Ted E. Modlin

GRANGER, IN – Ted E. Modlin, 76, passed away peacefully in his home with family by his side on Monday evening, August 13th after battling dementia.
Ted was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 20th, 1941 in Mishawaka, Indiana. He was the son of the late Charles and Betty (Newton) Modlin. Ted attended Mishawaka High School and joined the US Army in 1959. In the Army Ted received badges for Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, and Parachutist. Ted was extremely proud of his time spent as part of the 101st Airborne Division and earning his “Jump Wings” badge. Ted was honorably discharged in 1962.
Ted returned home and managed grocery stores in the area. Eventually, Ted opened multiple stores of his own in the local area: Oak Grove Market, Dairy Cream, The Chicken Coop, & Ted’s Foodland. It was at Ted’s Foodland where he met his future bride to be, Beth Ann Milliken. Ted and Beth were married on January 17th, 1981 in South Bend, IN. Ted and Beth put their hard work together and opened up Aunt Beth’s Cookies in 1982 in Mishawaka, IN. Ted and Beth grew the bakery successfully selling cookies, brownies, muffins, and cupcakes all throughout the Midwest. After a very successful career in the bakery business, Aunt Beth’s Cookies was sold to new owners in 2016.
Ted had a love for sports, especially for Notre Dame, the Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Cubs. His love for sports led to coaching his kids sports teams and HE was well known in the community for coaching championship teams at Harris Little League as well as championship basketball teams in the ICCL league. Ted was an outstanding baseball player himself and was given the opportunity to try out for the Pittsburgh Pirates when he returned from the Army but he chose to stay home with family. Ted’s biggest pride and joy was his family and absolutely loved spending time with his grandkids. Ted also belonged to the American Legion Post in Edwardsburg, MI.
Ted was preceded in death by his brother Jim and his sister Tammy. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 37 years Beth Ann (Milliken), brothers Bill of Niles, Richard or Elkhart, and sister Sue (Saxton) of Ocala, FL, and step-brother Joe McDonald of Salt Lake City, UT; his children: Rick of Niles, Jim (Grace) of Granger, Lori (Tony) Trevino of Granger; his grandkids that he loved so dearly, Ryan, Marin, Ali, Jackson, and Eva Kate.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 16th from 3 – 7 pm at McGann Hay Funerals / Cremations / Gatherings, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, enter off Cherry Rd in Granger. There will be a prayer service at 5pm in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 1:30pm in St. Monica Catholic Church, 222. W. Mishawaka Ave., Mishawaka, Rev. Jacob Meyer, Pastor, officiating, August 17th. Entombment after his cremation will be at a later date at Chapel Hill’s Mausoleum in Osceola.
In Ted’s memory, contributions may be made to the Heartland Hospice Care, 230 W Catalpa Dr, Suite D, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or to the Alzheimer’s Association at National Headquarters, 225 N Michigan Ave., Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses from Heartland Hospice for their outstanding care and support.
To send your private condolences to Beth and the family log on to: www.McGannHay.com