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Adalene C. Schoner
PLYMOUTH — Adalene C. Schoner, age 95, of Plymouth, passed away at 6:10 a.m. Sunday,
Nov. 29, 2009, at the Catherine Kasper Life Care Center in Donaldson.
Adalene was born Nov. 22, 1914, in Plymouth, to Benjamin and Florence (Richard) Xaver.
Adalene was a lifetime resident of the Plymouth area.
She began her career as a secretary, then being promoted to management, during her 33-year
career at Nipsco. Adalene enjoyed playing the organ for Saint Michael Church, where she was a
member.
She also belonged to the Altar Rosary Society, Harvest House, Right to Life, as well as Friends
of Ancilla.
Adalene is survived by her daughters, Rita (Deacon Ron) Morrow of Kokomo, and Marylyn
Berfield of Bowling Green, Ohio. Also surviving is Adalene’s sister, Lorraine Havens of South
Bend; her brother, Gerald Xaver of Greenville, S. C.; 12 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren.
Adalene was preceded in death by her son, David Schoner; her brother, Francis Xaver; and her
granddaughter Vicky Berfield.
Memorials contributions may be given to Right to Life, Ancilla College, or to Saint Michael
Catholic Church.
VISITATION: SUNDAY, DEC. 6, 2009, 2 to 8 P.M.
SCRIPTURE SERVICE, GIVEN BY DECON RON MORROW
SUNDAY, DEC. 6, 2009, 7:00 P.M.
VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. MADISON ST., PLYMOUTH, IN, 46563
FUNERAL: MONDAY, DEC. 7, 2009, 11 A.M.
SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH
THE REV. FATHER WILLIAM KUMMER, OFFICIATING
BURIAL: NEW OAKHILL cemetery, PLYMOUTH
Heather S. Mattern
NAPPANEE — Heather S. Mattern, 32, of Nappanee, died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 in a motor
vehicle accident.
She is survived by her husband Dustin; sons: Charles “Charlie” Mattern and Brennan Mattern,
both at home; parents, Russell and Lutitia “Tish” McMillan of Westville, Ill.; brother, Adam
McMillan of Westville, Ill.; maternal grandmother, June Wells of Tilton, Ill.; paternal grandmother,
Thelma McMillan of Westville, Ill.; mother- and father-in-law, William “Bill” and Cheryl Mattern of
Nappanee; sister-in-law, Heidi (Jayme) Mathews of New Paris; brother-in-law Austin (Hannah)
Mattern of Delphi; and grandfathers-in-law: Richard (Jake) Mattern of Nappanee and Mervin
“Bud” Etsinger of New Paris.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 8 Friday, Dec. 4 and one hour prior to services Saturday at the
Nappanee Missionary Church Chapel.
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the church.
Burial will follow at South Union cemetery.
Memorials may be made to a trust fund for the Mattern children through Thompson-Lengacher &
Yoder Funeral Home, 950 N. Main St., Nappanee.
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
Michele Lynn Tyler
ROCHESTER — Michele Lynn Tyler, 34, of Rochester, died at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30 at
Memorial Hospital, South Bend.
She is survived by her mother, Anna Tyler of Rochester; a brother, Ronald D. Tyler Jr. of
Rochester; and a sister, Jennifer Dople of Rochester.
Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14 at the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W.
18th St., Rochester. Funeral services will take place Monday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
James R. Wringer
PLYMOUTH — James R. “Jim” Wringer, 92, died at noon Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at his residence.
He is survived by sons: Ralph Wringer of Plymouth and Jerry (Shirley) Wringer of Nappanee;
and daughter, Marilyn (David) Pigors of Hendersonville, N.C.
Visitation will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Johnson-Danielson Funeral
Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4 at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Sharon Lee Downey
FORT MYERS, FLa. — Former Rochester resident, Sharon Lee Downey, 62, of Ft. Myers, Fla.
passed away unexpectedly at her residence Dec. 1, 2009.
Sharon was the daughter of Wayne and Marguerite Goodman Downey. She was born Oct. 8,
1947 in Vincennes and grew up with her sister Sally in Bruceville.
In 1965, Sharon graduated with her class at North Knox High School. Seven years later, in 1972,
she moved to Rochester. Spending most of her adult life in the Rochester and Plymouth
communities she was employed early on at Topp’s in the office.
Interested in a variety of occupations, and known for her versatility, she enjoyed working at the
Fulton County Welfare Department, WROI, Quick’s Lanes and the Marshall County Clerk’s
office. Sharon enjoyed the friendships she made with customers at Ribordy’s and later
Walgreen’s Drug Store.
In the mid 90s she began wintering on Florida’s Gulf coast. Enjoying the warmth year round, in
1998 she made Ft. Myers her permanent residence. She most recently was a pharmacy
technician at Costco of Ft. Myers.
An avid reader Sharon especially enjoyed the novels authored by Nora Roberts. She was
delighted to dance and sing and was a member of the Sweet Adelines of Plymouth. She was
also a life member of the First Christian Church.
To chill out on a warm Florida day, Sharon could be found poolside, near her condo. She also
enjoyed girl’s nights out at the movies, hitting the festival events or dining at a favorite restaurant
like Big Al’s. Always enjoying being on the go, Sharon enjoyed visiting the local night spots.
A lover of the outdoor life, Sharon could be seen cruising on her bicycle while catching a cool
breeze. Wading in the warm Gulf waters at Vanderbilt Beach, while watching the serenity of
sunset, was another activity that brought great joy to Sharon.
