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Michael A. King
MENTONE -- Michael A. King, 61, of 4929 South 700 West, Mentone, died Monday, Oct. 31,
2011 at 5:25 a.m. at his residence after a yearlong battle with cancer.
He was born May 19, 1950 in Rochester to Charles King and Jeanette Hall.
May 18, 1984 in Talma, he married
Shelly K. (Utter) King; she survives.
Michael was currently working as a bindery line operator at R. R. Donnelley in Warsaw, where he
had worked for 35 years.
Michael graduated from Triton High School in 1968. He served his country in the Army serving in
Vietnam (1970 to 1971). He was a member of the American Legion of Warsaw. He enjoyed
riding his motorcycle as well as golfing. He loved spending time with his granddaughter.
In addition to his wife, Shelly King of Mentone, he is survived by a daughter, Kimberly Dubbs of
Mentone; son, Chad and wife Sylvia King of Plymouth; granddaughter, Delanie Dubbs; parents,
Charles and wife Faye King of Bourbon; and a sister, Chris Boyer of Bourbon.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St.,
Mentone, with Pastor Rod Utter officiating.
Visitation hours will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 at King Memorial Home,
Mentone.
Burial will be at Sycamore cemetery, Mentone where graveside military rites will be performed
by the American Legion and the VFW of Warsaw.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice.
Susan Lynn Allen
PLYMOUTH -- Susan Lynn Allen, 53, of 11927 Quail Ridge Drive, Plymouth, died in the St.
Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Sue
passed in the arms of her Lord at 4 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011.
Born in Harvey, Ill., Feb. 23, 1958, she was the daughter of George and Ruth Eileen Braselton
Hill.
She graduated from Tinley Park High School, Tinley Park, Ill., in 1976, and from Olivet Nazarene
College. She finished earning her teaching degree at IUSB. While going to school she worked at
the Fiesta Hair Salon in Plymouth.
May 19, 1979, in Lansing, Ill., Sue and Charles E. Allen were married
.
Family was the most important part of her life. Sue taught computer classes at her church,
enjoyed playing games and loved to travel. She especially had fun going on motorcycle rides
with her husband, Chuck.
For more than five years, she taught English at Culver Community High School.
Sue was a member of the Plymouth Wesleyan Church and of the National Educators
Association.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Chuck, two sons and a daughter. Her sons are
Nicholas (Anna) Allen, and Jeffrey (Alleigh) Allen, both of Plymouth, and her daughter, Rachael
(Chris) DeMarse, Marion.
Her mother, Ruth, of Plymouth, also survives, together with a sister, Barbara Ann Shidler,
Mishawaka, and two brothers, Dale Allen (Teddie Lynn) Hill, South Bend, and Donald Ray
(Victoria) Hill, Valparaiso.
A grandson, Lucas Scott Willis survives and her in-laws, Charles Curtis and Doris June Allen.
Sue was preceded in death by her father, George Hill.
Friends are invited to share memories and condolences with Sue’s family Friday, Nov. 4, 2011,
from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Sue will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, with calling one hour prior, at the Plymouth
Wesleyan Church, 11203 S. Michigan St. Pastors Ollie Dongell and Ed Friberg will officiate.
Interment will be in the New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts in Sue’s memory may be made to the Plymouth Wesleyan Church Building Fund.
Richard J. Biever
NAPPANEE -- Richard J. Biever, 84, 553 Ivy Court, Nappanee, died early Tuesday morning, at
2 a.m., unexpectedly from natural causes, at Community Hospital of Bremen.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughters, Nanette (Larry) Fredericks, Julie (Egbert) Dijkstra,
both of Nappanee, Joan (Peter) Kirby, San Antonio, Texas; son, Richard (Heidi) Biever, State
College, Pa.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and sisters, Peggy (Gene) Lerner,
Spokane, Wash., and Dorothy Davis, Tacoma, Wash.
Visitation is Friday, Nov. 4, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home,
until the 11 a.m. memorial service. Inurnment will follow at Union Center cemetery. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Community Hospital of Bremen.
Betty M. Bellman
WARSAW -- Betty M. Bellman, 83, of Warsaw, died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 at Miller’s Merry
Manor in Warsaw.
