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Al Gilley
PLYMOUTH – Al Gilley was born in Muncie, Ind. on Aug. 18, 1920 to John and Flora Herndon Gilley. He lived most of his life in the Plymouth area.
He was married
to Marge Wickey on April 20, 1946.
As the sun came out on Monday April 21, Plymouth lost one great person.
Al’s joy was seen by all, whether it was the person next to him in line at the grocery store; with
whom he would not be hesitant to make conversation. He was past commander of the V.F.W. Post 1162.
Al enlisted in the Army in October 1940 and spent 3 and 1/2 years in over 10 European
countries. He served proudly during many of the biggest battles of World War II, including the
Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, he was discharged September 1945.
After the war, Al continued to work for 38 years at Agway Seed; he worked for 10 years at the
Plymouth Country Club Golf Course and Plymouth Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Marge and two daughters: Kaye Wilcox, Payson, Ariz. and Vickie Blair
of Plymouth; three sons: Leonard J “Butch” Gilley of Plymouth, Jerry (Emma) Gilley of
Jacksonville, Fla. and Rick (Julie) Gilley of Plymouth; grandchildren: Chris Gilley, Indianapolis;
Jason (Jen) Kreighbaum; Mike (Candace) Gilley all of Plymouth; Aaron (Jessica) Gilley of
Mentone; Patrick Gilley, Jacksonville, Fla.; Hilary “Jackie” Gilley West Palm Beach, Fla.;
Christine Reed, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Mary (Gary) Lamken. Payson, Ariz.; Andrea Winquist of
Flora; Kara Gilley, Plymouth; Valorie and Marcie Blair of Plymouth; and nine great-grandchildren
survive as well.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Bev Kreighbaum; two sisters: Mildred Encles and
Juanita Creghbam; and two brothers: Ben and Don Gilley.
Friends are invited to greet and share memories with Al’s family on Wednesday April 23, 2008
from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday April 24, 2008 after 7 a.m. at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral
Home 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Fr. William Kummer, pastor of St.
Michael Catholic Church, on Thursday, April 24, in the funeral home.
Burial will be in New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials in Al’s name may be given to the American Cancer Society.
Jollie Ray Back
WALKERTON — Jollie Ray Back, 76, of Walkerton, died Tuesday, April 22, 2008 in Saint
Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend.
He is survived by his wife, Olive; daughters: Linda (George) Truhler of Walkerton and Joni
(Bruce) Bubenzer of Noblesville; sons: Greg (Cindy) Back of Tampa, Fla. And Garry Spaid of
Winterhaven, Fla.; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sisters: Evelyn Meyers, Opal
Owens and Carrie Mann; brothers: Roger Back, Glasteer Back, Costello Back and Angelo Back.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT at the Koontz Lake Missionary Church. Burial
will be at the Woodlawn cemetery, Walkerton. Visitation is Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. EDT at
Rannells Funeral Home, Koontz Lake Chapel and at the church on Saturday after 10 a.m. A
Masonic service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Koontz Lake Missionary Church.
Thomas H. Gaddis
BOISE, Idaho — Thomas H. Gaddis, 90, formerly of Plymouth, died at 9: 30 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Boise, Idaho.
Tom was born Dec. 19, 1917 in Haymond, Ky. He was the son of Martin Vest and Francis Davis
Gaddis. When Tom was 5, the family moved from Kentucky where his father had been a
foreman in the coal mines to join their grandparents who had already relocated to Chicago. It
was in Chicago where Tom grew up working various jobs to help support the family through the
depression. And on one of his jobs he met Evelyn Ruth Witter who he married
April 9, 1937 in
Crown Point. Their first born child was a son, Thomas Lee; and it was shortly after Tommy’s
birth that WWII broke out and Tom enlisted in the Navy and served as a CB in the Alaskan
Aleutian Islands. After the War Tom returned home to Munster, and their second child, Virginia
Carol, was born. The couple had nearly 66 years together both active in the Munster
Community, Masonic and the Presbyterian Church.
