Obituaries

Jul 6, 2008

ELKHART -- Danny R. Kohler Sr., 53, of Holiday View Drive, died at 11 p.m. Sunday (July 6, 2008) in Elkhart General Hospital after an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 18, 1955, in South Bend to Richard A. and Janet Kohler. On Nov. 23, 1985, he married Judy J. Kohler in Elkhart.

She survives,...

Jul 3, 2008

ELKHART -- Jerry G. Smith Jr., 85, of Bower Street, died at 8:06 p.m. Thursday (July 3, 2008) at Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Sept. 3, 1922, in Lafayette to Jerry G. and Adeline (Runnels) Smith Sr. On April 29, 1950, he married Irene M. Gibbons in Ann Arbor, Mich.

She survives along with...

Jul 3, 2008

ELKHART -- Friends of Hazel D. Wenner-Schmidt may call from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St.

Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home and burial will be in Prairie Street Cemetery.

Mrs. Wenner-Schmidt, 87, of Laurel Street, died at 3:30 a.m. Thursday (July 3, 2008)...

Jun 27, 2008

ELKHART -- Charles Gilkerson, 54, of Elkhart, died at 6:25 a.m. Friday (June 27, 2008) at Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born on Feb. 18, 1954, in Winchester, Va., to Eddie Grandison and Goldie Gilkerson. He married Wendy on June 5, 1976, in Winchester. She survives with one daughter, Frances (Willie) Gilkerson-Jones of Elkhart; two brothers, Eric...

Jun 26, 2008

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Terry Dale Marra, 64, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Elkhart, Ind., died at 1:48 p.m. Tuesday (June 24, 2008) at home after an extended illness.

He was born on April 12, 1944, to Howard and Edith (Cullip) Marra in Elkhart. He married Gloria Jean Chris on Jan. 26, 1968, in Elkhart. She died on...

Jun 20, 2008

ELKHART -- Mary A. Archambault, 76, of Elkhart, died at 1:56 a.m. Friday (June 13, 2008) at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born to John and Anna (Mitchell) Mosier in Elkhart on Aug. 25, 1931.

Survivors include a daughter, Cindy (Larry) Riggs of Elkhart; two sons, Charles Archambault of Mishawaka and Bob (Rebecca) Archambault of...

Jun 20, 2008

ELKHART -- Antony Dercach, 70, of 1001 W. Hively Ave., died at 4:05 a.m. Friday (June 20, 2008) at Golden Living Center.

He was born April 26, 1938, in Ukraine to Ivan and Maria Dercach. He later married Nerva Louis McClure, who died in 1973.

Mr. Dercach is survived by one daughter, Louise "Marie" (Kevin)...

Jun 15, 2008

ELKHART -- Kenneth Louis Timpe, 79, of Elkhart, died at 10 a.m. Sunday (June 15, 2008) at home.

He was born July 22, 1928, in Elkhart, to Dorsey and Almeda (Kuehm) Timpe. On July 9, 1950, he married Donna J. Martin in Elkhart.

She survives along with two sons, Michael (Rebecca) Timpe of Vicksburg, Mich.,...

Jun 12, 2008

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. -- Harold Eugene Penn, 80, of Edwardsburg, died at 7:10 a.m. Thursday (June 12, 2008) at home.

He was born March 5, 1928, in Columbia City, Ind., to John W. and Audra Merle (Bolinger) Penn. On Jan. 25, 2003, he married Joy W. Oswalt in Elkhart.

She survives along with three sons, Allen...

Jun 11, 2008

ELKHART -- Eugene F. "Franklin" Reed, 81, of C.R. 4 in Elkhart, died at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday (June 11, 2008) at Elkhart Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Nov. 8, 1926, to John H. Reed and Esther Bridge.

He is survived by two brothers, Lloyd "Butch" (Gwen) Reed, of El Mirage, Ariz., and Larry Reed of...

