Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner publications, posted with permission.
Dec. 9, 2000
Dale V. Gilgen, 60
A native of Wells County, Dale V. Gilgen, 60, died at 10:05 p.m. Thursday at Community
Care Center in Wabash.
Born Aug. 18, 1940 in Vera Cruz, he was a son of Marion and Bessie Luginbill Gilgen. He
was employed for 15 years at International Harvester.
Survivors include a son, Rod Gilgen of Bluffton, two daughters, Mrs. Dan (Angela) Mangold
of Fort Wayne and Laura Dillingham of Bluffton; a brother, Paul Gilgen of Missouri; a
sister, Mrs. Jerry (Doris) Leimgruber of Bluffton and eight grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where calling
will be Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m.
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Dec. 11, 2000
Dale R. Townsend Sr., 46
Funeral services for Dale R. Townsend Sr., 46, of rural Hartford City, will be held at
10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Glancy Funeral Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier.
Mr. Townsend died at 3:14 a.m. Friday at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Township was employed at Keith Sullivan Excavating in Marion. He also worked for Rock
Leasing in Plumtree.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Washington Township, Blackford County, and
attended schools at Roll and Montpelier before graduating with the class of 1973 at
Blackford High School in Hartford City. He was a member of the Eagle Lodge 928 at Portland
and had seen service with the U.S. Army.
He was born July 7, 1954 to Alfred A. and Helen J. Waters Townsend. His marriage at
Hartford City on Feb. 19, 1985 was to Debbie Sue Ervin, who survives.
Surviving also are two sons, Dale Jr. of Montpelier and Brian of Hartford City; a
daughter, Christina JoAnn Townsend of Gibsonton, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Amy Johnson of
Arizona and Jessica Johnson of Hartford City; a sister, Mrs. Leroy (Barb) Blankenship of
Springfield, Mo.; four brothers, Bill and James Dean, both of Hartford City, Jerry of
Muncie and Wayne of Montpelier; and nine grandchildren. A brother, Edward, is deceased.
Pastor Ken Horning will officiate at services and burial will be in Hartford City
Cemetery.
Doris L. Chilcote, 90
Doris L. Chilcote, 90, of Decatur, died at 5:38 p.m. Friday at Kingston Care Center in
Fort Wayne, where she has been a patient the past 14 months.
She retired in 1962 after 18 years with the General Electric Co.
She was born in Wells County Jan. 14, 1910 to James G. and Viola M. Bailey Rockwell. She
was a member of the Church of God at Decatur.
Surviving are 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three daughters, Martha Cress, Marvel (Jean) Frye and Marilyn
Stucky, three brothers and three sisters.
Services at 11 a.m. Tuesday will be at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with Rev.
Sandy Hildebrand officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Bluffton.
Calling hours at the funeral home are today from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Decatur Church of God.
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Dec. 12, 2000
Mae K. Sheets, 95
Mae K. Sheets, 95, who resided at 228 East Wiley Ave., died at 10:31 p.m. Monday at the
Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
She retired in 1982 after 20 years as housekeeping supervisor at Caylor-Nickel Hospital.
She was a member of Park United Brethren Church.
She was born at Warren Dec. 9, 1905 to John and Ida Lahr Krieg. Her marriage at Warren on
Oct. 15, 1927 was to Homer B. Sheets, who died March 9, 1979.
Surviving are a son, Jerry Sheets of Bluffton; two daughters, Mrs. James (Karen) Dubach of
Linn Grove and Mrs. Ron (Anita) Hoye of Kalispell, Mont; 12 grandchildren; and 11
great-grandchildren. Two sons, Michael and Bruce, are deceased.
Services at 10 a.m., Saturday will be at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, where calling hours will
be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Rev. Larry Taylor will officiate and burial will be in Six Mile Cemetery.
Memorials to Park United Brethren Church.
Robert W. Whittenberger, 90
Father of Colleen S. Whittenberger of Bluffton, Robert W. Whittenberger, 90, of rural
Akron, Ind., died at 6:17 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Medical Center, Plymouth Campus,
following an extended illness. He had been in failing health the past year.
He was actively involved in farming of the family farm which he and his late wife operated
together.
He was born at Akron July 23, 1910 to Otis and Pearl Hart Whittenberger. His marriage was
to Treva Marie Ballenger, who died April 26, 1989.
Surviving, in addition to the daughter in Bluffton, are another daughter, Carol A. Arnett
of Argos; a sister, Mrs. Bernard (Pauline “Polly”) Kuhn of Mentone; a brother, Donald of
Akron; and several nieces and nephews. A sister and a brother are deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Foster & Good Funeral Home in Akron and
burial will be in Athens Cemetery at Athens, Ind.
Visitation hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Thursday for two hours prior to
services.
Memorials to the Henry Township Fire and Rescue Department.
Mark A. Mann, 79 -- Rites Pending
Mark A. Mann, 79, formerly of Bluffton, died Monday in Melbourne, Fla. Arrangements are
pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
Carin K. Corn, 22
A native of Bluffton, Carin K. Corn, 22, of Bellfountaine, Jay County, died Sunday in a
traffic accident in Darke County, Ohio.
