Anita J Howard

ANITA J. HOWARD, 98, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formerly of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday morning, February 25, 2026 at Lutheran Life Villages in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Church of Christ in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor David Hall will officiate. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Nevada, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home located at 207 E. Main Street in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Anita's honor to Lutheran Life Villages, 6701 S. Anthony Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46816.

Anita was born on April 28, 1927 to Frank and Bessie (Driver) Longardner in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended and graduated from Fort Wayne Area Schools, where she was the valedictorian of her class. She attended one year of Bible College in Portland, Oregon. She was united in marriage on May 29, 1949 to Roger D. Howard in Indiana. They lived most of their married life in Nevada, Iowa where she managed the home, taking care of both her own children and babysitting many other children.

She was raised in and worshipped in the Church of God headquartered in Anderson, Indiana. Later in life she attended the First Church of Christ in Cherokee, Iowa and Fellowship Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In her free time she enjoyed walking, reading the Bible and other books, hanging out with her cat D.C., working puzzles, crocheting, and plastic canvas. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Roger, two sons, Roy and Ron Howard, and her siblings, Robert Longardner, Madonna Schooling, and Gene Armey.

Anita is survived by her brother Noble Longardner of Bloomington, Indiana, her children Jo (James) Thomas of Fort Wayne, Indiana and John (Delena) Howard of Spirit Lake, Iowa; daughters-in-law Jean (Larry) Heschke of Cherokee, Iowa and Bonita Howard of Plymouth, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren, Roger (Carrie) Howard, Becky (boyfriend Tom) Howard, Ronda (Lee) Mchaughton, Ray (Lacey) Howard, Renee (Lonny) Stull, Matt (Kristie) Howard, Hayley (Tony) Taffer, Shannon (Shannon) Thomas, Heather (Nathan) Sittler, Joe (aka JJ) (Lauren) Thomas, Christopher (girlfriend Kelsey) Howard, and Josh (Amanda) Howard; 45 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.