Jackelyn (Jackie) Ochstein, a lifelong and beloved resident of Bourbon, IN, died on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, after complications from heart surgery and liver disease. She was 68. Her son, Sam and daughter-in-law, Jennifer were by her side as she passed peacefully into the next life.
Jackie was born on September 28, 1956, in South Bend, IN, to Jack and Eunice Archambeault, who preceded her in death. A 1975 graduate of Triton Jr-Sr High School, Jackie attended one year of nursing school at Goshen College before marrying the love of her life, David “Ox” Ochstein (Bremen, IN) on August 21, 1976 at the United Methodist Church in Bourbon. Together, Ox and Jackie lived and served in the Triton community for 26 years before Ox died at home on November 28, 2002, after an extended illness due to cardiomyopathy. Jackie found love again late in life and married Delon Furnivall (Tippecanoe) on August 23, 2024, in Plymouth.
For much of her life, Jackie was a homemaker who actively volunteered in the community and served others. She was part of the Triton PIP program, volunteering weekly in the classroom to tutor students and assist teachers. An astute leader and organizer, Jackie was also an active member of the PTO, including serving as PTO President for several years. As PTO President, Jackie’s team set records for fundraising and launched new projects that benefited students and teachers. She and Ox were also founding members of the Triton Athletic Booster Club, and Jackie started a publishing committee that put out over 8,000 Triton Blue & Gold Pride colored magazines per year. She was the lead writer and editor of the publication for many years.
Later, Jackie entered the workforce with her creative and story-telling talents as a writer for the Bourbon News Mirror and Pilot News. She also worked for The Papers Inc. as an office receptionist who also wrote stories and helped edit. After Ox’s passing, Jackie transitioned to her first love of caregiving and worked at Cardinal Services in Warsaw, where she cared for the intellectually disabled. Jackie loved her clients, and they became part of her extended family. Although she retired in 2017, Jackie remained in contact with some of her clients and their families because of the bond they’d formed over the years.
A person of deep Christian faith and lifelong spiritual seeker, Jackie was active at various local churches, including Bourbon Bible Church, County Line Assembly of God, and the United Pentecostal Church. For the many years that Jackie and Ox attended Bourbon Bible Church, Jackie took care of the church’s flowers, created the weekly bulletin, and was regularly a children’s Sunday School teacher and nursery attendant. In her last year, Jackie was an active member of the Plymouth Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where her husband Delon was part of the leadership.
Jackie had three great passions: Her faith, her family, and her love, compassion, and care for others. She embodied Christ’s Greatest Commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. No one was a stranger to her. Everyone was welcomed to be part of her extended family and experience the warmth, hospitality, and generosity that exuded from her.
Family was the most important thing to Jackie after her faith. She loved family gatherings, especially ones that included singing. She was a thoughtful and often extravagant gift-giver. Jackie also took great joy in simple pleasures such as bird watching, reading and studying her Bible, and cooking meals for others.
Most days, she could be found sitting on her porch, enjoying the birds and chatting with neighbors and passersby. Jackie had a smile, a hug, and words of encouragement for everyone. She prayed for every person and every need that came to her attention. She will be greatly missed.
Jackie was preceded in death by her husband of 26 years, David “Ox” Ochstein (Bourbon, IN), her half-brother Clyde Irvin Avery (Plymouth, IN), and half-brother Lester Dean Avery (South Bend, IN).
Jackie is survived by her husband, Delon Furnivall (Tippecanoe, IN), her son, Sam (Jennifer) Ochstein (South Bend, IN), her sister, Susan (David) Gilley (Bremen, IN), her brother, Rev. James “Archie” (Julie) Archambeault (Southaven, MS), and stepbrother, Ed Campbell (Plymouth, IN).
Services will be held at the United Pentecostal Church (201 N Bourbon St., Bourbon, IN 46504) on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Friends and family may call for a visitation two hours before the service, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made in the care of Jackelyn Ochstein to Hope Ministries (432 S. Lafayette Blvd., P.O. Box 4488, South Bend, IN 46601) or the United Pentecostal Church (201 N Bourbon St., Bourbon, IN 46504).
Thank you to all our friends and community for your support during this difficult time. Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home wishes to extend our deepest condolences to the Ochstein family and is honored to be providing our services in celebrating the life of Jackelyn. Friends are invited to sign the online guest book and share memories with the family at: www.deatonclemensfh.com.
