COLUMBIA CITY — Duane M. Barth, 68, a resident of rural Columbia City, passed away at 1:03 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City. He had been in declining health for the past two years. Mr. Barth was born on July 5, 1946, in Fort Wayne, a son of Robert and Margaret (Downend) Barth. He spent his formative years at Blue Lake near Churubusco, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1964. On June 22, 1968, he was married in Fort Wayne to Linda K. McClure. The couple lived most of their married lives in Fort Wayne until moving to their present home in 1998. Employed for most of his life as a union brick layer, he retired from Slater Steel in Fort Wayne. He was a member of the Brick Layers Union. In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, animals of all sorts, was an Indianapolis Colts and Purdue Boilermakers fan, and most especially loved and cherished his family. The surviving relatives include his wife, Linda; his children, Brandy (Laymon) Shepherd of Columbia City and Damon (Heather) Barth of Huntertown; a brother, Roger (Louise) Barth of Kimmell; four sisters, Sandra (Jim) Smith of Grabill, Cynthia (Bob) Allen of Albion, and Linda (Paul) Smith and Janet McIntosh, both of Fort Wayne; four grandsons, Tory and Ty Barth, and Hayden and Cyrus Shepherd; a granddaughter, Emma Barth; and two great-grandchildren, Isaiah Hoffman and Emilia Barth. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Anita Barth. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with the Rev. Timothy Grable, pastor of Sugar Grove Church of God, officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Monday morning. Interment will be in the Ege Catholic Cemetery, Noble County. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the donor's choice. To leave an online condolence for the family in Mr. Barth's memory, log on to www.sheetsandchilds.net