Tom and Evelyn started Gaddis Construction company and later brought in a third partner Steve
and Evea Bachnak who had successful business, partnership and friendship for over 30 years.
Tom retired in 1980 to spend more time being a snowbird while boating, fishing and playing golf;
an activity that both Tom and Evelyn enjoyed.
While living in the Pretty View condos, Tom was a member of the Plymouth Country Club. He
was a Mason for over 50 years.
Tom is survived by a daughter, Virginia, and a son-in-law, Gary Gribben of Boise, Idaho;
daughter-in-law, Pat Gaddis of Hammond and three grandchildren: Carol Lee, Thomas Ray
(Carey) Gaddis and T. Matthew Gribben; and three great- grandchildren: Noah, Leighann and Caleb.
Two sisters, Ann (Roland) Peterson, Park Forest, Ill. And Ruth Nelson, Newport News, Va.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife; son, Thomas; and brother, Martin Gaddis; and sisters
Virginia, Esther, and Francis.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Thomas Gaddis with his family, from noon to 2 p.m. on
Saturday, April 26, 2008, at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will follow visitation at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the funeral home. The Rev. Paul
Nye, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Dr. Ron Liechty, will officiate.
Burial will be in New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts in Tom’s memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, Trinity
Presbyterian Church of Boise or The CARE Club of Boise.
Lydia M. Stigall
ROCHESTER — Lydia M. Stigall, 87, formerly of Hamlet, died Tuesday, April 22, 2008 in
Hickory Creek Health Care Center, Rochester.
Survivors include daughters: Louise Stevens of Plymouth, Barbara Feltner and Patsy Zeiger,
both of Rochester, Glenda Greer of Plymouth and Fredia Adams of Knox; 15 grandchildren, 33
great-grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren; sisters: Juanita “Junie” Stevens of
Morehead, Ky., Bobby Lu Johnson of Ingalls and Martha Jessie of Seymour, Ill.; andbrother,
Leonard Messer of Knox.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. CDT at Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel.
Burial will be in the Fletcher cemetery, Hamlet. Visitation is Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time
of services at the funeral home.
Kenneth D. Klingerman
Kenneth D. Klingerman, 69, of Casa Grande, Ariz. passed away on April 25, 2008 in Chandler,
Ariz. He was born on Feb. 13, 1939 in Bremen to Theodore and Mary Klingerman. He moved
with his wife, of 47 years to Arizona more than 16 years ago from Chesterfield, Mo. Where he
worked as a Consultant for the Oman Oil Ministry and as District Regional Manager for Clark Oil
& refining. He enjoyed his hobbies which were fishing, wood working, and spending time with his
wife and their seven grandchildren. Ken was a private pilot and scratch golfer but bragged of neither.
He is survived by his loving wife Iris, sons; Kirt (Robyn) and Jeff (Kim) and daughter Krista
Woolbright (Michael), and grandchildren; Clayton, Brenna, Tiffany, Kody and Nicholas
Klingerman and Rebecca and Tyler Woolbright.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Living Bread Church, 6906
West Highway 100 Washington, MO 63090.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church, American Heart Association or the Arizona
Diabetes Foundation. He will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. Arrangements by Hansen Mortuary.
Victoria Lee Meneely
ARGOS – Victoria Lee Meneely, 52, died at 7: 45 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at her
residence, 408 N. First St., Argos.
Victoria was born in Chicago on Aug. 10, 1955. She was the daughter of Ray and Helen Pauley Phillips.
On March 27, in Pennsylvania, she was married
to James Jeffrey Meneely.
A housewife, she was an avid reader and loved music and playing with her grandchildren.
Victoria is survived by her husband James and by two sons and a daughter. Her sons are Jerry
Phillips, Chicago, and Adam (Lisa) Meneely, Plymouth. Her daughter is Heather Meneely, Argos.