She worked at Fort Recovery Industries in Fort Recovery, Ohio.
Surviving are her husband, Donald R.; her parents, Phillip and Colene Wallace of rural
Portland; a son, Bailey C., at home; a daughter, Emily N. at home; a sister, Suranna
Ashman of Bluffton; two brothers, Michael E. Wallace of Salamonia and Phillip Mark Wallace
of rural Portland; and her grandparents, Reba Cook of Winchester and Myrtle Wallace of
rural Portland.
Services at 11 a.m. Thursday will be at the Portland Chapel of the Williamson and Spencer
Funeral Home, where calling hours will be Wednesday from 1 to 7 p.m.
Burial will be in Lawndale Cemetery, east of Ridgeville.
Memorials to the Jay County Humane Society.
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Dec. 13, 2000
Madlyn Iverne Lambert, 73
Madlyn Iverne Lambert, 73, of 1010 South Jersey St., died at 6:02 a.m. today at
Caylor-Nickel Medical Center. Death was attributed to a stroke and followed an illness of
one week.
She was employed for many years as a secretary and retired in 1987 form the Kmart card
department .
Mrs. Lambert was a 1945 graduate of Bluffton High School and a graduate of International
Business College and attended Huntington College for two years.
She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Bluffton.
She was born in Fort Wayne May 11, 1927 to Russ W. and Bonnie Starr Carnes. Her marriage
at Bluffton on May 11, 1947 was to Ophel J. Powell, who died June 23, 1953.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Mike (Suella) Southard of rural Alexandria; three sons,
Stephen J. Powell of Vincennes, Daniel E. Lambert of Bluffton and Lee W. Lambert of Berne;
five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. One brother, Max E. Carnes, is
deceased.
Services at 1:30 p.m. Friday will be at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with
Rev. Larry Sheets and Rev. Dan White officiating. Burial will be in Stahl Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials to the First Church of the Nazarene building fund.
Edna Irene Neuenschwander, 85
Edna Irene Neuenschwander, 85, formerly of rural Bluffton, died at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday at
Christian Care Retirement Center.
A native and lifelong resident of Wells County, she was a homemaker.
She was born Sept. 11, 1915 to Fred E. and Martha Baumgartner Schaefer. Her marriage at
Vera Cruz on Sept. 11, 1933 was to Walter Neuenschwander, who died July 30, 1999.
Mrs. Neuenschwander was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church.
Surviving are a son, Walter Jr., of Ossian; two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Marilyn) Gerber
and Mrs. John (Carolyn) Meyer, both of Bluffton; two brothers, Robert G. Schaefer of
Indianapolis and Virgil L. Schaefer of New Haven; seven grandchildren; and 16
great-grandchildren.
Two daughters, Doris and Dian, a brother, a sister and a great-grandchild are deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Apostolic Christian Church North with
ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours at Goodwin Memorial Chapel will be Friday from 1 to 9 p.m. and at the church
Saturday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to Christian Care Retirement Center.
Bertha Maddux, 102 -- Rites Pending
Bertha Maddux, 102, formerly of 932 North Main St., Bluffton, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday
at Swiss Village Retirement Center in Berne. Funeral arrangements are pending at Goodwin
Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
Carol J. Hundley, 58
Carol J. Hundley, 58, of rural Decatur, died at 6:38 p.m. Monday at Adams County Memorial
Hospital in Decatur.
She was a graduate of Leo High School in 1958 and retired from Guardian Photo in Fort
Wayne after eight years.
She was born in Albion Feb. 14, 1942 to Joseph and Beatrice Spence Mills. Her marriage in
Fort Wayne on Oct. 15, 1960 was to Charles E. Hundley, who survives.
Other survivors are two sons, James E. of Fort Wayne and Bobby J. of Decatur; a daughter,
Mrs. Ken (Tammy) Mertes of Decatur; her stepfather and mother, Wayne and Beatrice Brouse
of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Mrs. Larry (Patricia) Sites and Darlene Irvin, both of Fort
Wayne; and eight grandchildren. A sister and a stepbrother are deceased.
Services will be at 8 p.m. Friday at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur with
Rev. Robert Shook officiating.
Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Edwin H. Reinking, 88
Edwin H. Reinking, 88, of Decatur, who was a charter member of the Preble Volunteer Fire
Department and its first president, died at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday at Adams County Hospital in
Decatur, where he had been a patient since Sunday.
He retired in 1978 from Schafer Wholesale Hardware as a buyer and then continued part-time
with the firm until 1992 for a total of 57 years of employment.
He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church at Preble, having held numerous offices in the
church. He was active in the choir for more than 65 years and taught Sunday school for a
number of years. He was a member of the church’s Aquilla and Priscilla Couples Club, a
former member of the Lutheran Chorale, former member of the Decatur Rotary Club, and
long-time member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League in which he held several offices.
