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M. Ethel Roth
July 6, 1907 - April 9, 2002
A longtime area resident, M. Ethel Roth, 94, who resided on S. Michigan St. , Plymouth , died of natural causes in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth , at 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2002.
The mother of Ray Roth, a television news reporter/photographer of Plymouth and Marte Roth, a retired Air Force Maj., and his wife Patricia, of San Antonio , Texas , Ethel was admired for her friendliness and her devout religious beliefs. Having never driven a car, for years, rain or shine, she walked to work, daily Mass at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, grocery shopping and downtown errands.
Born in Earl Park, Ind. , on July 6, 1907 , Ethel was the daughter of Aloysius and Celesta Keller Gretter. She attended Iowa Schools.
On July, 1940, in Plymouth , Albert M. Roth, a studio photographer, and Ethel Gretter were married. Albert died on August 19, 1960.
Ethel was a telephone operator and supervisor for United Telephone for over 40 years. She retired in 1972 after witnessing much advancement in telephone technology.
She loved antiques, especially furniture and jewelry. She also had an extensive collection of hats, which she was often noted for wearing.
Ethel was quick to share her memories of years past.
As a devoted member of St. Michael’s, Ethel served in the Altar Rosary Society and for many years headed the group of ‘Pilot Lady Paper Stuffers’ from which numerous improvements occurred to the church and rectory.
Ethel is survived by her sons, her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Marte’s two sons, Randall Roth, and his wife Alissa, of Houston, Texas and James Roth, and his wife Melissa, who live in San Antonio . Ray’s son, Daniel P. Roth and daughter, Amy, her husband Bruce Knapp and their children, Emily, Joseph and Nathan, all reside in Plymouth . Two sisters and three brothers also survive. They are: Loretta Hope and Theresa Navarro, both of Long Beach , Calif. , and Paul Gretter, Vero Beach , Florida ; Urban and Rita Gretter of Ft. Myers , Florida and Cletus Gretter of Arizona .
Ethel was preceded in death by her spouse, an infant son, Roger Roth, three brothers, Bob, Clem and Mark Gretter, a sister Margareite Baxter and a daughter-in-law, Dawn Roth.
A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held on Friday, April, 12, 2002 , from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St. , Plymouth . A Parish Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Father Anthony Gillespie, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2002 , at 9 a.m. in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, 625 N. Center St. , Plymouth . Ethel will be laid to rest in New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth .
Memorial gifts in her memory may be made to the St. Michael’s Altar/Rosary Society
Dorothy L. Sahlhoff
April 19, 1945 - November 8, 2001
Lifelong Marshall County resident Dorothy L. “Dot” Sahlhoff, 56, of rural Walkerton, Ind., died at 10:57 a.m., on Thursday, November 8, 2001, at Hospice House, South Bend.
Dot was born on April 19, 1945, in Plymouth. She was the daughter of Harry A. and Zulene F. Studebaker Hohman. She graduated from Bremen High School with the class of 1963 and earned an Associate degree from Ancilla College in 1993. She then received her Certificate in Accounting.
On April 4, 1964, in Plymouth, Dot and Leo W. Sahlhoff Jr. were married.
She was employed at the Penn Harris Madison School Corporation in accounting for the past five years, having previously worked for eight years at Martin’s Chevrolet, Bremen.
A member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Dot served on the Board of Evangelism and was, among other positions, a former church treasurer.
A former Polk Township 4-H leader, she enjoyed swimming, reading and collecting unique baskets. She was known for her great love for her family, especially her grandchildren.
Dot is survived by her husband, Leo and their three daughters: Karmen K. and Chris Leeper, Bremen, April L. and James Schmidt, Winona Lake, Ind., and Rhonda S. and Dustin Davis, Mentone. Six grandchildren also survive.
Two sisters, Patricia and Larry Cramer, Plymouth and Dora Jean and Rollie Allen, Odessa, Texas, and several nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a twin brother, Dale L. Hohman and a son, Tony L. Sahlhoff.
Friends may call at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. There will also be visitation for one hour at the church prior to the services on Monday.
Funeral services will be in the Calvary Lutheran church, 1314 N. Michigan St. Plymouth, the Rev. Steven Resner, pastor will officiate on Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 at 11 a.m.
Memorial gifts in Dot’s memory may be made to the Calvary Lutheran Church building fund.
Cyril E. "Cy" Sarber Jr
April 28, 1928 - June 22, 2001
Lifetime Tyner area resident Cyril E. “Cy” Sarber, Jr., 73, living at 5119 Sage Road, Plymouth, for 41 years, died, following years of chronic emphysema, at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, June 22, 2001, in Miller’s Merry Manor, Walkerton.
Born in Tyner on April 28, 1928, Cy was the son of Cyril E. Sarber, Sr. and Hazel M. Stout Sarber. He graduated from Tyner High School with the class of 1946.
Cy served as a Sergeant in the United States Army during the
Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion Post #385, LaPaz and the V.F.W., #1954, North Liberty.
On April 19, 1956, in Tyner, Cy and Carol A. Krieg were married.
A truck mechanic for Shippers Dispatch, South Bend, for 31 years, he retired in 1986, as the Service Manager.
He loved cars...fixing them and driving them. As a young man he was a stock car racing driver.
Cy enjoyed being with his family and grandchildren, supporting them in their 4-H animal projects. He liked to ice fish area lakes.
