Saturday, June 6th, 2026
Wilda Fortkamp
Wilda "Jean" Fortkamp, age 97 of Coldwater, passed away on June 4, 2026 at Vancrest of St. Marys.
She was born on July 11, 1928 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Porter and Trancy (Harris) Lawwill. On January 13, 1947, she married James Badgett. He preceded her in death on September 3, 1963. She later married Linus Fortkamp on November 30, 1968. They were married for twenty years before his passing on June 8, 1989.
Jean is survived by her two daughters, Linda (Dan) Roebuck of Rockford and Carol (Joseph) Meyer of Cassella, daughter-in-law Tammy Badgett of St. Marys, grandchildren Laura Badgett of Portland, Melissa (Chad) Weaver of Bluffton, Amanda (Ryan) Piper of New Bremen, David Badgett of St. Marys, Jennifer (Brad) Elam of Cincinnati, Sara (Matt) Miller of Westerville, Rachel Roebuck of Indianapolis, Carmen (Alex) Howey of Dublin, April Meyer of Cassella, and Dustin Meyer of Cassella, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was preceded in death by her sons James Badgett Jr. and Larry Badgett, granddaughter Leann Roebuck, grandson Neal Badgett, great grandson Owen Weaver, and a sister Carolyn Lawwill Smith.
During her teen years, when her grandfather became ill, Jean and her father, mother, and sister moved to Kentucky so her father could help out on her grandfather's farm. Jean was a graduate of St. Charles High School in Lebanon, Kentucky. It was while living in Kentucky that she met her first husband, James. Later, the whole family moved to Coldwater as jobs were available with the company New Idea. It was in Coldwater, after James passed, that she met her second husband, Linus.
Jean loved to play Bridge and enjoyed the times she and her bridge club members were together. The bridge club later evolved into what was called the "Pie Club" as the remaining members loved their pies. Jean was in the cosmetic business for over 60 years. She enjoyed meeting new people and made many dear friends. Jean also loved working in her flowerbeds and conversing with her neighbors. Jean was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater, the Coldwater American Legion Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, June 8, 2026 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery.
Friends may call from 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday, June 7 and from 9 AM to 10 AM Monday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Memorial contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice.
Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
