Obituary of Dustin Vanatta

Dustin Matthew Vanatta, 32, of South Bend, passed away at home on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

Dustin was born on March 21, 1990, to Frances “Fran” Cordell and Charles Andrew Vanatta.  Dustin attended Niles High School and in 10th grade Dustin moved to Virginia where he graduated from Turner Ashby High School in 2008.  He was currently working for Hoosier Tank in South Bend.

On March 16^th of this year Dustin wed Brittany Lay  at a ceremony at the Lydick Bog.  Together the two have seven wonderful children, Emma, Keegan, Sarah, Mariah, Colton, Connor, and Rylan.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Andrew Vanatta; and his maternal grandfathers, Leon Heimberger and William Moore.

Dustin is survived by his wife, Brittany Vanatta; mother, Fran Cordell of Niles; children, Emma Higgins of Elkhart, Keegan Higgins of Elkhart, Sarah Vanatta of New Port Richey, Florida, Mariah Vanatta of New Port Richey, Florida, Colton Lay of South Bend, Connor Lay of South Bend, and Rylan Vanatta of South Bend; maternal grandmother, Mary Heimberger; paternal grandparents Carol Lee and Charles Daniel Vanatta of South Bend; siblings, Paige (Shawn Teter) Cordell-Teter of Cleveland, Tennessee, Aaron Carr of Bluffton, Indiana, and Cody Adkins of Big Rapids, Michigan; step-father Dwayne Adkins; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and close friends.

Dustin will be remembered at a memorial gathering on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Mapleview Free Methodist Church in Niles.  The family will be hosting a visitation from Noon - 1:00 p.m. with words of comfort at 1:00 p.m. by Pastor Greg Rensberry. After his memorial family and friends will gather at East Side Park in Niles for a balloon release in Dustin's memory.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation to help the family with final expenses and the care of his children may do so by calling Brown Funeral Home at 269-683-1155