COLUMBUS, INDIANA
Jeffrey Lee “Jeff” Idlewine was born May 10, 1944 in Indianapolis to Henry John “Mike” Idlewine and Eva Short Idlewine. He spent his early years in Greensburg, Indiana, moving to Columbus, Indiana in the early 1950’s. He was active in Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1962. He was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, majoring in Business.
On August 17, 1969, he married Margaret Evelyn “Peggy” Bychinsky at Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. They moved from Indianapolis, where he was in the Purchasing Department of the Buehler Corporation, to Columbus in 1975 after he became employed in the Arvinyl Division of Arvin Industries. He retired from ArvinMeritor in 2000 as Manager of Credit and Cash Control. He then worked as a consultant for Arvin Meritor as well as in the Bartholomew County Assessor’s Office.
He served as a Director on the Boy Scouts of America Hoosier Trails Council Board of Directors and was a Junior Achievement Advisor. He was active in United Way of Bartholomew County, serving as Chair of the Allocations Committee and a member of the Board of Directors. For many years, he served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman and was Treasurer of the Bartholomew County Republican Central Committee for two terms.
He passed away on April 3, 2024 at Our Hospice Center in Columbus. He will be fondly remembered as a wonderful, devoted husband, father and grandfather who was immensely proud of the men his sons had become.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy, two sons Michael Eugene (Julie) of Columbus, John Alexander of Dallas, Texas, and two granddaughters Sophia Lynn and Kathryn Marie Idlewine.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date at South Park Cemetery, Greensburg, Indiana.
Memorials may be made to The Love Chapel Foundation, PO Box 1421, Columbus, IN 47201 or online: www.lovechapel-bartholomew.org.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home. You are invited to sign the online guest book and send a message of condolence to the Idlewine family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com.
