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Michael L. Newcomer
Michael L. Newcomer, 58, of Bremen HealthCare, formerly of Nappanee, died at 2:50 p.m.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Community Hospital of Bremen.
He is survived by a daughter, Tina (Brent) Green of Nappanee; son, Daniel (Tina) Newcomer of
Nappanee; stepdaughter, Stacie (Tim) Ganshorn Slone of Etna Green; mother, Helen
Newcomer of Nappanee; four grandchildren; and brothers: Terry (Mary Sue) Newcomer and
Larry (Kay) Newcomer, both of Nappanee.
Visitation is Sunday, March 22 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder
Funeral Home, Nappanee. Services are Monday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at Union Center Church
of the Brethren. Burial will be at Union Center cemetery.
Lawrence F. Pozorski
WARSAW — Lawrence F. Pozorski, 78, of Warsaw, died at 7:48 a.m. Thursday, March 19,
2009 at Veterans Administration Northern Indiana Health Care System, Fort Wayne.
He is survived by his wife, Ardith Pozorski of Warsaw; sons: Tony Pozorski of Warsaw, Paul
Pozorski of Hoffman Lake, Mark (Barbara) Pozorski of Warsaw and Karl Pozorski of Warsaw;
daughter, Cathrine Pozorski of Romeville; brothers: Ambrose Pozorski of Plymouth and Joseph
(Kathleen) Pozorski of Kokomo; sisters: Mary Ann Best of Indianapolis, Evelyn Pozorski of
Plymouth and Florence Mathews of Winfield, Kansas; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Visitation is Monday, March 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel,
Warsaw. A rosary service will be held at 7:30 at the funeral chapel. Services are Tuesday, March
24 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Warsaw. Burial will be at Oakwood
cemetery, Warsaw, with military graveside honors by the American Legion Post 49 and VFW Post 1126.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion #49, Nursing Scholarship Fund, 301 N. Buffalo
St., Warsaw, IN 46580 or to the K21 Health Foundation, Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund,
2170 N. Pointe Dr., Warsaw, IN 46582.
Ella Elizabeth Stephens
PLYMOUTH – A family matriarch who always showed loving concern and gave freely of herself
for the benefit of others has received her Heavenly reward. With her family at her side, Ella
Elizabeth Stephens age 86, died peacefully at her residence on the evening of Thursday, March
19, 2009 following a short illness. Her pleasant smile and presence will forever be missed.
Ella lived in Plymouth since 1986 coming from East Chicago, Ind., first residing in the
McQueen’s Addition and Miller’s Assisted Living since November of 2007.
Born in East Chicago on Dec. 28, 1922, she was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Feuks)
Pandak.
She graduated from Washington High School in East Chicago with the class of 1940.
On Aug. 10, 1947 she became the wife of Harry J. Stephens in Chicago, Illinois. He preceded
her in death on June 1, 2000.
Ella first took a job with Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company in East Chicago as a secretary for
seven years. She then worked for Railway Express for three years until moving to Chicago and
starting a family.
She enjoyed being a homemaker and later the times spent traveling with her soul mate; Harry.
She was a former member of the Faith United Church of Christ in Hammond, where she was the
first woman elder in the church, she also sang in the choir, was a member of the Ladies Aide
Society, treasurer for 14 years and president of the Women’s Guild for one year. After their
move to Plymouth, Ella became an immediate and active member of the First United Church of
Christ.
She is survived by two daughters: Donna E. Zatkoff of Ogden Dunes, Linda C. and Jim Keister
of Plymouth; and six grandchildren: Michael Toth of Honolulu, Hawaii; Kevin Toth of St.
Petersburg, Fla.; Marla (Toth) and Halit Berber of Schererville, Eric Rubesha of Plymouth, Laurie
Rubesha of Fishers and Brandon Keister of Plymouth; two nieces survive as well.
Ella was preceded in death by her spouse; five brothers: Albert, Elmer, Walter, Franklin, and
Ernest; and an infant sister, Ella.
The family will welcome friends to share memories Monday, March 23, 2009 from 3 to 8
p.m.(EDT), and after noon on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral
Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth.
