Obituaries

Aug 3, 2016

ELKHART — Valerie Grace Starkweather, 78, of Elkhart, passed away on Wednesday evening, Aug. 3, at her home, after a battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 21, 1937, in Hartford, Conn., to Prosper and Louise (Zaccaro) Rossano. Surviving are her children, daughter Diana L. Cole (Fred Sawyer), and a son, Troy A. Starkweather (Nora Fisher) both of Elkhart; four...

Aug 2, 2016

ELKHART — Patsy Lisi-Bock, 80, Elkhart, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 2, at her residence. She was born Sept. 6, 1935 in Kewanna, Ind., to Gerald L. and Pearl B. (Greer) Bock. Survivors include two sons: Steven (Cathie Struble) Lisi and Vincent (Toni) Lisi, both of Elkhart; four daughters: Pamela (Jay) Michael, Jeri (Mike) Bailey, Crystal (Jim) Rinehart, all of Elkhart,...

Aug 2, 2016

ELKHART — Orlando Fernandini, 87, of Elkhart, died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Eastlake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elkhart. Mr. Fernandini was born Dec. 30, 1928, in Cuba and originally came to Elkhart in 2006 from New Jersey. He is survived by four daughters, Susan Cabell, Sandy Burgess, Shirley Kleban and Joanne Hollar; one cousin, Robert Fernandini;...

Aug 1, 2016

Aug 1, 2016

ELKHART — Thomas P. "Tom" Kretschmer, 51, of Elkhart, passed away from a sudden illness while in Chicago on business at 12:24 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1. He was born Sept. 23, 1964, in Elkhart, to the late Bernard C. and Doris (Krake) Kretschmer. Along with his former spouse, Marcia Kretschmer, Tom is survived by his children, Brynna D. Kretschmer of...

Aug 1, 2016

ELKHART — Larry W. DeFord, 77, of Elkhart, passed to his rest Monday, Aug. 1, at Cass County Medical Care Facility, after an extended illness. Larry was born Sept. 12, 1938, in Elkhart, to the late James C. and Ethel I. (Miller) DeFord. He married the former Irmgard L. Friedauer on Feb. 15, 1964, in Goshen. She survives, as well...

Jul 30, 2016

ELKHART — Douglas J. Marshall, 46, of Elkhart, died Saturday, July 30, in the intensive care unit of Elkhart General Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin Street, Elkhart, Indiana 46514.

Jul 28, 2016

Sherryl G. "Sherry" Leeper, 55, of Union, MI, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 7:08 am. She was born in Dayton, OH on Mar. 1, 1961 to Curtis L. Leeper of Anderson and the late Joan E. (Jarnagain) Leeper, and is survived by her spouse of over 11...

Jul 28, 2016

GRANGER — Bennie D. Moore Jr., 45, of Granger, passed away Thursday morning, July 28, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Bennie was born Aug. 10, 1970, in Morristown, Tenn., to Bennie D. and Brenda K. (Shannon) Moore Sr. He married Angel  L. Metzler on Aug. 31, 1991. in Middlebury. Surviving are his wife of almost 25 years, Angel L....

Jul 26, 2016

ELKHART — The Rev. Dick R. Nichols, 79, of Elkhart, went into the loving arms of his savior, Jesus Christ, at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at his residence in Elkhart. He was born June 4, 1937, in Leesburg, to the late Milton and Ruth (Pierce) Nichols. He was one of 13 children. Two siblings survive, Betty Lopez and Inez...

Jul 25, 2016

ELKHART — Eileen Kelson, devoted mother, daughter, wife, business professional and community volunteer, passed away peacefully Monday, July 25, after a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer. Eileen was born April 12, 1960. She was the daughter of Arthur and Adrienne Danko and grew up in their Dolton, Ill., home. She attended Thornridge High School and graduated from Bauder College, Arlington,...

Jul 24, 2016

SOUTH BEND — John Karl Nilsen, 52, of South Bend, passed away Sunday, July 24, at his residence. He was born April 4, 1964 in Goshen to Robert W. Nilsen Sr. and Royann L. (Endsley) Cross. John was a U.S. Army veteran and spent several years serving in the National Guard. He was employed as a crane operator at the...

Jul 24, 2016

ELKHART — Elisabeth Marie Ditmer, 92, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, July 24, at Valley View Health Care in Elkhart. She was born Oct. 13, 1923, in Elkhart, the daughter of Earl J. and Orpha W. (Lutz) Snook. On June 23, 1945, she married her husband of 69 years, Marlin E. Ditmer. He preceded her in death Nov....

Jul 23, 2016

ELKHART — Mary Ellen Sawyer, 86, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday evening, July 23, at Riverside Village. She was born Aug. 8, 1929, in Elkhart, to the late Russell and Dorothy (Colby) Elliott. She married James R. "Jim" Sawyer on Sept. 15, 1951; Jim died Feb. 19, 2010. Mary is survived by her children, Thomas R. (Dru) Sawyer and...

Jul 21, 2016

GOSHEN — Mrs. Wilma M. Berkey, 95, of Bristol, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 6:35 am. She was born in Milford on June 2, 1921 to the late Henry and Freida (Lanz) Ruch and then married John C. Berkey on Aug. 20, 1940 in Goshen. He passed away in 1979. Surviving are her...

Jul 20, 2016

ELKHART — David W. Shoufler, 58, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, following an extended illness. He was born March 6, 1958, in Danville, Ill., to the late Jerold W. and Beverly A. (Smock) Shoufler and then married Leticia (Moreno) on Oct. 27, 1979. She survives him at home....

Jul 20, 2016

MIDDLEBURY — Allan L. Harrington, 72, of Middlebury, passed away Wednesday, July 20, at his residence. He was born Feb. 3, 1944, in Plymouth, to Robert L. and Ruby L. (Harbaugh) Harrington. On April 1, 1982, he married his wife, Melody A. Myers of Middlebury. In addition to his wife, other survivors include one son, Warran "Lance" Dawson of Richmond,...

Jul 17, 2016

ELKHART — A. June Fisher, 91, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday, July 17, at the Elkhart Hospice House. She was born May 21, 1925 in Charleston, W.Va., to Herbert E. and Josephine B. (Covey) Young. Surviving are two sons, Rev. Richard (Lois) Fisher of Fairlawn, Ohio and Rev. Mike (Ronnalee) Fisher of Elkhart. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Amanda (Dr....

Jul 15, 2016

HOLIDAY, Fla. — Lee R. Shelt, 75, of Holiday, Fla., and formerly of Elkhart, passed away July 15 at his residence in Florida. Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home in Elkhart.

Jul 14, 2016

ELKHART — Carolyn M. Hoeppner, 78, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 14, at the Eastlake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elkhart following an extended illness. She was born May 8, 1938, in Granger, to the late Walter and Grace (Artley) Schuelke. She went on to marry Bruce L. Hoeppner on Dec. 13, 1958, in Elkhart. He survives her...