Obituaries

Jul 29, 2018

SOUTH BEND — Mark W. Green, 64, of South Bend, passed away Sunday, July 29, 2018, at Trailpoint Village after an extended illness.

A native of Mishawaka, Mark was born Feb. 2, 1954, to the late William E. and Mary (DeRoo) Green.

Surviving are his three sisters, Tina (Dick) Koss of Elkhart, Renee (Michael) Schapa,...

Jul 28, 2018

ELKHART — Late in the evening on Friday, July 27, 2018, Melissa Nicole Axsom lost her nearly lifelong battle with opioid addiction.

Melissa was 36 years old.

Every day, 115 Americans lose their lives to opioid addiction and that number is doubling every year.

That's 230 mothers and fathers who survive their own...

Jul 27, 2018

ELKHART — Rose Marie (Osowski) Doland, 88, of Elkhart, passed away Friday, July 27, 2018, at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born Sept. 6, 1929, in Chicago, to the late Bruno and Harriet (Gobczynski) Osowski.

In addition to her parents, her husband, Amos B. Doland, and four brothers, Edward, Arthur, Roman and Richard Osowski, and...

Jul 25, 2018

ELKHART — Ruth F. Stuart, 91, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Vista Park following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 27, 1926, in Pearson, Georgia, to the late Jackson Seaborn Lastinger and Anna Gertrude Wall Lastinger.

She was the Elkhart Township assessor, a career politician for more than 20 years...

Jul 25, 2018

ELKHART —  Karen Jo O'Donovan, 60, of Elkhart, passed away at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis on Wed., July 25, 2018.

She was born in Goshen on Sept. 21, 1957 to the late Joe Evans and Deloris (Bess) Evans, who survives. On Dec. 10, 1982, she married Liam O'Donovan. He also survives.

Also surviving are sons...

Jul 24, 2018

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — James M. Fierce, 57, of Garden Grove, formerly of Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, July 24, 2018, at his home.

He was born on Jan. 8, 1961, in Cleveland, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur M. "Art" Fierce.

Surviving are his mother, Barbara B. Fierce,...

Jul 23, 2018

ELKHART —  Helen Marie LeFever, 75, of Elkhart, passed away Monday, July 23, 2018, at the Elkhart Center for Hospice.

She was born Oct. 29, 1942, in Buffalo, New York, to Andrew and Helen (Kissel) Roman.

She married William LeFever Sr. on Feb. 17, 1968, at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Helen worked as...

Jul 21, 2018

GRANGER —  Mary K. "Katy" Wine, 48, of Granger, passed away at Elkhart General Hospital on Saturday, July 21, 2018.

She was born, in Elkhart,  April 11, 1970, to Robert and Anjie (Moore) Wine, who survive.

Also surviving are children ChiAnna (David Benedict) Wine, Laci Wine-Riege and Christopher Blake; siblings Jennifer Duck and Anthony Wine;...

Jul 21, 2018

ELKHART — Cindy M. Wyres, 51, of Elkhart, passed away at Elkhart General Hospital on Saturday, July 21, 2018, following a sudden illness.

She was born  March 9, 1967, to the late William and Sue (Simpson) Green Evans. She married Todd Wyres in Elkhart on July 4, 2011. He survives at home.

Also surviving are...

Jul 20, 2018

ELKHART — Thomas R. Nichols, 67, of Elkhart, passed away Friday, July 20, 2018, at Elkhart General Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born April 21, 1951, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Robert and Carrie (Chalmers) Nichols.

He married Roxann Cantrell on May 21, 1983, in Elkhart.

Surviving are his wife, Roxann Nichols;...

Jul 19, 2018

ELKHART – James C. "Hippy" Gipson, 56, of Elkhart, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2018 at the Elkhart Center for Hospice.

He was born November 25, 1956 in Elkhart, IN, to William C. Gipson and Glenda Fay (Futrell) Bryant.

Hippy, as he was known by most, loved to travel. He traveled all over the country...

Jul 19, 2018

ELKHART — Arlene L. Kurtz, 78, of Elkhart, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart following a brief illness.

She was born June 1, 1940, in Chicago, to the late Ben and Laverne (Cox) Leslie.

Surviving are children James, Keith (Rita) Kurtz, Denise (Ron Allard); siblings Brian and...

Jul 15, 2018

A life story is not available at this time for Jennifer Kay (Roderick) Hager. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

Jul 15, 2018

ELKHART — Verda Lee Miller, 76, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at her home of natural causes at 12:40 p.m. Sunday, July 15, 2018.

She was born Aug. 31, 1941, in LaGrange County, to the late Harry and Clara (Berkey) Weaver.

She was also preceded in death by her former spouse, Abram "A.J." Miller, a...

Jul 15, 2018

ELKHART — Jennifer Kay (Roderick) Hager, 45, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018.

She was born Jan. 11, 1973, in Bloomington, Illinois, to Thomas and Connie (Motts) Roderick.

She worked as a food preparer for New Generation Catering and volunteered at VFW Post 88.

She enjoyed Harley-Davidson motorcycles, coloring and helping...

Jul 13, 2018

ELKHART - James A. Riffel, 76, of Elkhart, passed away Friday, July 13, 2018 at the Elkhart Center for Hospice. He was born Aug. 17, 1941 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN to Sam and Rosella (Kronewitter) Riffel. After attending Mishawaka High School, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he was proud to find out that some of...

Jul 12, 2018

A life story is not available at this time for Infant Azariah Thomas Stair (JBJ). We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

Jul 12, 2018

ELKHART — Azariah Thomas Stair, 2 weeks, beautiful infant son of Jordan B.V. and Ashley J. Stair of Elkhart, passed away in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 12, 2018, after being taken to Riley's Children's Hospital following a sudden illness.

He was born, in South Bend, June 27, 2018, and is survived by his parents; grandparents Thomas and...

Jul 12, 2018

ELKHART — Joyce Lucille Gibson, 84, of Elkhart, passed away Thursday, July 12, 2018.

She was born May 7, 1934, in Olney, Illinois, to George and Zelda (Sly) Boatman. She married Hatcher Gibson on Oct. 20, 1990, in Elkhart.

Joyce loved crosswords, puzzles and spending time with her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother...

Jul 10, 2018

ELKHART — Linda Diane McFarland, 59, of Elkhart, passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

She was born March 25, 1959, in Manistee, Michigan, to Henry and Barbara (Eisely) French.

She married Kevin McFarland in 1998 in Niles, Michigan.

Linda graduated from Niles High School in 1977 and worked as a CSR at MSC...