Walter "Skip" Sassmannshausen Jr.

Walter “Skip” Sassmannshausen Jr., went to sleep to meet his beloved on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Towne House. He was born in St. Anne’s Hospital, Chicago, Illinois on November 10, 1941 to Walter and Ethel (Boseck) Sassmannshausen.

Skip grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and attended Valparaiso College where he met Lynn Brieschke at a Pi Kappa Alpha mixer his freshman year. By the second week of dating Lynn, he proposed and the two were married on January 25, 1964. After graduation, Skip and Lynn moved to Fort Wayne where they both became teachers at Mt. Calvary Lutheran School in Waynedale. After a few years, Skip took a position in the Fort Wayne Community Schools at Geyer Junior High School, teaching US History. He retired after 20 years of teaching there and moved to Concordia Lutheran High School, where he taught Humanities and psychology. He retired from teaching in 2002. While Skip was a master teacher, he also loved coaching. Throughout his career, one of his passions was coaching football. He modeled his style after Coach Vince Lombardi, and excelled in getting the most from the athletes he was coaching. He can claim multiple Division 1 football players and professional athletes that he had once nurtured. Skip’s infatuation was steam locomotives. He was one of the founding members of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. He was influential in the moving and ultimate success of 765, which once sat as a derelict heap of iron in Taylor Park. He was the editor for the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society newsletter, and published a yearly calendar for 30 years. Every family vacation always included a stop or two to see a steam locomotive. He lost the love of his life in 2004 just before their 40th anniversary. Skip filled his time with painting, traveling, and steam locomotives. He was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2015. He was able to write a book on the Baker Street Station before the disease progressed.

Skip is survived by his two sons, Dr. Jeffrey (Loretta) Sassmannshausen and Dr. Gregory (Jill) Sassmannshausen; five grandchildren, Connor, Carsen (Logan) Galbraith, Jacob, Hannah (Adam) Smith, and Luke; his brother, Rick (Janet) of St Charles, IL; and sister, Karen (Steve) Fynaardt of Torrance, CA; and his very special friend, Sharon Zych.

A funeral service to honor Skip's life and legacy will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 West Jefferson Blvd., with calling one hour prior. A calling will also be held on Friday, September 30, 2022, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne. He will be laid to rest at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his honor may be directed to Concordia Lutheran High School Fine Arts Department. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Skip's family may be shared at www.McCombandSons.com.