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Ilene June Sherman
PLYMOUTH — Ilene June Sherman, 77, of Plymouth, died at 9:53 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009,
at her home.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Sherman; sister, Connie Suntz of Denning, Texas; and
three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 23 at noon at the Van Gilder Funeral Home,
Plymouth, with a time of visitation from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association, or
the Marshall County Cancer Association.
Lee R. Smith
ROCHESTER — Lee R. Smith, 77, of Rochester, departed this life at 8:40 a.m., April 9, 2009,
following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born Dec. 14, 1931 in
Mishawaka to Roy and Mabel Hefner Smith.
As a proud graduate of Richland Center High School, Lee was a member of the class of 1949.
As a young man, he assisted his dad with the family farming operation. They also farmed a
variety of grains including wheat, corn, and soybeans.
With great pride Lee answered the call to serve our country. He became a member of the United
States Air Force serving his tour of duty in Japan during the Korean War. Later he was
honorably discharged attaining the rank of staff sergeant.
Returning home to the Richland Center – Leiter’s Ford area Lee continued to work with his dad
on the farming operation. His love for agriculture continued throughout his life as he maintained
a hobby farm.
On Sept. 10, 1961 at the Santa Anna United Methodist Church, near Argos, Lee married
the
love of his life, Bonnie Gibbons. This union of 47 1/2 years yielded two outgoing and beautiful
daughters, Mary Lou and Donna. As a loving father and role model Lee instilled a work ethic of
dedication and devotion. In 1996 he retired from Sealed Power Corporation after 33 1/2 years of
service rarely missing a day of work. Lee was a member of the UAW # 220 during his work tenure.
At home Lee was meticulous about the care of his lawn. To relax, he enjoyed listening to Blue
Grass music from the era of the 1940s–1950s. Lee is also remembered to be very detail
oriented and led a very conservative lifestyle.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Smith; two daughters: Mary Lou Durkes of Rochester and
Donna Louk and companion Terry Thompson of Argos; sister, Phyllis (Bob) Overmyer of
Rochester; and a niece, two nephews, and several great nieces and great nephews.
In Heaven, Lee will join his extended family and many friends including his parents and sons-inlaw,
William Lynn Durkes, April 4, 2007 and Andy Louk, July 22, 2008.
A celebration of the life of Mr. Lee R. Smith will be held Monday, April 13, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the
Good Family Funeral Home. Rev. Henry Sprunger will officiate. Burial will follow at the Poplar
Grove/Maxinkuckee IOOF cemetery, near Culver where military graveside rites will be
conducted by the Argos American Legion Post #68 and the Wright- Patterson Air Force Base
Honor Guard. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday and an hour prior to
services.
Preferred memorials may be made in Lee’s memory to the Santa Anna United Methodist Church
or Hope Hospice.
Shirley Dean Badtke
ATLANTA — Shirley Dean Badtke, 73, of Naples, Florida formerly of Niles, passed away on April
10, 2009 at the home of her son in Atlanta, Ga., following a courageous battle with cancer.
Shirley was born January 28, 1936 in Plymouth, to the late Herman and Opal (Kaufman) Reed.
On August 3, 1991 she married
Donald Badtke in Niles, where they shared many memories
together until he passed suddenly in 2006.
Shirley's farm roots were never forgotten as she was an avid gardener. When the weather didn't
permit her to be outside, she loved to sew, create ceramics and music. She was a past member
of the local Sweet Adeline's and Wesley United Methodist Church choir.
She always enjoyed being with her family; especially her children and great-grandchildren. She
was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bonita Springs, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Devon Reed and her husband Donald
Badtke in 2006.
Surviving Shirley are her two sons Brent (Robin) Baer of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kevin (Mary Beth)
Kendrick of Beaumont, Texas, her daughter, Brenda Baer of Crivitz, Wisconsin, nine
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, her two brothers Eldon (Gerry) Reed of Plymouth,
Indiana and James (Joyce) Reed of Bremen, Indiana, a sister Marilyn (David) Back of
Walkerton, Indiana and a very special aunt Faye Mangus of North Liberty, Indiana.