He was a 50-year member of the Tyner United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of the Tyner Oddfellows Lodge 821.
Cy is survived by his wife and their two daughters and a son. The daughters are Julie C. Spitznagle of Carlisle, Ind., and Laurie A. and Steve Weiand, Fishers, Ind. His son, Craig E. and Sandy Sarber live in Walkerton, Ind.
Five grandchildren also survive: Jay Spitznagle, Morocco, Ind., Andrea and Brianna Weiand, Fishers, and Cahill and Cole Sarber, Walkerton.
Cy’s mother, Hazel M. Skinner, of Tyner, and two brothers, Dean and Joyce Sarber, Plymouth, and David “Lou” and Nancy Sarber, Anchorage, Alaska, together with numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Dwight Sarber.
Visitation with the family will be on Monday, June 25, 2001, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. A Tyner Oddfellows memorial service will take place following visitation at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at 10 a.m. in the funeral home, Cy’s brother-in-law, the Rev. Charles Krieg, pastor of the Pretty Lake Trinity United Methodist Church, will conduct the funeral service.
Special military graveside rites will be given by the LaPaz American Legion Post 385.
Burial will be in the Tyner Cemetery, Tyner, Ind.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Lung Association in memory of Cy.
Irene Eve Sarna
April 1, 1935 - August 19, 2001
Irene Eve Sarna, 66, 11520 E. 50 N, Knox, Ind., where she had lived since 1980, died in the Catherine Kasper Life Center, Donaldson, following an illness, at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, 2001.
Born in Chicago on April 1, 1935, she was the daughter of Peter and Caroline Szczepanski Amanowicz. Irene came to Plymouth from Chicago in 1938 as a child of three years old. She received her grade and high school education at Ancilla Domini.
In September of 1953, at the age of 18, Irene went to work for the Cressner Abstract and Title Company. Morris Cressner said of her that she was the first, and the best, secretary he ever had.
She was his right-hand and was extremely proficient in her work. Diligent, with attention to detail, Irene was admired and trusted as one of the best in the field of abstract examiners. She was made a partner in the business 25 years ago and upon Cressner’s death became the sole owner.
On May 16, 1980, in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Irene and Cyril M. Sarna were married. Cyril died on June 16, 1997.
A lifelong caregiver to many in her family and community, Irene’s quiet conviction to her faith and benevolence to those in need was well known. She expected very little in return.
She had a great interest in flying. She loved birds and nature. A devout member of St. Michael’s, she was also an associate of Ancilla Domini.
Irene is survived by James J. Sarna, her caregiver and step-son, Knox, and two step-daughters, Arlene E. Sarna, Elmhurst, Ill., and Marie Hollon, Knox.
Six step-grandchildren, several step-great-grandchildren and two nieces and nephews also survive together with Betty J. Sarna, a daughter-in-law, Plymouth, and Genevieve Apicella, a sister, living in Chicago.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and Sylvester R. Sarna, a step-son.
Visitation with her family will be on Wednesday, August 22, 2001, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Catherine Kasper Chapel, Donaldson. A Rosary and Evening Vigil will take place a 7 p.m. in the chapel. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 9 – 11 a.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St. Plymouth.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 23, 2001, in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. Father Anthony Gillespie, pastor of the church, will officiate.
Burial will be in New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts may be made to Ancilla Domini or to St. Michael’s Mission 2000.
Bertha I. Schmeltz
July 25, 1915 - July11, 2001
Lifetime area resident, Bertha Irene Schmeltz, formerly of 9216 Suter Rd. died of natural causes at 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, 2001, in Walnut Creek Care Center where she had lived since 1999. Bertha would have celebrated her 86th birthday in two weeks.
Born in Teegarden, Ind., on July 25, 1915, Bertha was the daughter of George Washington and Ida May Weaver Thomas. She attended Teegarden schools.
On December 31, 1937, in South Bend, she married Cecil Paul Lewis Schmeltz.
A homemaker....and a good one. Bertha was an outdoor person. She enjoyed gardening, vegetables and flowers. She canned the fruits of her garden and was an excellent cook.
She liked to crochet and sew and made much of the family’s clothing.
A former member of the Teegarden Brethren Church, Bertha attended the Pretty Lake United Methodist Church. A 25-year member of the Women of the Moose, #1355, she was a Past Chairperson of Moose Heart and was an Escort to the Academy of Friendship in the Moose.
Bertha is survived by Cecil, her spouse of 63 years, and their four daughters. The daughters are Sharon L. and Gale Lowry and Donna K. and Donald Wood, all of Walkerton: Margaret M. Birk and Gloria I. and Charles Krieg all of Plymouth.
Eighteen grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren together with Bernice Odaffer, a sister-in-law of Plymouth, also survive.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers: Willard and Clarence Thomas and Nancy Mangun, a sister. An infant son, Paul Lamar Schmeltz and an infant grandson, David Louis Wood, have also died.
Visitation with her family to celebrate Bertha’s life will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 2001, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. A special Moose Ladies Ritual will be held at 8 p.m. following visitation.
Funeral services for Bertha will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2001, in the funeral home. The Rev. Charles Krieg, Bertha’s son-in-law and pastor of the Pretty Lake United Methodist Church, will officiate.
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Walkerton.
Memorial gifts in Bertha’s name may be made to Moose Heart or a charity of the donor’s choice.
