Deems T. Gallimore

Deems T. Gallimore, 83, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Deems was born on October 5, 1940 in Caretta, WV to the late Perry Irdell and Bessie Alma (Witt) Gallimore. Deems is married to the love of his life, Janice I. (Weltz) Gallimore on July 1, 1962 in Elkhart, IN.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Bessie and son in law, Tony Tucker.

Deems is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janice Gallimore; daughters, Tamara (Randy) Rowe, Sheryl Tucker, Tonya (Brian) Justus and Kimberly (Ty) Justus; grandchildren, Stephen, Elijah and Jake Rowe, Miranda Tucker, Griffin (Lyndsey) and Cole Justus, Ashlyn (Victor) Justus, Brooke (Dustin) Lake, and Hayden (Josh) Byrd; great grandchildren, Oliver and Nolan Justus, Harper, Halle and Dawson Lake, and Greyson Byrd, and his dachshund, Chloe.

Deems graduated from Jimtown High School in 1958. He was a chemical operator at Miles/Bayer retiring in June 2002 after working there for 47 years. Deems was also a former member of the Moose Lodge in Elkhart.

He was an avid outdoorsman particularly fishing and also hunting with his friends going out west to Colorado and Wyoming deer hunting. His hunting buddies nicknamed him “Izzy Sane”.  Deems was a skilled four-leaf clover finder sharing them with everyone, especially his grandchildren. Over the years, Deems adored all 6 dachshunds, he treated as family.

Deems was a proud American. He enjoyed listening to country music and attending country music festivals in Nashville with his wife, Janice. Deems was a tinkerer and could be relied upon to fix anything. He loved doing things with his grandchildren, taking them fishing and even building and painting bird houses with some of them.

He looked forward to his daily coffee with his friends and staff at Granma’s House of Pancakes.  Deems had a sweet tooth and no candy dish was safe from him.

Deems was a witty, intelligent man with a joking streak. He was a man of little words but a big heart. Most of all, Deems was a family man and he will be missed by his wife, daughters and grandchildren very much.  

The family will have a private burial of his cremated remains on Friday, April 26, 2024  at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart.

Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, IN 46514 is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Judes Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 .

For those that wish to send a condolence or share a memory may do so at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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