Dawn Marie Hess, 68, of North Manchester, Indiana, died at 5:56 am, Friday, October 2, 2026, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. She was born on April 22, 1958, in Wabash County, Indiana, to Robert Dale and Peggy Lou (Siders) Norman.
Dawn was a 1976 graduate of Northfield High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Lee Shafer Jr. on July 17, 1976 at the Roann United Methodist Church. They quickly started their family and had three children, Tory, Lee, and Hayley. They were married 26 years, before Don passed in 2002. Sports was a big part of Dawn’s life, and she spent her time watching her children play. Dawn enjoyed going to as many of the kids and grandkids games and activities that she could attend.
She worked more than 30 years for Manchester Public Schools, retiring in 2021. Most of her career was spent at the Laketon Elementary, which later turned into Manchester Intermediate. She worked several years with first graders, later transitioning to 5th and 6th graders. Working with kids was near and dear to her heart, and she made lifelong friendships while doing it. Dawn met Tom Hess during this time, and they were married November 2, 2013.
Dawn had a love for making her house a home, spending many hours gardening and adding more and more flowers, and decorating with the many treasures she found antiquing with her husband and daughter. Gift giving was her main love language, and she spent a lot of time making sure she found the perfect gift for people. She also enjoyed cooking and baking and made sure the holidays were always filled with all the food and treats her family loved.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas Hess of North Manchester; three children, Tory (Penny) Shafer of Huntsville, Alabama, Lee (Ashley) Shafer of Roann, Indiana, and Hayley Shafer of Larwell, Indiana; step-daughter, Brittany (Eric) Morrow of North Webster, Indiana; six grandchildren, Jordan (Elliott) Scott, Jarret (Madison Sommers) Shafer, Kylie Seibold, Leah Shafer, Christina Morrow, and Cameron Morrow; four great grandchildren, Bekham, Brookstyn, Leighton, and Braelyn; father, Dale Norman of Warsaw, Indiana; and two sisters, Denise (Steve) Holland of Shelbyville, Indiana, and Danette (Tom) Till of Warsaw. She was preceded in death by her mother, Peggy Lou Norman, and husband, Donald Lee Shafer, Jr..
Family will receive friends from 3-7 pm Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, 207 W. Main Street, North Manchester, Indiana. Burial will be in Roann Community Cemetery.
Preferred memorial is Wabash County Cancer Society.
The memorial guest book for Dawn may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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