Two grandchildren, Koleman Norris, Argos, and Triniti Meneely, Plymouth, also survive
together with her mother Helen, three sisters and a brother. They are Debbie (Donald) Ritter;
Susan (Warren) Howard, all of Chicago, Terri (Cameron) Cambell, Ontario, Canada, and James
Phillips, Chicago.
Victoria was preceded in death by her father, Ray Phillips.
Following her wishes their will be no visitation and no funeral services.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, is helping the family with arrangements.
Frances Cora Nicodemus
AKRON — Frances Cora Nicodemus, 86, of Akron, died at 5: 43 p.m. Sunday, April 27 at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester.
She is survived by a daughter, Charlotte Givens of Akron; one granddaughter; one great-granddaughter;
sister, Ida Mickle of Medway, Ohio; and sisters-in-law, Lucile Lewis of Kewanna,
Louise Nicodemus of Akron and Grace Edgar of Atlanta, Mich.
Visitation is Wednesday, April 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service Thursday at
the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester. Funeral services are Thursday, May 1 at 10: 30 a.m.
at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Athens cemetery. Military graveside rites will be
conducted by the LeRoy Shelton and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Arthur C. O'Keefe
Arthur C. O'Keefe, formerly of Plymouth died Sunday, April 27, 2008 in Ocala, Fla.
He is survived by sons: Patrick (Linda) O'Keefe of Dowagic, Mich., Kevin (Cathy) O'Keefe of
Bremen and Shawn (Linda) O'Keefe of Plymouth; and a daughter Colleen of Bremen. He was
preceded in death by his parents and son Timothy.
Private services will be held at a later date. Neptune Society, Palm Harbor, Fla., is assisting with the arrangements.
Hal Parks Groninger
PLYMOUTH — Hal Parks Groninger, 92, living at 220 West St., for the past 28 years, died of natural causes at his home in the care of his family and Hospice, at 7: 25 a.m. on Monday morning, April 28, 2008. Hal had lived in Plymouth 60 years, coming from Carroll County.
Hal was quite a guy. Thirty-eight years ago, he won the annual Toastmaster’s Bull-Throwing Speech contest in South Bend.
He could have won it again — hands down, against anybody. No one could tell a story or a joke like Hal Groninger.
He will be greatly missed.
Born in Rockfield, Ind., between Logansport and Lafayette, on Nov. 11, 1915, Hal was the son of Parks Douglas and Ethel M. (Connarroe) Groninger. He graduated from Rockfield High School in 1933 and continued to help his father on the family farm.
On Aug. 4, 1937, Hal and his childhood sweetheart, Mildred V. Bowman, were married
in Rockfield. Mildred died on Feb. 25, 1972. On Jan. 1, 1973, he and Patsy Jo Wright were married
in Plymouth.
He told folks that he, a self-proclaimed “people person, ” had been so lonely and that ‘Patsy Jo” was the best thing that could have happened to him. They were married
for 35 years and have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Hal never shied from work and he had plenty of different jobs. He worked in a ladies shoe store, earning $7 a week. He worked as a soda jerk at Fleming’s Ice Cream Parlor on Lincoln Way West in Mishawaka and he drove a semi for Drewry’s Brewery.
He was a mechanic and “a pretty good farmer.”
He was called up into the Army, but WWII ended before he had a chance to serve. After the war, he sold his farm and did landscaping with Morman Minerals.
But most of all, he was the consummate traveling salesman. He worked with various wholesale feed companies: Nappanee Milling and Sun Ray Wholesale Feed in Culver. He was with Syler’s Inc. in Plymouth for 17 years and later with Albers Milling for six more.
For 10 years, Hal and Pat owned and operated, “Fun and Games Arcade” in Plymouth.
The person that had the most fun there was Hal.
His last job (for 14 years) until this past January was as he put it — a 92-year-old “Bagger Boy” three days a week with Martin’s Super Market in Plymouth. He always had a smile and a joke for the ladies.
Until recently, he played duplicate bridge and did his own yard work. He loved to golf and read.
He played poker and euchre and was a great Notre Dame fan.