Funeral services for Ella will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 1 p.m. (EDT) in the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home. The Rev. Ronald Liechty, retired pastor of the First United Church of
Christ will officiate.
Burial will follow in Graceland cemetery, Valparaiso.
Memorial contributions may be given to the First United Church of Christ, 321 N. Center St.
Plymouth, IN 46563 or to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 112 S. Center St., Plymouth.
Karen S. (Schmidt) Pete
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Karen S. (Schmidt) Pete, 37, of Clearwater, Fla. was called home on
March 20, 2009. Karen was full of life and a love that was felt by everyone around her.
Karen’s deepest passions for life included her desire to be a devoted wife and loving mother.
She lived a healthy lifestyle and loved athletics. Karen’s professional career included obtaining a
bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University. For the past eight years, Karen worked
as an IT Manager for Raymond James. Karen was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and
was growing daily in her faith and love for the Lord.
Survivors include her loving husband, Wayne; newborn daughter, Haley Karen; step-daughters:
Kayla, Danielle, and Hannah; parents, John and Judy Schmidt of Plymouth; sisters: Helen of
Hobart, Lisa Daugherty of Westfield, Rita (Fred) Lemert family of Bourbon, Sharon of South
Bend and Gerrie of Plymouth; brothers: John (Loretta) family of Plymouth and James (April)
family of Warsaw. Survivors of her extended family include father and mother-in-law, Francis
and Bonnie Pete of Largo Fla.; brothers-in-law: Brian (Stacy) family of Florida and Kevin (Robin)
family of Florida; and sister-in-law, Tara (Joe) of Florida. Karen was a devoted aunt and leaves
five nephews and seven nieces. Karen has numerous other family members and many friends
that will miss her dearly.
A memorial service was held at Calvary Baptist Church on Thursday, March 26.
Karen’s love for life will be carried on through her ultimate gift of organ donation.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Haley Karen Pete college fund.
There will be a local memorial service at a later date.
Dean J. Rans
PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Dean J. Rans, 84, Port Richey, Fla. passed away peacefully on March
20, 2009 surrounded by his loving family and the Gulfside Regional Hospice at his bedside. He
was a former Culver resident, moving to Port Richey, Fla. in 1989. He was born on March 9,
1925 in Fulton County to Fred and Lelia Rans. Dean graduated from Aubbeenaubee Township
High School and immediately joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII.
He and the former Treva Wynn were married
Oct. 23, 1949. They renewed their wedding vows
in the family home in Port Richey on Oct. 23, 2008, celebrating 59 years together.
In Culver, Dean and Treva were the former owners of the Corner Tavern and he was also the
owner of Rans Auto Sales. For many years he was an avid race car driver.
Dean is survived by his loving wife, Treva; two sons: Terry Rans and wife Beth of Port Richey;
Robert Rans and wife Julie of Plymouth; four daughters: Carole Lairson and husband Marion of
Portland, Ind., Mary Strobel and husband Donald of Cannonburg, Pa.; Kathy Hensley of Port
Richey, and Judy Rans of Port Richey. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren;
a brother, Don Rans of Rochester; two brothers-in-law: Charles Wynn of Culver
and Bobby Wynn and wife Brenda of Culver and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Christopher Strobel; and a great grandson,
Mathew Stiles.
Private family services were held at the family home on March 22, 2009 with Dean’s grandson,
Jason Lairson officiating.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Dobies Funeral & Crematory in Port Richey, Fla. And locally
to the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.
Daisy M. Sutton
PLYMOUTH — Daisy M. Sutton, 88, of Plymouth, died Friday, March 20, 2009 at Pilgrim Manor
Nursing Home, Plymouth.
She is survived by three daughters: Barbara (Robin) Clutinger of Peru, Ind., Pamela (Ronnie)
Stiles of Plymouth and Linda Hartney of Peru, Ind.; two sons: Leslie and Daniel Sutton, both of
Plymouth; a sister-in-law, Genevieve Ousnamer of Plymouth, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, March 25, 2009 from noon to 2 p.m. at Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Association.