Jun 10, 2008

ELKHART -- Jeffrey L. Best, 57, of Crescent Street, died Tuesday (June 10, 2008) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Nov. 9, 1950, in Garrett to Norman Sr. and Lois (Freeze) Best.

Mr. Best is survived by a son, Joel Best of Fort Benning, Ga.; two daughters, Jill (Jay) Madary of Glen Ellyn, Ill.,...

Jun 9, 2008

ELKHART -- Crisley A. "Arlin" Messick, 82, of Frances Avenue, died at 10 a.m. Monday (June 9, 2008) at home.

He was born July 27, 1925, in Beech Grove, Tenn., to James Quincy and Myrtle (Brown) Messick. On Sept. 21, 1946, he married Dorothy Ann Haggard in Coffee County, Tenn. She died in Elkhart in August 2005....

Jun 7, 2008

MUSKEGON, Mich. -- Thomas Willard Phillips Sr., 61, of 1260 Howard St., formerly of Elkhart, Ind., died Saturday (June 7, 2008) in the Poppen Residence of Harbor Hospice, Muskegon.

He was born July 7, 1946, in Muskegon to Bernard and Neva (Crofoot) Phillips.

Mr. Phillips is survived by one son, Thomas W. (Shawn)...

Jun 3, 2008

ELKHART -- David G. "Dave" Calahan, 67, of S.R. 120, died at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday (June 3, 2008) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born June 16, 1940, in Sturgis, Mich., to Charles and Bertha (Baker) Calahan. On July 17, 1993, he married Cindy M. Zong in Bristol.

She survives along with one daughter, Amy...

Jun 1, 2008

ELKHART -- Jerry Cline Sims, 60, of 2600 Morehouse Ave., died Sunday (June 1, 2008) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Dec. 15, 1947, in Andrews, N.C., to Cline and Mamie Gertrude (West) Sims.

Mr. Sims is survived by one son, Brian Sims of Columbus, Ohio; two daughters, Teresa Sims of Elkhart...

Jun 1, 2008

ELKHART -- George Arthur Doland, 82, of Brightwood Boulevard, died at 3:20 p.m. Sunday (June 1, 2008) in Golden Living Center.

He was born Oct. 19, 1925, in Newton County to George and Elizabeth (Bachelder) Doland. On Sept. 26, 1979, he married Marilyn M. (Davis) Dickerhoff in Elkhart.

She survives along with one son, Timothy...

May 31, 2008

ELKHART -- Carol Jean Berg, 79, of 333 W. Mishawaka Road, died at 3:20 p.m. Friday (May 30, 2008) at Valley View Health Care Center.

She was born Nov. 5, 1928, in Mishawaka to Franklin and Delia (Cole) Foster. She married Clifford Newland Jr. He preceded her in death. She married Walter R. Berg. He died in...

May 31, 2008

ELKHART -- Reinold F. "Ray" Kraus, 83, of Kollar St., died at 10:25 a.m. Saturday (May 31, 2008) at Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Jan. 29, 1925, in Carol County, Iowa, to Frank and Celia Kraus. He married Penny M. Svircousky on Aug. 30, 1975, in Elkhart.

She survives along with one sister, Ceola...

May 29, 2008

ELKHART -- Fred William Lundgren, 78, of Woodland Estates Drive, died Thursday (May 29, 2008) at home after an extended illness.

He was born March 12, 1930, in Chicago to Fred W. and Lily Mae (Farmer) Lundgren. He married Dorothy Jeanne Rasmussen on Dec. 27, 1952, in Chicago. She survives.

Also surviving are...

May 28, 2008

ELKHART -- Hazel Annabelle Purciarele, 85, of Jeanwood Drive, died at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday (May 28, 2008) in Eastlake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born Sept. 24, 1922, in Elkhart County to Conrad and Vietta (Miller) Mohr.

Ms. Purciarele is survived by two sons, James J. (Connie) Purciarele of Trenton, S.C., and David P....