A time of visitation will be Friday, April 17 at Brown Funeral Home from 12 to 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.
Friends and family are invited to continue the celebration of Shirley's life at a reception at Wesley
United Methodist Church at 4 p.m.
A Private interment will be held at Bremen cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in Shirley's memory to March of Dimes 1275 Mamaroneck
Ave., White Plains, New York 10605.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.
Billy Bob Wentz
PLYMOUTH — Billy Bob Wentz, 79, of Oakhill Avenue, Plymouth, died at 12:12 a.m. Friday,
April 10, 2009, at Miller's Merry Manor, Plymouth.
He is survived by his daughters: Linda (Jack) Bell of Plymouth, Debra (Rick) Green of Plymouth,
and Carol (Donald) Moss of Knox; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two sisters,
Marcella Hauser of Knox and Carol Sue Hunter of Knox; and two brothers, Norman (Pat) Wentz
of Knox and George Wentz of Winamac, Ind.
The Van Gilder Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. There will be no visitation.
A private service, for the family, was held.
Duane Laidig
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Duane Laidig, 76, of Madison Township, died Saturday, April 11, 2009 at
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.
He is survived by his wife Jo; three sons: Kurt (Rhonda) Laidig, Scott (Sheila) Laidig and Tom
(LeeAnn) Laidig, all of Madison Township; a daughter, Jan (Vic) Baumgartner of Auburn, Ind.; 14
grandchildren; three brothers and one sister.
Visitation will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at Community Gospel Church,
Bremen.
Graveside services will take place Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at Bremen cemetery at 10 a.m. at
Bremen cemetery with a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Community Gospel Church.
Memorials may be made to Community Gospel Church Missions Fund.
Sue Ann Miller
ROCHESTER — Sue Ann Miller, 60, of Rochester, died at 11:24 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2009
at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend.
She is survived by two daughters: Tabatha Minix of Akron and Heather (Terry) Metheny of
Plymouth; two sons: Keith Razor and Cory Razor; five grandchildren; three sisters: Vicki
Stephen, Phyllis Miller and companion Linda Kitson and Brenda Beery, all of Rochester.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.
Visitation is one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Rochester IOOF cemetery.
Russel "Rusty" Fromme
SILVER LAKE — Rusty Fromme, 58, of Silver Lake, died at 11:34 a.m. Sunday, April 12, 2009
at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.
He is survived by five daughters: Betty (Todd) Deidel of North Platte, Neb., Billie (David) Moore
of Rochester, Wash., Sandra Dale of Curtis, Neb., Brittany Fromme of Rochester and Cheyenne
Fromme of Rochester; two sons: Bruce Fromme of North Platte, Neb. And Dakota Fromme of
Rochester; mother and stepfather, Bettie (Wayne) Wilson of Rochester; father, Howard E.
Fromme of Georgetown; two sisters: Sherry (Robert) Halterman of Macy and Rebecca Fromme;
and three brothers: David (Kathie) Fall of Akron, Randy (Leona) Singleton of North Muskegon,
Mich. And Kenneth Fromme of New Albany.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 20 in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th
St., Rochester. Visitation is one hour prior to the service.
Rose Mary Noell
SOUTH BEND — Rose Mary Noell, 89, died Sunday, April 12, 2009 at Mason Healthcare Center, Warsaw.
She is survived by her daughters: Linda (Arnold) Norman of Warsaw and Dyan (Joel)
Zimmerman of Leesburg, Fla.; son, Reverend Ray (Donna) Noell of Medina, N.Y.; six
grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday, April 17 at 11 a.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100
N. Michigan St., Plymouth, where friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will take place in
Tyner.
Memorials may be made to: Alzheimer’s Services of Northern Indiana, Inc., 922 E. Colfax Ave.,
South Bend, IN 46617.