Elmer “Ronald” Blum
HAMLET — Elmer “Ronald” Blum, 65, of LaPorte, formerly of Hamlet, died Saturday, March 21,
2009 at home.
Survivors include three sons: Mike (Andrea) Blum of Plymouth, Scott (Michelle) Blum of Auburn
and Jody (Kristan) Blum of Mobile, Ala.; one daughter, Sandy (Greg) Galloway of LaPorte; two
sisters: Norma Shively of Hamlet and Judy Decker of LaPorte; 13 grandchildren; one great grandchild
and his ex-wife and special friend, Nancy Blum.
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 26 at 11a.m. (Central Time) at Rannells Funeral
Home, Hamlet Chapel. Burial will be at the Fletcher cemetery, Hamlet. Visitation is
Wednesday, March 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. CDT and Thursday one hour prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Hamlet United Methodist Church.
Elizabeth Victoria Wade
PLYMOUTH — Elizabeth Victoria Wade, 82, a Plymouth resident most of her life, died at 1:35
p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009 in Pilgrim Manor Nursing Center, Plymouth.
Born in East Chicago, Ind., Elizabeth was the daughter of Nicolas and Elizabeth German Komanick.
Elizabeth, who had been a cheerleader at West High School, graduated in 1944. There were 18
students in her class.
A homemaker who enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren, she had worked part-time
at Orr’s Flowers in Plymouth. She was a member of the “Jolly Jills.”
On Oct. 24, 1948, Elizabeth and Glenn Wade Jr. were married
in Plymouth.
Elizabeth is survived by Glenn, her husband of over 60 years; a daughter, Jeanne (Dan) Beam
of Warsaw, and their daughters: Nicole Lancaster and Andrea Gale; two sons: Allen (Becky)
Wade of Plymouth, and their children: Michael Wade and Audra Sullivan; Philip Wade of
Plymouth, and his daughters: Julie Sanders and Jennelle Wade; 10 great-grandchildren; and a
sister, Sylvia (William) Tallarita of Plymouth.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two sisters: Minerva Schoberg and Mary Jean Espich.
Friends are invited to share memories of Elizabeth with her family from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Memorial services for Elizabeth will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at the funeral
home, officiated by Pastor Ronnie Sams.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Maxine M. Berrier
PLYMOUTH — Maxine M. Berrier, 90, died March 22, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. in Saint Joseph
Regional Medical Center, South Bend.
She was the born May 5, 1918 the daughter of John E. and Clara A. Stark Davis in Fairmont, Ind
Maxine graduated from Grant County High School in Matthews, Ind. with the class of 1936.
On June 22, 1937 she married
G. Matthew Berrier in Marion, Ind.; he preceded her in death on
Aug. 11, 1995.
Leaving Hartford City they moved to Plymouth in 1942. Maxine worked at the Marshall County
Bank which was later known as First Source Bank, she worked for them 19 years until her
retirement in 1980.
She was a member of the Plymouth Wesleyan Church, the Women’s Connection Club, and the
Women’s Missionary Club. Maxine also enjoyed volunteering at the Historical Museum,
crocheting, word search puzzles, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons: Gilbert Eugene and Dorothy Berrier of Bremen and Jack Lee and
Jan Berrier of Lakeville. Four grandchildren: Steven and Robin Berrier of Roanoke, Wayne and
Nancy LaFlash of Bremen, Christopher Berrier of Lakeville and Luke Berrier of Indianapolis
survive as well along with four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; five sisters: Dorothy Miller, Edith
Painter, Kathryn Wilson, Ruth Middleton and Mary Veazey; along with five brothers: Charles
Davis, Elby Davis, John Davis and Kenneth Davis.
Friends are invited to share their memories with Maxine’s family from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday,
March 25, 2009, at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Calling will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Plymouth Wesleyan
Church, 11203 S. Michigan, Plymouth. Pastor John Branch will officiate. Interment will be in the
New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial contributions in Maxine’s name may be given to the Plymouth Wesleyan Church Building Fund.
