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Jeanette Grier
Died: Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Age: 64
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Jeanette Grier, 64, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003, at Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.
She was born in Fort Wayne. She married Fred B. Grier who survives in Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Grier was the co-owner/treasurer with American Automatic Food Service for 17 years.
Other survivors include:
Sons — Thomas F. Grier of Fort Wayne, and Jeff B. and Mark E. Grier, both of New Haven, Ind.
Daughter — Victoria K. Shrock of Fort Wayne
Brother — Fred Gudakunst of Fort Wayne
Sister — Dorothy "Dot" Gudakunst of Fort Wayne
Thirteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several cousins of the Van Wert area also survive.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Adelee Clifton in 1994.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. (Indiana time) Saturday at First Christian Church, 4800 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne, Ind. Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. (Indiana time) Friday at D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home, 6301 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne, and an hour prior to service Saturday at the church.
Lewis R. Elston
Died: Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Age: 68
MIDDLE POINT — Lewis R. "Dick" Elston, 68, of Middle Point died Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, 2003, at his residence.
He was born Dec. 8, 1934, in Paulding County, the son of the late Louis and Helen (Longstreth) Elston. On Nov. 27, 1954, in Van Wert, he married Marcia Waymire, who survives. The couple had been married for 49 years.
Mr. Elston retired as owner/operator of Elston Land Improvement, Middle Point, after 40 years. He was a member of the Delphos Country Club, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians Baseball organization and was an avid golfer and card player.
Other survivors include three sons, R. Mike (Rose) Elston of Middle Point, Steve (Robin) Elston of Celina and Jeff (Kelly) Elston of Van Wert; four daughters, Sue (Mike) Simpson and Beth (Bob) Gordon, both of Middle Point, Patti (Larry) Stechschulte of Fort Jennings and Judy (Sam) Brubaker of Bryan; three sisters, Bonnie (Pete) Clemens and Maxine (Ray) Treece, both of Paulding, and Carolyn (Roger) Roth of Auburndale, Fla.; 20 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Stoller and Ann Balser.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Van Wert, the Rev. Thomas Cover officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Middle Point.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. today and 2-8 p.m. Friday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert, and one hour prior to service Saturday at the church.
Elmer J. Elmer J. Bauer
Died: Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Age: 74
Elmer J. Bauer, 74, of rural Van Wert died at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center.
He was born April 28, 1929, in Union Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Oscar J. and Lydia (Storm) Bauer.
Mr. Bauer, a U.S. Army veteran of the 
Korean War, was a lifelong farmer in Union Township and a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Convoy. He was also a member of Isaac Van Wert Post 178 of the American Legion, Van Wert, and the Ohio Polka Boosters.
Survivors include a son, John A. (Chris) Bauer of Van Wert; two sisters, Norma VanDemark of Van Wert and Mabel (Merle) Cox of Convoy; a friend, Mary Fogle of Hicksville, and two grandchildren, Kate and Luke Bauer.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Agnes Bauer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Convoy, the Rev. Mike Saylor officiating. Burial will be in Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery, rural Convoy.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert.
Preferred memorials are Van Wert Hospice (CHP) or Lutheran Hour of Worship.
John Lamont Laux
Died: Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Age: 87
ROCKFORD — John Lamont Laux, 87, of Rockford died at 6:57 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, at his residence.
He was born April 15, 1916, in St. Anthony, Ohio, the son of the late Ferd J. and Laura C. (Wagner) Laux. On July 29, 1944, he married Gertrude Suing, who survives.
Mr. Laux had worked at the Willshire Grain & Supply in Willshire and Wren.
Other survivors include:
Daughters — Arillia Ann Gilbreath of Port Hueneme, Calif., and Anna Marie (Don) McClain of Fort Wayne, Ind.
Sons — Ferdinand (Linda) of Anchorage, Ala., Duane V. (Lindy) of McComb, Richard J. of Mendon, Daniel Lee (Marsha) of Rockford and Charles A. (Becky) of Elizabethtown, Ky.
Twenty-four grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren also survive.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Victor, Hugo and Paul.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church, Rockford, the Rev. Thomas Brenberger, C.PP.S. officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, where a rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Claude Laverne Swartz
Died: Monday, August 11, 2003
Age: 86
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Claude Laverne "Tweet" Swartz, 86, of Los Angeles, formerly of Delphos, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, died at his residence.
He was born Sept. 28, 1916, in Delphos, the son of the late Cliffton R. and Hazel Maxwell Swartz.
Mr. Swartz worked in the dry cleaning business in California.
Survivors include:
Nephew — Craig (Joyce) Mumaw
Nieces — Pam (Michael) Noonan and Jackie (George) Osting
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lillian Mumaw and Geraldine Gudakunst.
Private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Judy K. McNeal
Died: Sunday, August 10, 2003
Age: 56
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Judy K. McNeal, 56, lost her three-year battle with cancer, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003. She died at home while under hospice care.
Judy had been an employee of Professional Federal Credit Union for eight years and White Swan Supermarket for 20 years prior.
She is survived by her lifelong companion and brother, Michael McNeal, as well as her mother, Mildred McNeal. She also leaves behind one sister, Bonnie (Dennis) Brown and three other brothers, Ron McNeal and Larry (Jill) McNeal, both of Fort Wayne, and Randy (Beth) McNeal of Van Wert.
Judy was "very special" to all her family and coworkers and always had a generous heart. Judy enjoyed reading, dolls and crafts.
She was preceded in death by her father, George, in 1985.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. (Indiana time) Thursday at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 E. Dupont Road. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. (Indiana time) Wednesday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Parkview Home Health Care & Hospice.
