Obituaries

Oct 20, 2020

Mr. Joshua Edward "Josh" Roberts, 21, of Bristol, passed away following an accident that occurred at the entrance of Timberbrook Mobile Home Park in Bristol. He was born in Elkhart on Feb. 5, 1999 to Eric (Candy) Roberts of Bristol and Melissa A. (George Clark) (Morrison) Ferrell of Hartford, Alabama, and is survived by his significant other Sara Brownlee...

Oct 20, 2020

Denise "Neeser" Kay Swaim, 61, of Elkhart passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital. She was born on November 2, 1958 in Niles, Michigan to Ronald Swaim and Kay G. Mortimer. Preceding her in death are her parents; stepfather, Robert C. Mortimer; stepmother, Lois Swaim; and two nieces, Kristen and Kara Swaim.

Surviving...

Oct 20, 2020

William Victor "Bill" Crowel, 63, of Elkhart, passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital. Bill was born on June 9, 1957 in South Bend to the late Wayne Crowel and Carol M. (Bauley) Woolet. He was a graduate of Edwardsburg High School. He is survived by his two brothers, Greg (Carol) Crowel and Dennis Crowel.

Oct 20, 2020

Joseph A. Buckreis, 82, of Elkhart, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born on October 5, 1938 in Altoona, PA to the late Fred M. and Elizabeth Moore (Young) Buckreis.

Joseph is survived by his sister, Sister Grace Buckreis of Wisconsin; lifelong friend, Liane Signorino of Elkhart; and a host...

Oct 19, 2020

Thomas L. "Tom" Watson, 74, passed away peacefully early Monday morning. October 19, 2020 at Courtyard Healthcare Center in Goshen. Tom was born on May 16, 1946 in Buckhannon, West Virginia to the late Herman T. and Betty Lou (Smith) Watson.

Tom married his true love and best friend Rose Mary Williams on April 24, 1969 in...

Oct 18, 2020

Mr. Steven E. Griffin, 66, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at Elkhart General Hospital on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 2:24 pm following an extended illness. He was born December 12, 1953 in Chicago, IL.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place and committal service has been scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2020 at 2:00...

Oct 18, 2020

Cecilia Ornduff, 90, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday evening, October 18, 2020 at her home. She was born on September 5, 1930 in Ft. Lupton, Colorado to the late Jose and Rosa (Tarin) Avina.

Cecilia married her true love Charles R. "Chuck" Ornduff Sr. on Valentine's Day 1953 in Greely, Colorado. Chuck died October 21, 2017 after...

Oct 17, 2020

Robert "Bob" L. Hartman, Jr., 72, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital.

Robert was born on October 26, 1947 in Elkhart, IN to Robert L. Hartman Sr. and Vivian (Freshour) Hartman. Robert is married to Scydell (Hess) Hartman on June 24, 1967 in Elkhart.

Bob is preceded in...

Oct 15, 2020

Mr. Harold D. Miller, 91, of Elkhart, has finally convinced the Good Lord to let him into Heaven after a lifetime of laughter, practical jokes and fun. "I had a good run", he would have said about himself, and everyone agrees that while it's time for Harold to prop his feet up and enjoy a well-deserved rest, his jokes,...

Oct 15, 2020

Ruben M. Bontrager, 86, of Elkhart, met His Lord and Savior in heaven on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center after succombing to complications from COVID-19.

Ruben was born on February 11, 1934 to Martin R. Bontrager and Lydia Ann (Yoder) Bontrager in Fayette County, IA. He is preceded in death by his...

Oct 14, 2020

Daniel A. "Danny" Kinard, 86, of Elkhart, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at his home.

Daniel was born on September 27, 1934 in Tampa, FL to the late Frank O. and Bessie (Hall) Kinard. He was married to the love of his life, Phyllis (McClane) Kinard in 2006. Danny is preceded in death by his...

Oct 13, 2020

Debra "Deb" A. Hawkey, 65, of Elkhart, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family.

Deb was born on June 11, 1955 in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Calvin and Mary Helen (Cripe) Kurtz. She is married to Daniel Hawkey on October 14, 1977.

She is preceded in death...

Oct 13, 2020

Bruce E. Marlow, 72, of Simonton Lake, Elkhart, started his boat and headed out for the Big Lake for the last time. He left the dock on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 3:29am (CDT) at Regency Hospital in Portage following a rather brief illness.

He was born October 21, 1947 in Elkhart to the late Paul and...

Oct 12, 2020

Gwen D. Tavernier Cramer, 61, of Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, October 12, 2020 at her residence. She was born on October 30, 1958 in Elkhart to the Edward W. and Darlene (Gaskill) Tavernier.

Gwen is survived by her daughter, Jaime (Scott) Pletz; grandchildren, Everett, Juniper, and Opal; brother, Bill Tavernier; aunt, Peg Fulk; and her...

Oct 12, 2020

William E. "Bill" Mellish, 92, of Elkhart, passed away on October 12, 2020, at his daughter's home in South Bend.

Bill was born December 4, 1927, to Albert and Bertha (Christiansen) Mellish in Ferndale, MI. He married Peggy Mollenkopf on December 20, 1952; she died on May 26, 2018. Bill is survived by his son, Tom (Cynda)...

Oct 11, 2020

Stephen T. "Steve" Bauer, 64, of Elkhart, passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2020 at Golden Living Center. He was born on May 23, 1956 in Logansport, IN to the late John W. "Bill" and Lois M. (Brooks) Bauer.

Steve is survived by his son, Jason Lymangrover and sister, Deborah "Debbie" Bauer. Steve was preceded in death...

Oct 11, 2020

Keiko Goto, aka Kay Gene Mortimer, was born on January 24, 1928 in Beppu, Japan to Shinkichi and Chiyoko (Kanzaki) Goto. She lost her mother at a young age, and this event shaped her into the strong woman her loved ones knew her as, and allowed her to face challenges in life with grace and determination.

She...

Oct 11, 2020

Bonieta Fern (Drake) Maxson passed away at 5:30 AM on Sunday October 11, 2020 at Golden Living Center following a 15 year battle with progressive dementia and recently succumbing to COVID19. She was 91 years 5 months and 6 days.

On April 15, 1929, she was born to the late Charles and Mabel (Cripe) Drake at the...

Oct 10, 2020

Mr. Cory A. Klett, 54, of Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 12:25 pm. He had been in ill health. He was born March 27, 1966 in Detroit, MI to Howard E. Klett, who survives him at home, and the late Patricia E. (Spencer) Klett, who precedes him in death.

...

Oct 10, 2020

Sarah J. "Jane" Beatty, 93, formerly of Goshen, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Golden Living Center in Elkhart. She was born on November 8, 1926 to the late Russell and Fannie (Stone) Hinderer.

Jane is survived by her daughters, Tracey (Fernando) Christner-Ochoa and Marla (Reginald) McCreery; stepdaughters, Penny (Larry) Avery and Christine (Charles)Rinehart; ten...