Deanna Lynn (Pabst) Harbison, 69 of Valparaiso, IN passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Wednesday October 9, 2024. She was born on September 26, 1955, in Danville, Illinois to Trella Mae (Campbell) and Glenn Pabst as one of four children who helped with the family business that started in 1953 and still operates today. Following her graduation from Danville High School in Illinois she went on to graduate from Anderson College (now University) in 1977 with a degree in social work. She married her husband Mark in 1978, and they had two boys who were the center of her world.
Deanna was an active member of Liberty Bible Church and could be seen volunteering in the nursery. She also volunteered weekly at First Contact, a non-profit charity, committed to helping the disadvantaged low income, senior citizens, disabled and any individual facing hardship with groceries, food and financial aid needs. Like her parents, Deanna was a true example of unconditional love and grace. She was full of life and energy, running regularly and then biking daily later in life while also chatting with family. She enjoyed hosting tea parties with friends and her granddaughter, Naomi. She became a Purdue Men’s Basketball Boilermaker fan along with her son. Each holiday season she committed days of work, with her beloved niece Ella Mae, to making dozens of Christmas cookies of every shape and flavor profile. She also enjoyed shopping, and decorating for Christmas, ensuring she had enough ornaments to cover the trees her husband would procure that seemed to get taller every year.
Diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease, she received a lifesaving kidney in 2000 giving the organ donation community the best advocate they could have asked for. She found amazing comfort meeting others in her organ donor recipient support groups, and ensured her entire family became organ donors.
She is survived by husband Mark Harbison, sons Garth (Diana) and Nathaniel Harbison; siblings Gaylin (Debbie) Pabst, Rhonda Pabst, and Paula Wolfe; brothers-in-law Vincent (Pamela) Harbison and Gary Busch; father-in-law William “Bill” Harbison; and her cherished granddaughter Naomi Harbison. She is survived by nieces and nephews Garett (Kim) Pabst, Joseph (Jessica) Pabst, Wesley (Katie) Pabst, Tristan (Kerrigan) Wolfe, Rylan Wolfe, Ella Mae Wolfe, Joshua (Leah) Busch, and Matthew Busch. Deanna is preceded in death by her parents, mother-in-law Katherine Harbison, sisters-in-law Ramona (Harbison) Busch, Jeanie Pabst and brother-in-law, William “Willie” Harbison II.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Rd., Valparaiso, with a funeral service beginning at 12:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in Deanna’s name to First Contact or National Kidney Foundation.
GUESTBOOK
I'm deeply sorry for the loss of Deanna. You complemented each other like no other couple I know. May your memories bring you comfort. -Gary Busch