Bobbie Jo Lanham

Bobbie Jo Lanham, of South Bend, entered into eternal life, on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the age of 37.

Bobbie Jo was born on April 24, 1987, in South Bend, to Robert Michael and Tammila Jo (Hampton) Lanham.  She grew up in the area.  She was a straight A student throughout school and a graduate of Mishawaka High School.  After high school, she moved to Paradise, California, where she attended Butte College earning herself an associate’s degree in Language Arts in 2015. While going to school there, she worked at a Mexican restaurant, which helped her with Spanish classes. She also worked as a bartender and was really good at it. After living in Paradise for 10 years, she moved back to South Bend where she took a job at the Post Office for a few years and decided to go back to college to attend IUSB.

Bobbie Jo was an avid nature and animal lover.  She adored her dogs, Remi and Lucy, and took them everywhere she went whether it was kayaking or going on a long hike to catch a glimpse of daisies, which were her favorite flowers.  She also had several bird feeders and could watch the birds for hours. She had a passion for rock ‘n roll and had the tattoos to prove it.  She enjoyed cooking for others and was looking forward to cooking oxtail soup for her father’s birthday.  She shared a love of seafood with Sydney, especially sushi and cherished her visits with her grandfather over breakfast.  She had a firecracker personality and loved every person she knew deeply like they were her best friend.  She was an adventurer and a dreamer. 

Left to cherish Bobbie Jo’s memory are her parents, Robert and Tammy Jo Lanham, of South Bend, her brother, Patrick Martin, of Seymour, IN, her adored sister, born on her birthday 3 years younger, Sydney Erin Tepe, of Cassopolis, Michigan,  her special nieces and nephew, Ella Lawson, Indie Jade Tepe and Arrow Tepe, her maternal grandparents, Chyrl Wheeler and Gary Hampton, and her beloved companion, Neal Lechtanski, of South Bend, along with numerous friends she was blessed with along the way.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Michael Lanham in 2008.

The family is following Bobbie Jo’s wishes to be cremated.  There will funeral service held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27th, at Lakeville United Methodist Church, 610 North Michigan Street, Lakeville, IN 46536 with a celebration of her life at 4:00 p.m. at Chain-O- Lakes Conservation Club, 26230 Southport Drive, South Bend, IN  46628 following service.  Memorial contributions may be made to Bobbie Jo’s family, c/o Hanley and Sons Funeral Home, 23421 S. R. 23, South Bend, IN 46614, to help defray final expenses. 

The HANLEY and Sons Funeral Home “Southwest Chapel” and Cremation Service is handling arrangements and extends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the Lanham family and friends.

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