COLDWATER, Mich. — Robert L. Elward, 85, of Coldwater, Michigan, and formally of Ligonier, passed away at 3:50 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2015, at the Laurels of Coldwater in Coldwater, Michigan. Mr. Elward was born on December 12, 1929, in Fort Wayne, a son of Robert and Mary (King) Elward. He spent his formative years in Fort Wayne, and graduated from Central High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was married on January 27, 1951, to Kate Kraus. She preceded him in death on August 19, 1987. On April 22, 1989, he was married in Ligonier to Maxine Plummer, and moved from Ligonier to Coldwater where he had lived for the last 27 years. He was employed at Dana, and traveled from Fort Wayne to Wisconsin and back to Syracuse starting different plants for Dana, and retired after 34 years of service. Mr. Elward enjoyed his family, hunting, and being out on the water. The surviving relatives include his wife, Maxine (Plummer) of Coldwater, Michigan; their children, Robert (Marsha) Elward of Churubusco, Debbie (Jerry) Osterholt of Roanoke, Sheryl (Patrick) Ross of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Steve (Colleen) Elward of White Lake, Michigan, and Steve (Carla) Plummer and Dan (Karen) Plummer, both of Huntertown; his sister, Marilyn Eckert of Apache Junction, Arizona; 19 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Randall Elward and Jerry Elward. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Churubusco, with Father Dale Bauman, the celebrant. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, or at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.sheetsandchilds.net.