Kristine Porter 1931 - 2026

Kristine Porter, of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 94 years old surrounded by family following a brief illness on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Kristine was born June 29, 1931, in Geneva, Indiana, to the late Carl Mathias and Agnes Margaret Striker. On June 1, 1950, she married Victor Butler Porter, her husband for 71 years, and he preceded her in death on October 24, 2021. Both graduated from Decatur High School, class of 1949. Kris was a member of Grace First Community Church in Decatur, where she served on various committees, including United Methodist Women, Youth Fellowship Leader, Children’s Choir Director, Bible School Coordinator/Teacher and Lay Witness Mission Team. Kris was an Honorary Retired member of the Alpha Delta Chapter of Psi Iota Xi Sorority, a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years, Brownie and Girl Scout Leader, PTO member, Decatur Community Fund Coordinator, member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and also active in the Adams County Republican Party. Kris helped her husband Vic through the founding of Vic’s Frozen Food Center and Center Ice Cream, as well as two boat companies, Duo, Inc. in 1958, and Signa Corp. with five business associates in 1970, and in purchasing Thunderbird Products/Formula in 1976, which has been owned and managed by the Porter family for fifty years. Kris was active in the business with marketing projects and employee insurance for many years. Vic and Kris founded the Porter Family Foundation, providing philanthropic funding to charities and organizations, including funding for the formation of Adams Woodcrest and donating land and funding for Adams Memorial Hospital. Vic and Kris also established the Victor and Kristine Porter Community Enrichment Fund with the Adams County Community Foundation. They were also Callithumpian Parade Grand Marshals. Kris enjoyed boating, music, reading, watching cardinals, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, playing bridge, and was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She also loved her team of dedicated caregivers. Kris and Vic enjoyed summers at Lake Wawasee and winters in Naples, Florida. Kristine is survived by five sons'; John, Scott, Grant , Wayne , Ted, daughter Jean Brune, and seventeen grandchildren.