Search Archived Marriage Records
Esther Sue (Leach) Bicknell
PLYMOUTH — Esther Sue (Leach) Bicknell, 72, of Plymouth, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 at home.
She is survived by her husband, Richard “Dick” Bicknell; sons: Jeffrey L. (Donna) Leach of
Frankfort, Richard A. Bicknell Jr., Rob A. (Nikki) Bicknell and Daniel R. Bicknell, all of Plymouth;
five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Dortha M. Arnold; and brother, Willard R.
(Louise) Leach, all of Frankfort.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in the Plymouth House of Prayer, 12450
Plymouth-Goshen Trail. Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where a
reception will follow services. Burial will be in the New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, is in charge of the arrangements.
Maxine F. (Huffer) Keyser
PLYMOUTH — Maxine F. (Huffer) Keyser, 65, of 900 W. Harrison St., Lot #242, Plymouth,
passed away Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, at 1:58 a.m., at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center,
South Bend.
Maxine was born on Nov. 13, 1943, in Plymouth, to Melvin and Thelma (Miller) Huffer. Maxine
and Larry Keyser were married
April 4, 1964. She was a homemaker and the mother of three
children. Maxine was a charter member of the Hoosier Old Wheels and a member of Saint
Michael Catholic Church, Plymouth.
Maxine is survived by her husband Larry, of 44 years; their daughter, Pam and Charles Vice of
Plymouth; their sons, Larry and Susan Keyser of Fultondale, Ala. and Matt and Sara Keyser of
Culver; her sister, Barbara Arnold of Leiters Ford; her brothers: Robert R. Huffer of Plymouth
and Ronald and Joannie Huffer of Florida; her grandchildren: Nicholas Vice, Storm Vice, Oliver
Vice, Joseph Schooler, Cory Keyser, Julie Keyser, Jacob Keyser, and Caitlyn Keyser.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Beverly Jean Hummel.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at 2 p.m., at Van Gilder Funeral Home in
Plymouth, with the Rev. Father William Kummer officiating. Burial will be in Saint Michael
cemetery, at a later date.
Visitation will be Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Van Gilder Funeral
Home, 300 W. Madison St., Plymouth, IN 46563.
Ramona M. Baer
SOUTH BEND — Ramona M. Baer, 73, of Center Street, Tippecanoe, Ind. died Friday, Jan. 23,
2009 at 6 p.m. at Memorial Hospital, South Bend.
She is survived by her husband, Vernon Baer; two sons: David (Carol) Baer of Argos and John
(Sue) Baer of Goshen; four grandchildren; two brothers: Lewis (Joan) Timberlake of Michigan
City and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Timberlake of Fla.
Visitation services will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Deaton-Clemens
Funeral Home, 115 S. Main St., Bourbon.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at the funeral home.
Burial will follow in the Tippecanoe cemetery in Tippecanoe, Ind.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Bourbon Public Library in her memory.
Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Everett W. Ellenwood
ROCHESTER — Everett W. Ellenwood, 81, of Arrowhead Drive, Rochester, Ind. died Friday,
Jan. 23, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. at his home.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy, at home; two sons: David Ellenwood of Palos, Ill. And Daniel
(Jeanette) Ellenwood of Cedar Knolls, N.J. and four grandchildren.
Visitation took place Sunday, Jan. 25 from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200
W. 18th St. Rochester, Ind.
Funeral services took place Sunday at the funeral home at 3:30 p.m.
Burial followed at I.O.O.F. cemetery, Rochester.
Betty Peabody
FLORENCE, S.C. — Betty Peabody, 87, formerly of 301 Lewis St., Plymouth, died of natural
causes at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, in Florence, S.C.
Born in Plymouth on Aug. 29, 1921, Betty was the next to youngest of nine children born to
Harold and Flora Etta Railsback Steiner. Her father was a popular and well-known auctioneer in
Marshall County.
Betty told how after the depression hit, the family moved to the country and had no electricity or
water in their home; she did her homework by oil lamp.
She went to Inwood School for three months and then to Linkville School for the sixth grade and
spent the seventh grade at LaPaz.
She also attended Washington and Webster Schools and graduated from Plymouth High School
with the class of 1940.