Helen (Duca) Kneisley
WALKERTON — Helen (Duca) Kneisley, 86, of Walkerton, formerly of Gary, died Monday, April 13, 2009.
She is survived by her daughter, Gail A. McEacheron of Reno, Nev.; two grandchildren; nephew,
Bob Samanski of Portage; and niece, Janice Kimbrel of Sauk Village, Ill.
Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be scheduled for a later date in Woodlawn
cemetery, Walkerton.
Nusbaum-Elkin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Kenneth L. Ringer
PLYMOUTH — Kenneth L. “Ken” Ringer, a month shy of his 81st birthday, died at home, 14321
Nataka Trail, Plymouth at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2009.
A lifetime resident of Marshall County, Ken was born in Marshall County on the family farm on
May 22, 1928. He was the son of Russell H. and Clara B. Milner Ringer. He graduated from
Plymouth’s Lincoln High School with the class of 1946
On May 15, 1950, in Plymouth, Ken and Dorothy Blakeley were married
.
A self-employed fourth generation farmer, his passion in life was watching things grow.
He never really retired from farming; he kept working until the time that he became sick in
August 2008 at the age of 80. He and his family were members of the Trinity United Methodist
Church.
Ken is survived by his devoted wife, Dorothy, and by their four children. They are David “Dave”
C. and Cheri Ringer, Sharon D. and Jim Stewart, Andy S. Ringer, all of Plymouth, and Richard
“Rich” A. and Sherry Ringer of Bourbon.
Four grandchildren, Josh (Rachel) Stewart, Adam Stewart, Abbey Stewart, and Aimee Ringer
also survive, together with a brother and sister-in-law, Ralph R. and Rose Ringer of Plymouth,
along with several nieces and nephews.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be no services. The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St.,
Plymouth, is assisting the family.
Memorial gifts in Ken’s memory may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care or to
the charity of the donor’s choice
Elizabeth S. (Betty) Stewart
WINONA LAKE — Elizabeth S. (Betty) Stewart, 92, 1409 Camelot Drive, Winona Lake, passed
away Monday, April 13, 2009, at 6:44 p.m. at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne.
Betty was born April 6, 1917 in Highland Park, Mich. to Harrison and Annette (Kuhn) Stofer.
Betty and David Stewart were married
on Sept. 4, 1950, in Highland Park, Mich. Betty was a
graduate of Highland Park High School in Michigan and received her bachelor’s degree from
Wayne State University and her master’s degree from the University of Michigan.She was an
elementary school teacher at Gross Point Michigan and Farmington Hills Michigan. David and
Betty moved to Plymouth in 1955. She was a Released Time Religious Educator and worked
with home bound students, in Plymouth.
Betty was a member of P.E.O., Home Extension Club, where she received the “Jan Award, ”
served as President of the Parkview Hospital Auxiliary, and served on local, district, and
conference levels of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She was a
volunteer for the Probation Department in Plymouth, started the Disabilities Administration
Commission for the United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Salvation Army
Auxiliary in Warsaw.
Betty is survived by her husband of 58 years, David Stewart; her sister-in-law, Evelyn Stofer of
Warsaw; her nephew, Dr. William B. (Jenny) Stofer of Warsaw; and her great-nephews:
Harrison A. Stofer and Jacob B. Stofer of Warsaw. Betty was recently preceded in death by her
brother, William H. “Bill” Stofer.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist
Church, 400 N. Michigan St., Plymouth with the Rev. Dr. E. Dean Fager officiating. There will
also be a time of visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. at the church.
Burial will be in New Oak Hill cemetery, Plymouth.
A time of visiting with the family will be Thursday, April 16, 2009, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the
Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Rd. in Warsaw and 3 to 7 p.m. at the Van Gilder
Funeral Home, 300 W. Madison St., Plymouth.
The family would like for memorial contributions to be given to the Indiana United Methodist
Children’s Home, Inc., 515 W. Camp St., Lebanon, IN 46052.