A dedicated Presbyterian, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for the past 60 years. Hal testified that “the Lord helped me a lot. When I needed Him, He came down.”
Hal had kept a journal since 1982. In the back of Volume I are 432 rules to follow during the Christmas holidays. His philosophy was not to worry about the little things. Everyday is an important day.
He is survived by his loving wife, Pat and by four children. His daughter, Jane A. Bechaka lives in Chicago, Ill. She has a daughter, Nicole. A son, Douglas L. and his wife, Rhonda, are in Colorado Springs, Colo. Their children are Douglas Jr., Mara and Lee.
Hal also has twin sons, Garry Parks and Valerie Groninger, San Jose, Calif., and Garry’s daughter Carly and Larry Earl and Debra Groninger, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Four great-grandchildren also survive together with a sister, Love C. Fitzgerald, Indianapolis.
Hal was also preceded in death by two sisters and a brother. They are: Beth Carman Groninger, Marzell Shaw and Ren Groninger.
Friends are invited to join with his family to celebrate the life of Hal Groninger Wednesday, April 30, 2008, from 4 to 7 p.m. (and after 7 a.m. on Thursday, May 1) at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Hal will be held in the funeral home Thursday, May 1, 2008, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Tom Padberg, chaplain of The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., will officiate.
Memorial gifts in Hal’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 401 N. Walnut St., Plymouth, IN 46563
Wayne D. Hissong
LEITERS FORD — Wayne D. Hissong, 87, of Leiters Ford, died in Saint Joseph Regional
Medical Center in Plymouth on Monday morning, April 28, 2008.
Wayne was born in Argos to Lawrence and Carrie Hissong. His parents preceded him in death
as did his brother, Loren Hissong.
On Oct. 21, 1956, he married
Barbara Reinholt, who also preceded him in death. They were
married
39 years and together had three children who survive, Valerie (Kevin) Staples of South
Bend, Vince (Becky) Hissong of Leiters Ford and Van (Theresa) Hissong of Culver. His son from
a previous marriage, Paul (Vicky) Sudlow lives in Billings, Mo. Wayne has eight grandchildren:
Isaac Hissong, Alexandra and Patrick Staples, and Madeline, Morgan, Sam, Gabriel, and
Savannah Hissong.
Wayne graduated from Argos High School and worked in construction until his retirement. He
was a proud WWII veteran having served for 4 1/2 years in the 2nd Armored Division and the
712th Tank Battalion. He was awarded the Purple Heart, a silver battle star, and several other
ribbons and medals. Wayne maintained close friendships with his comrades in the years since
the war. He traveled each fall to the 712th Tank Battalion reunions to renew friendships and
recount stories.
For Wayne, there was no baseball team but the Chicago Cubs. He also enjoyed golf, fishing and
time with family and friends. He was a member of the Collins-Tasch American Legion Post 399
in Monterey, the Finney-Shilling VFW Post 6919 of Culver, and the Maxinkuckee Independent
Order of Odd Fellows of Culver. Wayne was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will
be missed by his family and many friends.
Viewing will be held at the Bonine-Odom Funeral Home in Culver Thursday, May 1 from 4 to 8
p.m. EDT. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 2 at 11a.m. EDT. In
lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Finney-Shilling VFW Post 6919 of Culver or to the
Collins-Tasch American Legion Post 399 of Monterey.
Aaron Stacy
KNOX — Aaron Stacy, 73, of Knox, died Monday, April 28, 2008 at home.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Stacy of Knox; son, Aaron (Ernie) Stacy Jr. of Knox; daughter,
Laura Annette Coffin of Grovertown; five grandchildren; and sisters: Georgia Howard of Lima,
Ohio, Dorsey McKinney of Ft. Myers, Fla., Meda Klingerman of Plymouth, Freda Bailey of North
Judson and Glenna Bunton of Plymouth.
Visitation is Thursday, May 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Braman & Son Memorial
Chapel, Knox. Funeral services are Friday, May 2 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Crown Hill cemetery, Knox.