She is survived by her husband, Harold Bellman; sons, Richard (Sue) Bellman of Chesterton,
Kenneth (Carolyn) Bellman of Mishawaka and Ronald (Karen) Bellman of Bourbon; sister,
Marian Sloboda of Mishawaka; brother, Noble 'Spark' (Martha) Hand of Bremen; and seven
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Mishler Funeral Home, in Milford.
Burial will follow in Bremen cemetery.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 at the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.
The Mishler Funeral Home in Milford is assisting the family with arrangements.
Pamela Housley
BREMEN -- Pamela Housley, 61, of Bremen died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 at Elkhart Center for
Hospice.
Survivors include husband James David Housley of Bremen; daughters: Mindy (David
Thompson) Waldman of Bremen and Marissa (Joel) Reinholtz of Osceola; five grandchildren;
brothers: Mark Cox of Plymouth and Bill (Brenda) Cox, Jr. of Bremen and sisters: Frances Bope
of Bremen, Mel (Jim) Cherrone of Bremen and Barb Finney of Bourbon.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at Bremen Church of the Brethren.
Burial will follow at Bremen cemetery.
Visitation is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011 at the Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice or to The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society.
Arthur W. Wagner
LANCASTER, Calif. -- Arthur W. Wagner was born in Plymouth, May 15, 1921.
He grew up a proud Hoosier and a Notre Dame fan. He loved flying, fishing and sports,
especially football and golf. He sought a life and career with his passion, which was flying and
airplanes. He spent 2 1/2 years in the Army Air Corps as a pilot during World War II. After the
war, he moved to Lancaster, Calif., to continue his professional life as a test pilot and flight test
engineer for North American (Boeing) at Edwards Air Force Base. After he retired he moved to
Spring Hill, Fla. where he lived for most of his remaining years very happy and content.
He spent his final years back in California with his children, Danette Daley, 46, Roger Wagner,
51, both Lancaster, Calif. residents, and Scott Wagner, 48, of McKinleyville, Calif.
Art was a wonderful, intelligent, kindhearted, and considerate man who will be lovingly
remembered by all who knew him.
Rodney K. Barbknecht
HAMLET -- Rodney K. Barbknecht, 52, of Monroe, Ga., formerly of Hamlet, died Nov. 9, 2011 in
Georgia following a short illness.
Survivors include his parents, Lee Barbknecht of Conyers, Ga. and Dorothy Barbknecht of Knox;
daughter, Amber (Eric Colley); granddaughter, Cheyenne of Ga.; step-son, Joshua Russell of
Ga.; brother, Gary (Davina) Barbknecht of Grovertown; sister, Nancy Barbknecht of Valparaiso
and special friend, Penny Langford of Ga.
A memorial service was held Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 in Georgia.
Abrom Leon Justis
PLYMOUTH -- Abrom Leon Justis, 72, of Plymouth, died at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011
at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. He was born Nov. 18, 1938 in Kentucky to Ellis and
Gusta Justis.
Surviving is his wife Opal Marie (Shock) Justis of Culver, one son, Jeff (Rhonda) Justis of
Culver, three daughters, Debra (Jim) Adams of Plymouth, Michelle (Arden) Clemans of
Rochester, and Tammy (Toney) May of West Palm Beach, Fla. Also surviving are nine
grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three brothers and two sisters. He was preceded in death
by his parents, one brother, one sister, and a great-grandson.
Leon was a U.S. Army veteran, a member of the Kingsberry Masonic Lodge #222, he attended
the Calvary Baptist Church in Knox, enjoyed fishing, being outdoors and watching NASCAR.
Leon retired as a foreman from Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor.
There will be no visitation or services and cremation will take place. Elkhart Cremation Services
is entrusted with arrangements.
Marjorie G. Schneider
KNOX -- Marjorie G. Schneider, 87, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 in Golden Living Center, Knox.
Survivors include three sons, Ron Schneider of Nevada, Gary Schneider of Plymouth and Shelby
Schneider of Knox; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday at 11 a.m. CST at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Knox where
visitation is Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will be in the Lutheran
Community cemetery, Bass Lake. Memorial contributions may be given to the church. Rannells
Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel is handling arrangements.
