Mary F. Deisler

Mary F. Deisler, 97, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026, in the Stillwater Hospice Home of Fort Wayne. Up until the day before her death, she lived at home in Fairmount, Indiana, with her husband of 74 years, Richard. He preceded her in death in October 2025.

Mary was born on July 18, 1928, to John and Anna Joyce (Ashbaugh) Dutiel, and grew up in Oakfield, Ohio. She was the fifth child in a family of eight children. After her mother passed away, her father remarried and started a second family, resulting in six more children. In 1945, her brother, Charles, was killed in a WWII battle, and the life insurance money her father received from his death was used to send Mary to Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University).

Being a lover of music, she joined the Marion College Choir, which is where she met Richard Deisler, a farm boy from Michigan who was studying to be a pastor. After Richard graduated in 1951, the two were married and started their life of ministry. Their first pastorate was a little country church near Hastings, Michigan. During the course of their marriage, they pastored Wesleyan churches in Ottawa Lake, Hudson and Coldwater - all in Michigan. In 1981, they moved to Fairmount, Indiana, to pastor the Wesleyan Church there. After Richard's retirement in 1991, they continued to serve by doing interim pastoral work in several churches in Indiana: Elkhart Wesleyan Church, Andrews Wesleyan Church, Brinker Heights Wesleyan Church and Countryside Wesleyan Church.

Mary was everything a pastor's wife should be. She tirelessly worked alongside her husband, doing whatever tasks needed to be done for the good of the church. She taught Sunday School classes, led Junior Church and ladies' Bible studies, organized church events for adults and children alike, and faithfully printed the Sunday bulletin and the monthly newsletter. She loved the life of the church, and she loved the wonderful friends she made in every place they served. She also spent many years substitute teaching in the local schools. All the students loved "Mrs. D." She was patient and kind, and she brought them good things to eat.

In the home, she raised four children, instilling in them a love of music and a good work ethic. She canned everything that Richard brought in from the garden and became well known for her cinnamon rolls and apple pies. She loved having people over for Sunday dinner. She was a talented writer with a great sense of humor. She wrote many skits and puppet plays, which were used at church events, Vacation Bible School, and even in the home - the grandkids loved them! She loved her family - her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. In fact, one of the last things she told the hospice chaplain before she passed was that she had the best grandchildren.

Mary is survived by her four children, Sue (Tony) Melton of Fairmount, Marilyn (Dave) Woolard of Hartford City, Rick (Bonita) Deisler of Ottawa Lake, MI and Mark (Annette) Deisler of Marion; eleven grandchildren, Cassie Melton, Annie (Jared ) Cheek, Zack Melton, Breezey (Erik) Fox, Lesley (Terry) Dieckmann, Alex (Sara) Jamieson, Josh (Brandon) Lowe, Nathan Deisler, Abby (Nick) Bratt, Adlai (Emily) Deisler and Anna (Conner) Cunningham; 16 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Charlene (Ted) Hartman of Custer, SD, Arlene Kenney and Paulette Adamo, New Lexington, OH; three brothers, Donald (Luella) Dutiel, Ronald Dutiel, Paul (Patty) Dutiel, all of New Lexington, OH, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Shirley Thacker and Hazel Rugg, and her brothers, Jack, Charles, Lewis and Stanley Dutiel.

Visitation will be held at Westview Wesleyan Church, 1300 W 6th Street, Jonesboro IN, on Friday, February 13, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., with a memorial service immediately following.

Private burial will take place at Park Cemetery.

The family would like to express gratitude to the wonderful friends who visited so faithfully during the last few years, bringing with them joy, fellowship and usually some food.

Because Mary and Richard were so devoted to supporting the work of world missions, memorial gifts can be sent to Global Partners 13300 Olio Rd Fishers IN 46037.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com