on June 22, 1928 in Topeka, Indiana. She married Roy Leon Sprunger on June 30, 1951. They were married 52 years when he passed away in 2004.

Carol‘s faith was how she lived her life. She was baptized in the Topeka Mennonite Church. She also attended First Mennonite Church of Berne and Emmaus Road Mennonite Fellowship. In those congregations, she served on numerous committees for the local church and for Mennonite Central District Conference. She sang in various choirs and ensembles. She also sang in the Mennonite Choral Society, where she later served a term as president. Carol was the first cook at Camp Friedenswald. At Camp Friedenswald, she invested time to bring the vision of a church camp to fruition and later served on its board. She was an alumna of Bluffton University, where she met her husband and many lifelong friends.

Carol was a pivotal participant in J&R Construction, a business that she and Roy owned. She was a skilled seamstress, quilter, hem stitcher, and homemaker. Carol was a gracious host who enjoyed cooking meals for friends and family. In addition to all of her paid and unpaid roles, she also worked in several stores around Berne.

She loved to laugh, to talk with friends old and new, and was one of the most hospitable people we have ever met. When asked how she did all the bold things that she accomplished in life, she said, “I did it because I didn’t know I couldn’t.” Carol found great joy in serving and being helpful to others. She was a good friend, a critical thinker from a long line of strong women, and she loved widely.

Surviving are her children: Norm Sprunger, Goshen, Indiana; Nedra (Greg) Engle, Decatur, Indiana; and Ellie (Brad) Covert, Salem, South Carolina. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Kenda Sprunger, Goshen, Indiana; Austin Sprunger, Denver, Colorado; Jessica Sprunger, Portland, Oregon; Mia Engle, Washington, DC; Tanner Engle, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Courtney Covert, Atlanta, Georgia; Christian (Kendall) Covert, Jacksonville, Florida; and Caleb Covert, Nashville, Tennessee; and one great grandson, Julian Covert.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Sprunger; her sisters, Josephine Rediger and Kathryn Rosener; and a grandchild, Caitlin Lin Covert.

Preferred memorials can be given to Camp Friedenswald, Mennonite Mission Network, or Swiss Village Endowment Fund.

Arrangements are pending at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana.