This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Brinneman, Fisher, Ginger, Brinker, Whitehurst, Walsmith, Allen, Renbarger,
Walker, Butler, Parnell, Collins, Geiger, Kennerk
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/2964
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Nov. 22, 2003
Lela E. Brinneman, 99
A native of Huntington County, Lela E. Brinneman, 99, died at 1:40 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at
the United Methodist Memorial Home in Warren.
She was a lifelong resident of the Warren area and formerly worked at Boughners Market in
Warren. She enjoyed fishing and gardening. She attended Rock Creek School in Huntington
County and was a member of the United Church of Christ in Warren.
Born June 7, 1904 in Huntington County to Fred R. and Elsie V. Kemp Pownall, her marriage
on Dec. 1, 1928 was to Paul D. Brinneman, who died Jan. 29, 1972.
Surviving is one son, Ronald E. Brinneman of Warren; seven grandchildren, 13
great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by a son,
Lowell D. Brinneman, three brothers, Earl, Edward and Wilfred Pownall, and two sisters,
Deloras A. Pownall and Lola Swagger Fuller.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Memorial Home with
Rev. John Pattison officiating and Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel
handling arrangements. Calling will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist
Home.
Burial will be in Lancaster Cemetery in Huntington County.
In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to the United Church of Christ in Warren.
Nov. 24, 2003
BMS Teacher Dave Fisher Dies Suddenly
Bluffton Middle School staff and students were stunned to learn this morning of the death
of teacher Dave Fisher, who died suddenly Sunday afternoon.
Fisher, 51, was stricken with a massive heart attack as he was watching a football game on
television with his wife.
The veteran Bluffton-Harrison teacher was rushed to Adams County Memorial Hospital where
attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Fisher taught seventh grade math at Bluffton Middle School and was in his 30th year as a
teacher with the Bluffton-Harrison school district.
He had no previous known heart condition.
His son, Scott Fisher, also is a teacher at Bluffton Middle School
“He was one of the finest people you could ever meet. Our staff and students truly loved
him,” Principal Jon Bennett told the News-Banner this morning.
Bennett reported that grief counselors were at the school this morning to meet with and
talk to students and staff.
“It’s not business as usual today for our seventh graders. It’s a very sad day here,”
Bennett said.
Supt. Dr. Thomas Byanski also spoke in the highest regard of Dave Fisher.
“He was just a super teacher. They didn’t come any better. It’s a tremendous loss,” Dr.
Byanski said.
Funeral rites for Mr. Fisher will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Haggard & Sefton Funeral
Home in Decatur.
Calling at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 8
p.m.
A full obituary will appear in Tuesday’s News-Banner.
Mary R. Ginger, 59
Mary R. Ginger, 59, of Poneto, died a 9:40 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Bluffton Regional
Medical Center.
Born Jan. 8, 1944 in Michigan City to Howard and Roseanne Zigintuski Killingbeck, she
married Bill Ginger on Oct. 3,1964 in Poneto; he survives.
A housewife, she was a 1963 graduate of Michigan City Elston H.S. and a member of the
Tuesday Nite Bowling League.
Other survivors include three sons, Chris Killingbeck and Douglas Killingbeck of Poneto,
and Billy Ginger of Bluffton; four daughters, Mrs. Steve (Monica) Murphy and Lisa Bailey,
both of Poneto, Mrs. Mark (Melanie) Mills of Monroeville and Jody Wilhite of Bluffton; a
brother, Howard Killingbeck, Jr. of Nebraska; and 15 grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton
with Alan Crull officiating. Visitation hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Jeanne I. Brinker Whitehurst, 87
Jeanne I. Brinker Whitehurst, 87, died Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Ossian Health Care and
Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Madison, Wis. on July 18, 1916 to Charles and Francis Sacks McKown, she formerly
lived in Fort Wayne before moving into the Ossian care center; she was a homemaker and
attended the Broadway Christian Church in Fort Wayne.
She is survived by two daughters, Janet Liby and Kathleen Carden, both of Yoder; four
sisters, Marcella Deam of Hoagland, Betty Godschalk of Fort Wayne, Nellie Clark of Enid,
Okla., and Helen Ducas of Merritt Island, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren;
and one great great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husbands: Lambert Brinker and Russell Whitehurst.
Services are scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Elzey Patterson Rodak Funeral Home,
Ossian Chapel, with Rev. Floyd Vieth officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour
prior to the service.
Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ossian. Preferred memorials to the Family Hospice
of N.E. Indiana.
Joan F. Walsmith, 87 — Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at the Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel in Montpelier for Joan
F. Walsmith, 87, who passed away Friday at the Tandem Health Care Center in Winter Haven,
Fla.
Ival E. Allen, 88
Ival E. Allen, 88, of Markle, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at Markle Health Care.
A native and life-long Wells County resident, he was born on the family farm in Union
Township on Aug. 24, 1915 to J. Clyde and Celeste Leavengood Allen. He married Lois Slater
on Dec. 3, 1944 at the Beach Grove Church of Christ in Roanoke; she survives.
A 1934 graduate of East Union High School, he lived in this same home throughout his life
as a farmer, and also drove a bus for Northern Wells Schools for 15 years. He had also
worked at Hower Tool in Ossian for 11 years, retiring in 1979. He was a member of the
Markle Church of Christ, where he was a Sunday School teacher and Deacon. He also was on
the board of directors for the Markle Boy Scouts.
Other survivors include three sons, Dennis Allen of Markle, Gary and Lynn Allen, both of
Fort Wayne; a daughter, Mrs. Roy (Susan) Guillaume of Landrum, S.C.; a sister, Mary Mann
of Huntington; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, David Allen; a brother; and four sisters.
Visitation hours are Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Myers Funeral Home Markle
Chapel, and Wednesday for one hour prior to the service at the church, which will begin at
10 a.m. at the Markle Church of Christ, with Pastor Gerald O. Moreland officiating.
Interment will be in the Markle Cemetery. Preferred memorials to the church.
Rose Ella Renbarger, 78
Services for Rose Ella Renbarger, 78, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Glancy
Funeral Home, Walker Chapel in Montpelier. She died at 10:12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the
Americare Center in Portland, where she had been a resident since September.
Born in Marion on May 14, 1925 to Edgar and Gretchen Hartley Nichols, she married Harry L.
Renbarger on Jan. 7, 1941 in Sweetser; he survives and lives in Portland.
A homemaker and farmer, she formerly lived in Van Buren, Montpelier and Pennville. She was
active in the Sweetser Ladies Aid organization and the Farrville Friends Church in Van
Buren.
Other survivors include a son, Harry Lewis Renbarger, Jr. of Pennville; a daughter,
Rebecca Ann Wyrick of Van Buren; two brothers, Forrest Nichols of Van Buren and Tom
Nichols of El Cajon, Calif.; a sister, Carolyn Lee of Van Buren; four grandchildren; and
five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Visitation hours will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in
the Gardens of Memory in Marion.
Doris “Jean” Walker, 77
Services for Doris “Jean” Walker, 77, of Ossian, will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the
Ossian Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Walker died Saturday, Nov. 22 at Lutheran Hospital in
Fort Wayne. Born in Dayton, Pa. on Aug. 23, 1926 to John E. and Nancy Burns Patterson, she
married Robert G. Walker in Rural Valley, Pa. on Oct. 11, 1947; he survives. She was a
homemaker and a member of the Ossian Presbyterian Church.
Other survivors include a son, Gary R. Walker of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Janice L. Herbst
of Mission, Texas; a sister, Hazel Smith of Harrisburg, Pa.; five grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by a son, David J. Walker; four brothers; and
for sisters.
Visitation hours will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Elzey Patterson Rodak
Funeral Home in Ossian and for one hour prior to the services Tuesday at the church. Rev.
Lyle Ewing will officiate at the service and burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery in
Ossian.
Preferred memorials to the church.
Nov. 25, 2003
Brice David Fisher, 51
Funeral services for Bluffton-Harrison Middle School teacher Brice David Fisher, 51, will
be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Haggard and Sefton Funeral Home in Decatur.
Mr. Fisher, a seventh grade math teacher, died Sunday, Nov. 23, after suffering a massive
heart attack at his rural Monroe home.
Mr. Fisher had been an employee of Bluffton-Harrison Schools for 30 years, and he also was
engaged in farming. In addition to teaching mathematics, Mr. Fisher coached football and
track in various capacities within the school district.
He was known for his classroom skills as well as having an excellent rapport with faculty
and students. He established a reputation for effectively using testing results to tailor
his instruction to meet the needs of his students. He was a leader among local educators
in understanding and teaching the Indiana Academic Standards.
He was a member of the St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Decatur Masonic Lodge #571 and
the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Fort Wayne.
He was born Sept. 24, 1952 in Decatur to Brice W. “Bud” and Doris D. Sprunger Fisher.
His marriage on July 1, 1972 was to the former Sharon Workinger, who survives at 998N,
100W, Monroe.
Also surviving are his mother, a son, Scott D. Fisher of Decatur; three daughters, Mrs.
Eric (Stacey E.) Smith, Mrs. Dan (Stephanie A.) Wable and Mrs. Doug (Sandy M.) Beckner,
all of Decatur; two brothers, Kim C. Fisher of Monroe and Edward A. Fisher of Decatur; a
sister, Mary Kaye Fisher of Monroe and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a
brother, Ken Fisher.
Rev. Richard Pulling will officiate at funeral services and burial will be in Decatur
Cemetery.
Calling at the funeral home will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight and from 2 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday. A Masonic service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Preferred memorials are to his grandchildren’s education fund or to St. Luke’s United
Church of Christ, rural Decatur.
Russell E. “Dean” Butler Sr., 56
Brother of Bluffton resident Mrs. Clarence (Priscilla) Butcher, Russell E. “Dean” Butler
Sr., 56, died at his residence in Portland Sunday, Nov. 23, following an extended
illness.
Born April 17, 1947 in Dugger to Russell R. and Ada Joyce Hackworth Butler, he married the
former Linda McCormick Romine April 11, 1998. She survives.
He retired in 1992 from Sheller-Globe Corp. in Montpelier following 32 years of service.
Additional survivors include his mother; two sons, Russell Jr. and Tim, both of Portland;
two daughters, Joyce M. Butler and Tina L. Adkins, both of Portland; two step daughters,
Mrs. Jim (April) Derrickson and Mrs. Steve (Tammy) Votaw, both of Portland; a brother,
Dova, of Portland; two other sisters, Mrs. Robert (Mamie) Calvert, Elkgrove, Calif., and
Mrs. Floyd (Joyce) LeMaster, Syracuse; three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.
Services Saturday at 11 a.m. will be held in the Portland Chapel of Williamson and Spencer
Funeral Home. Pastor Tim Reynolds will officiate and burial will be in the Wells Cemetery
north of Portland. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Joan Parnell, 76
A retired beautician, Joan Parnell, 76, died at 8:05 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 at her residence
in Hartford City.
She had operated Joan’s Beauty Shop in Amboy, where she resided for 40 years before moving
to Hartford City. She had previously lived in Montpelier and attended the First United
Methodist Church in Montpelier and the United Methodist Church in Amboy.
She was a 1945 graduate of Montpelier High School and a graduate of Ambers Beauty School
in Muncie.
Born Nov. 4, 1927 in Blackford County to Marion “Pat” and Agatha Rains Schwarzkopf, her
marriage on Oct. 9, 1949 in Montpelier was to Robert L. Parnell, who preceded her in death
in October of 1998.
She is survived by two sons, Patrick Parnell of Marion and Robert Parnell of Amboy; a
daughter, Mrs. Carl (Kathy) Adams of Hartford City; a brother, Tom Schwarzkopf of
Montpelier and four grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Glancy Funeral Homes Walker Chapel in
Montpelier with Rev. Connie Payne officiating and burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in
Montpelier.
Calling at the funeral home will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday.
William H. Collins, 71 — Rites Pending
A former resident of Warren, William H. Collins, 71, of Alexandria died at 12:38 a.m.
today at Community Hospital in Anderson. Rites are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes H.
Brown & Son Chapel in Warren.
Nov. 26, 2003
Winferd Scott Geiger, 97
A widely known longtime Rockcreek Township Wells County farmer and agribusiness leader,
Winferd Scott Geiger, 97, died at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at his home, 2670N
500W, Bluffton.
Although active well into his 90s, he was in failing health the past month.
In addition to being a self-employed farmer, Mr. Geiger sold buildings for Cuckler
Building Systems of Monticello, Illinois, and sold grain bins and grain drying systems for
Circle Steel Corporation of Taylorville, Illinois. He also was active for years in
Democratic politics and was a former Rockcreek Township Advisory Board member.
He was born Jan. 1, 1906, in Rock Creek Township of Huntington County to David and Leona
Summers Geiger. Throughout his active years of farming, he was a Wells County resident.
His marriage was in 1926 to Vera Hite, who preceded him in death in September of 1983. He
was a member of the Markle Church of Christ.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Clarence Jr. (Marjorie) McAfee of rural Bluffton; five
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In addition to the wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Wilbur Geiger, who died in May
of 1984, and by two brothers and two sisters.
Calling will be Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thoma-Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home, and for one hour prior to the services Saturday at the church. The services will be
at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Markle Church of Christ with Rev. Gerald Moreland officiating.
Burial will be in Star of Hope Cemetery north of Markle.
Preferred memorials to the Markle Church of Christ or Home Health Care.
Corey M. Kennerk, 17
A Bishop Luers High School student and member of the football and wrestling teams, Corey
M. Kennerk, 17, of Yoder, died at 9:44 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003, from injuries in an
auto accident at I-469 and the Bluffton Road.
He was a member of St. Joe Hessen Cassel Catholic Church, Boy Scout Troop 348 and the
Bishop Luers Lacrosse Club. He was employed at Scott’s Foods on Decatur Road.
Corey was born Nov. 12, 1986, in Fort Wayne to Timothy and Leann Kennerk of Yoder, who
survive. Also surviving are two brothers, Aaron J. and Ryan T. Kennerk; one sister,
Andreya L. Kennerk; grandparents, W. R. “Dick” Vandall and Manuela Vandall and Tom and
Janie Kennerk, all of Fort Wayne, and great-grandmothers, Eileen Kennerk and Marciel
Solga, both of Fort Wayne, and Petra Beruman of Hammond.
Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Klaehn, Fahl &
Melton Funeral Home, 6424 Winchester Road, and on Saturday for one hour prior to the
service at the church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joe Hessen
Cassel Catholic Church with Father Ed Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in St. Joe
Hessen Cassel Catholic Cemetery.
Preferred memorials to the church or the Bishop Luers Wrestling Department.
William H. Collins, 71
A Warren area resident for years until moving to Madison County in 1980, William H.
Collins, 71, of Alexandria died at 12:38 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at Community
Hospital in Anderson.
He was a Korean War veteran with service from February of 1953 to December of 1954.
Mr. Collins was an inspector at RCA in Marion for 341Ž2 years until retirement in 1989.
He was born Sept. 14, 1932, in Van Buren to William Leon and Bessie Yarder Collins. He was
married on Aug. 1, 1980 at Alexandria to Louise J. Austin, who survives. He was a member
of the United Wesleyan Church at Alexandria, American Legion Post 0469 in Frankton, and
VFW Post 1552 and Eagles Post 1771 in Alexandria.
Surviving, in addition to the wife, are three sons, Jerry of Hanover, Michigan, Donnie
Gene and Ronnie Dean Collins, both of Anderson; a stepson, Shea Rodarmel of Jacksonville,
Fla.; a brother, Robert, of Andrews; two sisters, Doris Douglas of Warren and Mrs. Floyd
(Nancy) Dodson of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and two granddaughters. Preceding him in death
were his first wife, Elizabeth Pinkerton Collins, and a daughter, Janice Sue Collins.
Calling will be Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown
& Son Chapel at Warren, where services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday with Rev. Thomas
Broderick officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Warren. Memorials to the
American Bible Society.