Dr. Max Eugene Fetters DDS

Max was the first child born to Ralph and Ruby (Goodspeed) Fetters. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on June 16, 1930. Max was active in the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He also started a tradition carried on by his younger brothers and sisters of delivering the newspaper and was awarded a scholarship by the newspaper. After graduation from Bluffton High School, Max graduated from Indiana University in Fort Wayne and the Northwestern University dental school in Chicago. Max then entered a three-year internship program with the United States Army. He achieved the ranking of Captain in the U.S. Army dental corps 1955–1957. While stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, he met a registered nurse, Elsa Fasser. They were married the next year in West Haven, Connecticut. The first two years that Max and Elsa were married, Max was stationed at Fort Ord in California. Their first child, Janine Patricia, was born at Fort Ord Army Hospital. After leaving the service, they lived in Napa, California, for one year before returning to Indiana. Clifford William was born in Bluffton, Indiana. Max practiced in Tipton, Indiana, for eight years where their daughter Carolyn Rose was born. The family moved to Indianapolis while Max studied to become Board certified in pediatric dentistry at Indiana University Medical Center.

Following graduation, Max, Elsa, and family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Max was elected president of the Isaac Knapp District Dental Society for a one-year term from 1983–1984. He served 18 years in the house of delegates for the Indiana Dental Association and was a consultant on the counsel of government affairs during most of his career. He was an active member of Trinity English Lutheran Church. Janine graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, then received her master’s degree from Bank Street College in NYC. She currently resides in Washington, DC. Clifford graduated from Indiana University Medical School and is Board certified in family practice and lives in Carmel, Indiana. Carolyn graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Naples, Florida. Max enjoyed a very successful career as a pediatric dentist specializing in the most challenging and difficult cases including a subspecialty in treating children with cerebral palsy. After retirement, he enjoyed more time with his family including traveling the world with Elsa through the Northwestern Alumnae Association.

Dr. Fetters was an avid fisherman, hunter, and sailor. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching others how to fish and never hesitated to direct others to his favorite hotspots.

Max will be most remembered for his unyielding commitment to making ethical and moral choices over his lifetime. Perhaps honest to a fault, many have questioned if he ever told a lie in his life. He exemplified the scout law of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. He would never hesitate to help anyone in need. He was passionate about truth and justice in our country. He was active in politics both in dentistry and within the community at a local and national level. He stood for individual freedom and against overreaching government. He feared no one in debating this topic.

He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved spending time with friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Elsa; his children, Janine, Clifford and Carolyn; his brother, Kenny; and sisters Janet and Joyce. His brother, Jerry, passed away in 2005. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Michael and wife Stephanie, Gabrielle, Cooper, Mitchell, Blake, Rebecca, Austin, Nicholas, and great- grandchildren, Jackson and Tyson.

Funeral service will be on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home (6424 Winchester Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819) at 1:00 p.m. with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Six Mile Cemetery (4795 IN-116, Bluffton, IN 46714).