Joan Brooke “Josie” Wade, 86, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 12:15 pm, Monday, January 24, 2022, at Parkview Wabash Hospital, a day after her 86th birthday following a short illness in her hometown. She was born to Carl and Clara Elizabeth (Brooks) Hettler, on January 23, 1936, and lived in Laketon, Roann, Disko, Burkett, and North Manchester.
Josie Wade touched so many through her love of music, delighting young and old with singing performances, theatre, variety shows, many times singing alongside Bob in loving duets. When she was seven years old, she sang on a WOWO radio program and never stopped singing. She sang at countless weddings and funerals, community events, singing the national anthem at baseball games and veteran’s events.
Josie was a 1953 graduate of Central High School in North Manchester, Indiana. She married Robert M. “Bob” Wade on October 9, 1953 at the Walnut Street Church of the Brethren in North Manchester. They lived in North Manchester and moved to Wabash, where they gifted their children with a near idyllic childhood full of love, faith and fun.
Josie and her husband Bob were longtime members of the First United Methodist Church in Wabash, where they sang in the choir for more than sixty years. She will be missed as a member and soloist. She and Bob also loved local theatre and performed in multiple shows. Josie was beloved as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. Bringing joy through music, she was also a founding member of the Wabash Musicale.
Bob and Jo wintered in Fort Myers where they managed and performed in the Variety shows. Josie also sang in the Jazz Sessions in Palmetto Palms. Known throughout their Fort Myers community as a competitive tennis player, she also opened the tournaments singing the national anthem.
She worked in the Wabash City Schools system as the secretary at the Junior High building for more than 20 years and helped many with reading in Indianapolis schools.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Robert M. “Bob” Wade of Wabash, three children, Todd R. (Debbie) Wade of Carmel, Indiana, Angela Brooke (Michael) Beauchamp and Julie M. Kinzer, both of Wabash, nine grandchildren, Mark Wade of Denver, Colorado, Tim (Blair) Wade of Rockville, Indiana, Michael Wade of Carmel, Parker (Katie) Beauchamp of Wabash, IN and Boulder, Colorado, Chelsea Brooke (Ryan) Rediger of Fishers, Indiana, Hayley (Ty) Renbarger of Wabash, Taylor (Samantha) Kinzer and Derek (Kayla) Kinzer, both of Phoenix, Arizona, and Jordan Kinzer US Navy, currently deployed in Iceland, eight great-grandchildren, Beckett Shaw, Henry Beauchamp, Cora Beauchamp, Neveah Rediger, Florence Renbarger, Walker Wade, Aurora Kinzer, and Ruby Brooke Rediger. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, John, James, Jack, and Carl Hettler, Jr., and three sisters, Marvine Hayes, Bettie Jayne Coen, and Mary Lou Burch.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Sunday, January 30, 2022, at First United Methodist Church, 110 N. Cass Street, Wabash, with Rev. Nathan Whybrew officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Silver Lake. Friends may call 3-7 pm Saturday, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave. Wabash.
Preferred memorial is The Access Youth Center.
The memorial guest book for Josie may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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