Gene Owen Wakeland
ARGOS -- Gene Owen Wakeland, 86, of 20059 Michigan Road, Argos, died Nov. 9, 2011 at
8:15 p.m. at his residence following a sudden illness.
He was born June 16, 1925 in Tippecanoe County to Fred and Lola (Ulrey) Wakeland. He had
lived in Argos for 48 years, coming from Fort Wayne.
April 21, 1946 in Fort Wayne, he married
Marjorie J. Warner; together they shared 43 years. She
preceded him in death Dec. 23, 1989.
He was a farmer. He was active in Marshall County 4-H serving as Superintendent of the Swine
Barn for nearly 20 years. He also was active in the Marshall County Pork Producers, American
Berkshire Association. He served as a director with the American Berkshire Association.
He was a faithful member of the Argos United Methodist Church and loyal member of the choir.
He was a graduate of Huntertown High School class of 1944.
He is survived by daughters – Sally Watkins and husband Roger of Bloomington; Janelle Blanch
and husband Dale of Argos; son – Larry Wakeland and wife Cathy of Sydney, Australia; 11
grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and brother – Max
Wakeland and wife Donna of Fort Wayne.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends may visit with the family Tuesday Nov., 15, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Argos United
Methodist Church, 540 N. Michigan St., Argos.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday Nov. 16, 2011 at the church, with Rev. Robert Vale
officiating.
Burial will be at Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Argos United Methodist Church Choir Fund: 540 N.
Michigan St., Argos, IN 46501.
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
Janet Sylvia Zartman Coplen
ROCHESTER -- Mrs. Janet Sylvia Zartman Coplen, 84, of 920 Sunflower Lane passed away
Thursday morning shortly after admission to Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester. Janet was born
Nov. 21, 1926 in Mexico, Indiana from the union of John William Franklin and Marie Flenner
Zartman. Growing up she was one of five children. Janet shared her childhood with two sisters
Rosanna and Carolyn and two brothers John and Glen. With great pride in 1945 she graduated
from Fulton High School. Following high school she attended and graduated from cosmetology
school in Ft. Wayne and became a hairstylist in Rochester. A 42-year resident of Argos, Janet
and Frances moved to Rochester this past April.
On her 21st birthday in 1947, Janet married
her best friend and love of her life, Frances Oliver
Coplen. Together they enjoyed nearly 64 years of life’s adventures. Their union produced two
children a daughter Linda and son Larry. Over the years the family tree grew to include a
granddaughter Angela and great-grandson Milo, who was a long awaited apple of his Grandma’s
eye.
Passionate about her faith -- Janet became a member of the 1st Christian Church in 1969....a
membership that spanned more than four decades. A dedicated employee, she worked at Torin
Corporation and retired after 17 years. To keep sharp Janet enjoyed the challenges of jigsaw
puzzles.
An avid gardener, Janet took great pride in planting flowers that enhanced the landscape of her
yard each summer. A collector, Janet amassed more than 600 Beanie Babies. She was proud
owner of a fine china plate collection including treasures by the artist Ted De Grazia, well known
for his impressions of the native Americans of the southwest. To relax she and Frances enjoyed
bowling in the mixed leagues and senior league in both Plymouth and Rochester. Together they
enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Ariz. for 15 winters.
As a talented baker, Janet was best known for her delectable cherry and apple pies with her
secret homemade crust, often imitated but never duplicated by many who tried.
Janet is lovingly remembered by her husband Frances, daughter Linda Hagen of Oswego, Ill., a
son Larry Coplen of Indianapolis, her granddaughter Angela Ossar and husband Joel and their
son Milo Benjamin Ossar all of Austin, Texas. Preceding her in death were her parents, two
sisters Carolyn Young, Rosanna Overmyer, and two brothers John Robert Zartman and Glen
Dean Zartman.
A celebration of the life of Janet Zartman Coplen will be Monday at 10 a.m. at the Good Family
Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester. Friends may visit with her family from 2 to 5 p.m.
Sunday and an hour prior to services Monday. Rev. Mike VanHeyningen will preside. She will be
laid to eternal rest in the family plot at Rochester’s IOOF cemetery.
The family asks that you consider memorials made in Janet’s name to the 1st Christian Church.
