Rev. John Zurcher Jr.

Rev. John Zurcher Jr., 92, of Fort Wayne, Indiana formerly of Berne, Indiana passed away Monday, December 27, 2021, at Story Point West in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was born on September 4, 1929 in French Township, Adams Co, Indiana to the late John Zurcher Sr. and Aldena (Ebnit) Zurcher.

John was united in marriage to Bernadine Amstutz on July 4, 1948 at Bernadine’s parents’ house.

He was a member of First Missionary Church in Berne, Indiana where he was a former Youth Director and Sunday School teacher.

John graduated from Geneva High school in 1947. He continued his education at Fort Wayne Bible College and received his B.A. in Missions in 1958. He served with the Missionary Church as a missionary in Haiti for 20 years and as the District Superintendent of the U.S. Eastern District for 14 years.  John grew up working on the family farm and was employed at Dunbar Furniture. He was a mason contractor, a carpenter, and was the director of maintenance for Fort Wayne Bible College while he attended there. John also ministered as Pastor to many churches, including Union Church in Bryant, Indiana, Hollywood Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Fort McKinley Missionary Church in Dayton, Ohio.  He finally “retired” at the young age of 80.

John loved photography; in fact, he printed thousands of pictures in Haiti in his own “dark room,” bringing joy to many with his photos. He helped build many churches and schools and other mission buildings in Haiti and was one of the mechanics maintaining the mission vehicles.  He also translated and wrote many lessons and teaching materials, such as Sunday School and Theological Education curriculum. He helped many Haitians learn how to read, and he helped start a radio station to reach more people with God’s Word. His passion was to love and serve his God, his family, and others and to tell all he could about Jesus, bringing joy and laughter to many with his great sense of humor.

John is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Bernadine Zurcher of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, Steven (Lynn) Zurcher of Fernandina Beach, Florida; son, Deryll (Bonnie) Zurcher of Geneva, Indiana; daughter, Janita (Marcus) Dye of Fort Wayne, Indiana; son, Stuart (Julie) Zurcher of Newton, Iowa; three sisters-in-law, Connie Zurcher of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Carol Zurcher of Huntington, Indiana, and Margaret Zurcher of Indianapolis, Indiana; 15 grandchildren and their spouses; 4 step-grandchildren and their spouses; 21 great-grandchildren; 7 step-great-grandchildren and one on the way soon; and 1 great-great-grandchild due in March of 2022.

He was preceded in death by brother, Harry Zurcher; sister, Florine Zurcher; sister, Esther Zurcher; brother, Floyd Zurcher; sister, Elizabath Wickland; brother, Leonard Zurcher; brother, Norman Zurcher; brother, Allen Zurcher, and three infant siblings.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 6, 2022, at First Missionary Church in Berne, Indiana with Pastor Dathan Foust officiating.  For the protection of Bernadine, the family asks that all who come wear masks.  The service will be livestreamed on the First Missionary Church website www.fmcberne.com . Burial will take place at M.R.E. Cemetery in Berne, Indiana.

Friends and family will be received from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the First Missionary Church in Berne, Indiana.

Preferred memorials are to Missionary Church World Partners.

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager – Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne, Indiana.