David Eugene Cox

David Eugene Cox, 85, passed away suddenly of natural causes on the evening of April 8, 2026. He was born on April 28, 1940, in Lafayette, Indiana, to the late Melvin M. and Rozella (Dowling) Cox.

After graduating from Fowler High School, Dave and three of his friends went out to California to work in the firefighting and forestry service. He hoped to generate enough funds to allow him to return home and attend Purdue University. He did, and came back home to earn a degree.

He married the love of his life, Hanne Hermansen, and together they were married for nearly 65 years.

He began farming full-time in 1961, with his new wife, Hanne. His passion was the farm business and all that it entailed. He approached everything he did in a pragmatic way, a virtue he instilled in others. He was both a thinker and a doer; he would often say that we take a hard job and make it look easy.

Dave loved his family, and held an unshakeable trust in God. He also loved his community, and believed deeply in cooperative systems. He stood for the values of hard-working, thoughtful people, working together to achieve common goals. He was a very big supporter of his rural electric company, Newton County REMC, where he served for many years as a proud director on both state and local boards. He was also a member of the Freemasons for over 50 years. He enjoyed everyone for who they were and would encourage others to advance themselves and seek personal growth.

In addition to being a farmer, he was also in the banking business as a branch manager, opening the former Newton County Production Credit Association, PCA, in Kentland, Indiana. Dave brought his finance experience back home and contributed to the successful farming legacy that his sons, daughter, and their growing families continue today.

Dave held many of his former high school classmates in high regard and would get together with a group of them about once a month. They would meet in various locations and chat about the latest news.

Dave and Hanne found great pleasure in their travels throughout the years. They over-wintered in Port Aransas, Texas, for a while before they found a home in Estero, Florida.

Dave prayed he would not meet his end in a hospital, or at the conclusion of a long-suffered illness. He got his wish when he passed away suddenly, with the love of his wife and family in his heart. They will carry on the values he held so deeply of family, faith, and farm life.

Left to carry on his legacy are his wife, Hanne; sons, Michael (Debbie) Cox, and Steve (Gena) Cox; daughter, Janet (Tom) Gretencord; seven wonderful grandchildren, Brent (Natasha) Cox, Stefanie (Trent) Hall, Joseph (Suzanne) Cox, Jordan (Amy) Cox, Nicole (Mitch) Sparenberg, Brittany (Bryce) Henschel, and Ryan (Emily) Cox; fifteen wonderful great-grandchildren, Brody Cox, Molly Cox, Tyler Cox, Alex Cox, McCabe Sparenberg, Henry Henschel, Carter Cox, Lydia Cox, McKaylyn Sparenberg, Beau Henschel, Colten Cox, Jackson Cox, David Hall, Fletcher Cox, and Blair Cox; and siblings, Arthur Cox, Howard (Sandy) Cox, John Cox, Lois (Ron) Francis, and Nancy (Ted) Macy.

In death, Dave joins his parents and sister, Florence Gayle Cox.

Please join us in honoring Dave on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Journey Christian Church in Fowler, Indiana. Visitation is from 11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. (ET), with the funeral service, led by Minister Kirk Zimmerman, to begin at 2:00 P.M.

Memorial Contributions in Dave’s honor may be made to Sacred Heart School, Riley Children’s Hospital, or the Towers to Tunnels Foundation.

Dave’s care and services have been entrusted to Gerts, Windler & Keller ~ Fowler Chapel | 506 E Main St Fowler, IN 47944 | (765)864-0110 | www.KellerFH.com