George “Mike” Trueblood, 69, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, surrounded by his family. Mike was born on July 21, 1956, in Lafayette, Indiana, a son of the late George and Rose Marie (Lockwood) Trueblood.
Mike graduated from R. Nelson Snider High School, Class of 1974. In 1983, he married the love of his life, Cynthia A. Newman, and together they enjoyed the next 43 years.
Mike began his career in the construction trades, working as a union painter and rising to the Business Manager position of IBPAT Local 469 for a time before he moved to owning his own business. Looking for a new outlet for his creativity, at 39 years old, he attended culinary school at Ivy Tech and furthered his passion for food and cooking much to the future benefit of his family and friends. For the past ten years, he returned to his painting roots and was employed by Parkview Hospital, where the people around him were not just coworkers but friends.
An avid angler and passionate outdoorsman, Mike grew up fishing and hunting with his father and brothers. He loved to fish without consideration of the weather or the form of the water; lake, river, or ocean. He fostered that fishing passion and love of the outdoors with his children and his grandchildren beginning at very young ages. If Mike was traveling outside of his preferred northern IN lakes to Canada's fishing waters, National Parks or traveling abroad, you could count on Mike to have researched every type of fish available and also the best way to cook them.
Mike cherished time spent with his family, especially his three beautiful grandchildren. He delighted in their accomplishments and loved creating memories that would last a lifetime. He was also a lifelong dog lover, sharing his home and heart with many loyal setters, a lab or two and one particularly sassy Brittany spaniel who always kept life interesting. Mike truly loved his friends as well, whether those at work or the close group of friends with whom he and Cindy enjoyed everything from chatting and drinking wine to international travel adventures. He possessed a natural ability to bring a smile to someone's face with his quick and quirky sense of humor. His love language was making you smile and feeding you good food.
Surviving are his beloved wife, Cindy Trueblood; daughter, Elaine (Brent) Gulinson; son, George D. Trueblood; grandchildren, Savannah, Greyson, and Addison; siblings, Michael Pfeiffer, DiAnn (Jay) Griffith, and Jayne (Brian) Day; along with many extended family members and dear friends.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, George Jason Trueblood; mother, Rose (Lockwood) Trueblood; lifelong mother, Gloria (Smith) Trueblood; brother, Jeffery Trueblood: and nephew Jay Lee Griffith, Jr.
A Celebration of Mike's Life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Mike and Cindy's home (address to be announced by the family).
Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana or to your favorite local animal shelter.
He will be greatly missed and remembered with a smile by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.