Right after graduation she went to work for Montgomery Ward in the catalog department. She
worked 55 hours a week for $25. And thought it was great!
Betty met Cyrus Roy “Butch” Peabody at the roller skating rink. They courted for several years,
but waited until “Butch” got home from World War II, and were married
on April 7, 1946, in the
First United Methodist Church.
After the military service, the Peabody’s lived in O’Fallon, Mo., for 20 years and Betty worked in
the Fort Zumwalt School System. They moved back to Plymouth in 1984.
Betty and Butch loved to square dance, both modern and western. While living in the St. Louis
area, they belonged to five different square dance clubs and danced at one of them every
Sunday night. They belonged to the St. Louis Federation of Square Dancing and were officers of
the State Federation. They participated in a number of national square dance festivals.
She loved to pick blueberries and was called by her friends, “The Blueberry Gal.”
Betty was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Post 1162, the Bourbon
American Legion and the United Methodist Women, Tyra Constance Guild and the Morning
Circle of the First United Methodist Church.
Betty is survived by a daughter, Phyllis (Jack) Cole of Florence, S.C.; and a son, Duane (Kay)
Peabody of Laurel, Md. Four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren survive as well,
together with a brother, Russell Steiner of Bartow, Fla., and two sisters: Beatrice Faulkner of
Niles, Mich., and Julia Whitesell of Rotunda West, Fla.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and Lois Hampton, a sister.
Friends are invited to share memories and celebrate Betty’s life with her family at the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, from
4 to 7 p.m.
Funeral services for Betty, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Dean Fager, pastor of the First United
Methodist Church, will be held in the church at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009.
Burial will be in Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Betty’s memory.
Jesse M. Smith
PLYMOUTH — Jesse M. Smith, 90, of south Michigan Street, Plymouth, Ind. died of natural
causes at Miller’s Merry Manor, Plymouth, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009.
Jesse was the son of Iris B. and Chloe E. (Brown) Smith. He was born in Akron, Ind. May 27, 1918.
He attended Akron High School.
On Sept. 14, 1940, Jesse and Myrtle V. Aldrich were married
in Rochester. Myrtle died in
November of 2006.
They had been married
for 66 years. Jesse served his country in the United States Army.
A machinist, he lived in Teegarden and worked at Edwards Iron Works in South Bend for 20
years and then, lived and worked in Sebring, Fla. for almost 30 more years.
Jesse was a lifetime member of the VFW and enjoyed wood working and fishing.
Jesse is survived by a daughter, Linda L. (Kenneth) Henry of Lexington, Ky.; two sons: Ronald
(Peggy) Smith of Plymouth and Daniel L. (Janet) Smith of Walkerton.; a brother, John D.
(Mercedes) Smith, of Spain; a half-sister, Marilyn Johnson of Sebring, Fla.; five grandchildren,
two step-grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Jesse was preceded in death by an infant brother and
Robert E. Smith, a brother.
Friends will be welcomed to celebrate Jesse’s life with his family from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday,
Jan. 27, 2009, at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Jesse will be held in the funeral home following visitation at 11 a.m.
Tuesday.
The Rev. Robbie Keck, pastor of the Teegarden First Brethren Church, where Jesse was a
member, will officiate.
Burial will be next to his wife in the Morris cemetery, LaPaz.
Memorial gifts in Jesse’s memory may be made to the Teegarden First Brethren Church.
Mary E. Thrasher
WARSAW — Mary E. Thrasher, 79, of Warsaw, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009 at 1:10 a.m. at
Memorial Hospital, South Bend.
She is survived by son, Kerry (Ada) Thrasher of Warsaw; daughter, Pamela Chaplin of Warsaw;
four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers: Russell Menzie of Logansport and
Kenneth Menzie of Plymouth; and sister, Ethel Coplen of Argos.
Services will be held at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel - Warsaw Wednesday, Jan. 28 at
noon. Visitation is two hours prior to the service Wednesday. Burial will be at Oakwood
cemetery, Warsaw.
Doris Lorene Hittle
LOGANSPORT — Doris Lorene Hittle, 78, of Smith Street, Logansport, Ind., died Sunday, Jan.
25, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. at Chase Center, Logansport due to failing health for the past two years.
She is survived by a son, Randy R. (Kenna) Hittle of Terre Haute, Ind.; two grandsons; two
sisters: Anna (Ora-”Bud”) Clemons of Macy, Ind. and Margaret (Virgil) White of Macy and a
brother, James (Barbara) Rock of Rochester.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 and one hour prior to services
Wednesday at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St. Rochester.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Zion cemetery, southwest of Culver, Ind.
Memorials may be made in her honor to Southern Care Hospice.
Andrew D. Hartman
PLYMOUTH — Andrew “Andy” Dustin Hartman, 31, of 16727 West 14th Road, Plymouth,
passed away at 9:25 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Emergency Room, Plymouth, from injuries sustained in a farming accident.
Andy was born on Nov. 26, 1977, in Plymouth to Dale Hartman and Eileen (Cooley) Hartman.
Andy enjoyed camping with family, outdoor adventures, and helping others. His greatest joy was
his new baby daughter, Chayla Lois May Hartman. Andy loved his family and especially enjoyed
spending time with his nieces and nephew.
Andy is survived by his mother, Eileen Cooley and her significant other Richard Layne of
Bremen; his father, Dale Hartman; Andy’s significant other, Stephanie Johnson; their 4-monthold
daughter, Chayla; his sisters: Carrie Hartman of Plymouth, Brenda Savage and her
significant other Dave Anderson of Bremen, Emily and Eric Reed of Bremen; his grandmother,
Helen Cooley of Hamlet; his aunts and uncles: Karl and Nan Hartman of Plymouth, Art and Toni
Hartman of Argos, Becky McKee of Plymouth, Earl Dean and Lucy Cooley of Florida, Ken and
Emily Cooley of LaPorte, Beverly and Roy McKee of Battle Ground, Shirley and Myron Brown of
Knox, Jerry and Vicki Cooley of Knox, Jimmy Cooley of Hamlet, and Denny and Kathy Cooley of
Hamlet; his nephew, James Reed; his nieces: Coral Reed, Sierra Wasiak, Zianna Hummel and
Lilyan Reed; and his cousins: Jamie and Beth Hartman of Nappanee, Aaron and Kim Hartman of
Bremen, J.J. Hartman of Tennessee, Janette and Marc Walter of LaPaz, Laurine and Dave
Ringer, Ann and Jon Crouse, Matt and Tron McKee, Steve and Deana Brown, Mike and April
Brown, and Jesse McKee.
Andy was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lloyd and Lois Hartman.
Funeral services for Andy will be held Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, at 2:30 p.m., at VAN GILDER
FUNERAL HOME, Plymouth, with the Rev. Kevin T. Miller officiating.
A time of visiting with the Hartman Family will be Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, from 4 to 7 p.m., and
Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, from noon until the time of the service at 2:30 p.m., at the VAN GILDER
FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Madison St., Plymouth, IN 46563.
Mary Louise Kale
ROCHESTER — Mary Louise Kale, 79, of Rochester, died at 3:09 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2009
at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester.
She is survived by daughters: Beth Foster of Rochester and Sharon (Robert) Helt of Rochester;
sons: Donn (Brenda) Kale of Rochester and Thomas (Phyllis) Kale of St. Louis, Mo.; seven
grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother, Charles F. (Jennie) Green of Warsaw.
Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester,
and one hour prior to the service Friday. Funeral services are Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. at the
funeral home. Burial will be at the Rochester IOOF cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Rochester.
Kenneth E. Arvin
KNOX — Kenneth E. Arvin, 88, of Knox, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. Kenneth was
born Aug. 15, 1920 in Flora to John E. and Florence A. (Cary) Arvin, both deceased. He was a
veteran of WWII having served in the U.S. Navy.
He married
Laura Bunton June 20, 1981, she survives. Also surviving are his stepchildren:
Penny Singleton of Culver, John Korp of Knox and Dan Korp of Knox; four grandchildren; and
one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by two brothers.
Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. (CDT) at M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox.
Funeral services are Friday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. (CDT) at the funeral home. Interment will take
place at Eagle Creek cemetery.