Sharon is survived by two beautiful daughters Jackie King and husband John of Sarasota and
their children: Jordan, Jeremey, Jason, Jaimee, Jennifer and Janna King; and Beth Bickle and
husband Chris and their children: Renae and Bradly Bickle of Rochester; her children’s father,
William L. Pea of Eden Prairie, Minn.; a sister, Sally Keller and husband Max of Crawfordsville.
Also surviving are a nephew, Keith Keller; two nieces: Karen Keller and husband Jeff, Kathy Lee
and husband Toby; one great-nephew, Josh Keller and three great-nieces: Kaitley and Ali Keller
and Eliza Lee.
Preceding her in death are her parents and grandparents.
Friends may visit with her family from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 and an hour prior to services
Tuesday at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th Street, Rochester.
A celebration of the life of Sharon Lee Downey will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at the
The Rev. Ron Leichty will officiate. There will also be visitation in Bruceville at the McClure-Utt
Bruceville Chapel Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A public graveside service will be held at the Bruceville cemetery Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.
Rev. Glen Turner will preside.
Burial will follow at Bruceville cemetery Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.
Lanny Royce Geyer
MARION — Lanny Royce Geyer, 60, of Marion, formerly of Nappanee, died at 3:27 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 at his residence.
He is survived by his mother, June Geyer of Nappanee; and brothers: Joel (Benita) Geyer of Syracuse, Barry (Karen) Geyer of Nappanee, Todd Geyer of Minneapolis, Minn., and Tim Geyer of Nappanee.
Visitation will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at the Nappanee Church of the Brethren.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Burial will follow at Union Center cemetery, Nappanee.
Memorials may be made to the Nappanee Public Library or the Nappanee Church of the Brethren.
Sarah B. "Sally" Schafer
PLYMOUTH — Sarah B. “Sally” Schafer, of Castle Drive, Plymouth, died, following an illness, at
her residence where she had lived for the past 14 years, at 2:05 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009.
Sally was 79 years old.
Born in Culver, Aug. 13, 1930, she was the daughter of Samuel and Lilly (Seese) Buswell and
attended Culver schools.
In January of 1948, Sally and Charles H. Schafer were married
in Jeffersonville. They enjoyed
traveling together and winters in the Florida Keys. For several years they owned and operated
the Down to Earth woodstove store in Plymouth and were the proprietors of the Long Pointe Bed
& Breakfast on Lake Maxinkuckee.
Sally was a homemaker. She loved to cook and try new recipes. She enjoyed word searches,
reading romance novels and growing flowers. She appreciated nature and everything in it,
particularly birds and encouraged the humane treatment of all animals.
One of the highlights of her life was a trip to Europe in June of 2000, given as a graduation gift to
her family. She appreciated music and had played the flute.
A member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, she was also an avid Humane Society supporter.
Sally is survived by Charles, her spouse of almost 62 years; and by their son, Robert and spouse
Valerie Schafer of Plymouth; four grandchildren: Lee R. Schafer, Sarah A. Schafer and Eleesha
J. Schafer, all of Plymouth; and Samuel C. and spouse Echo M. Schafer of Bourbon. Five great grandchildren
also survive.
A sister, Mary Lou Loftus, Va., and a brother, John (Anne) Buswell, Indianapolis, survive as well.
Sally was preceded in death by two sons: Charles H. Schafer and Earl “Bud” W. Schafer; and a
brother, Jack Buswell.
Friends are invited to share their memories and visit with Sally’s family from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday,
Dec. 4, 2009, at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Sally will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the funeral home with the
Rev. Chuck Krieg officiating.
Burial will be in the Culver Masonic cemetery.
Memorial gifts in Sally’s memory may be made to Best Friends Animal Society - Dog Town, 5001
Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah, 84741.
Shirley Bramble Scheffer
ROCHESTER — Shirley Bramble Scheffer, 66, of Rochester, died at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1,
2009 at St. Vincent’s Hospital of Indianapolis.
She is survived by her husband, Donald; daughters: Penny (Ron) Shireman of Rochester and
Lori (Shawn) Eaton of Caledonia, Mich.; two granddaughters; sisters: Carol (Dean) Jensen of
Rochester, Donna (Otis) Reynolds of Remington and Darlene (Tim Tomicello) Bulington of
Remington; brothers: Larry Atkinson of Monticello, and Steve Atkinson of Pontiac, Ill.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 and one hour prior to the service
Friday at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St. Rochester.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4 at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at the Remington cemetery, Remington.
Paul E. Schneider
BREMEN — Paul E. Schneider, 87, of Bremen, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 at Bremen Healthcare Center
after a short illness.
He is survived by a brother, Lt. Col. (retired) Louis F. Schneider of Uniontown, Pa. and nephews:
Samuel S. Schneider of Pasadena, Md., William L. Schneider of Stevensville, Md. and Rev.
Gary L. Schneider of Amity, Pa.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 Monday, Dec. 7 at First Baptist Church, Bremen
and one hour prior to services Tuesday.
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the church.
Burial will follow at Bremen cemetery.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Bremen.
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home were entrusted with arrangements.
Eldon E. Thornton
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Eldon E. Thornton, 86, died Dec. 1, 2009 at Fort Myers, Fla.
He is survived by his wife Geraldine (Ousnamer); children: Judy (Ken) Becknell of Granger and
Fort Myers, Fla., Nancy Thornton Amor of Plymouth, Ronald (Sherry) Thornton of Fort Myers,
Fla., Bruce (Diana) Thornton of Fort Myers, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; four
great-great-grandchildren and many niece and nephews.
Memorial services will take place Monday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bremen Missionary Church.
Memorials may be made to the Eldon Thornton Memorial Fund, 9780 Lake Fairways Blvd. N.
Fort Myers, FL, 33903 or the Bremen Missionary Church.