Mr. Reinking was born in Adams County May 9, 1912 to Gerhard C. and Lillie Steele
Reinking. His marriage on March 2, 1946 was to Leona M. Wefel, who survives.
Other survivors are two sons, Dennis L. and James A., both of Decatur; two daughters, Mrs.
Steven (Connie J.) Kreigh of Decatur and Mrs. Delin (Marilyn A.) Franke of Ossian; a
foster son, Randy Wefel of Decatur; a brother, Karl Reinking of Decatur; a sister, Mrs.
Gerry (Alice) Doeden of Bradenton, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
One brother and two sisters are deceased.
Services at 10:30 a.m. Friday will be in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Preble with Rev.
Daniel Brege officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are today from 6 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Zwick & Jahn
Funeral Home in Decatur and at the church for one hour Friday prior to services.
Memorials to the church or to the Wyneken Expansion Fund.
Berlie M. Banter, 90
A resident of Wells County for 63 years and formerly of a Marion rural route into the
county, Berlie M. Banter, 90, died at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Memorial
Home at Warren.
Mrs. Banter was born in Van Buren Township, Grant County, and graduated from Van Buren
High School in 1929. She was a member of the Dillman United Brethren Church, 50-year
member of its Ladies Aid and 50-year member of the Blackcreek Conservation Club Auxiliary.
She also was a member of the Van Buren Retirees Club.
In Wells County, he had resided on the same farm since 1937.
She was born Nov. 20, 1910 to Ira and Clara Schwiekhardt Swagger. Her marriage in 1932 was
to Oscar Banter, who died Dec. 12, 1968.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Ardith) Shideler of Warren and Clara Mae Banter
of Marion; two brothers, Howard Swagger and Dale Swagger, both of Van Buren; two grandsons
and seven great-grandchildren. A brother is deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Dillman United Brethren Church with Rev. Lynn
Mefferd and Rev. Richard Frederick officiating. Burial will be in Van Buren Cemetery.
Calling hours at the Ferguson Funeral Home in Van Buren will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m.
and at the church Friday for one hour prior to services. Memorials to the church building
fund.
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Dec. 14, 2000
Bertha M. Maddux, 102
Funeral services for Bertha M. Maddux, 102, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Goodwin
Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel will be Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Mrs. Maddux, a former resident of Bluffton, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at Swiss Village in
Berne.
She was born in Fort Wayne April 8, 1898 to John and Rosa Moser Graden. Her marriage at
Hillsdale, Mich., on Sept. 25, 1917 was to Charles F. Maddux, who died July 30, 1982.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Fred (Dorothy) Sprunger of Siloam Springs, Ark., and
Mrs. Floyd (Marilyn) Minnich of Bluffton; two sisters, Mrs. Helen Toussaint and Mrs.
Esther Smith, both of Bluffton; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Four
brothers and two sisters are deceased.
Rev. I. James Eshleman will officiate at services and burial will be in Elm Grove
Cemetery.
Memorials to Swiss Village.
Mark Allen Mann, 79
Mark Allen Mann, 79, formerly of Bluffton, died Monday at Melbourne, Fla., where he
resided.
He retired in 1968 from the U.S. Air Force after 26 years, of which four years were served
in the Pacific area and three years in Europe.
He was a member of Bluffton American Legion Post 111.
He was born in Grant County Aug. 19, 1921 to Chester and Blanche Jackson Mann.
Surviving are two daughters, Nonna Lou Carlson of San Antonio, Texas, and Brenda Kay Mann
of Philadelphia, Pa.; a son, Mark Mann Jr. of Sunnyville, Calif.; two brothers, Dale Leon
“Shorty” Mann of Bluffton and William Mann of Warren; a half-sister, Ellen Marie Buckland
of Bluffton; a stepbrother, Roger Shaw of Warren; a stepsister, Mrs. Harold (Doris)
McFarren of Bluffton; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. A half-sister and a
stepsister are deceased.
Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, where
visitation times will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Rev. James Poling will officiate and burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery with graveside
military rites by American Legion Post 111.
Memorials to the American Legion Post 111.
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Dec. 15, 2000
Allie M. Kinsey, 98
Allie M. Kinsey, 98, died at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at her residence at 704 South Dougherty
St. following an extended illness.
She was retired from employment at O.K. Modern Cleaners.
Mrs. Kinsey was affiliated with the King’s Highway Tabernacle.
A resident of Wells County since 1945, she was born May 16, 1902 at Lafayette, Ga., to
Louis and Arby Kilgore Watts. Her marriage in Georgia in 1915 was to Kinley Kinsey, who
died Aug. 24, 1957.
Surviving are five daughters, Ruth Milligan, Annie Ruth Harris and Jewel Baker, all of
Lafayette, Ga., Ethel Ferguson of Bluffton and Linda King of Berne; three sons, David,
Frank and Harold Kinsey, all of Bluffton; a half-brother, Robert Watts of Fayette, Ga.; 22
grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. A son,
Charles, is deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home with
Rev. James Poling officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Mrs. Arno D. Reed, 88 -- Rites Pending
Mrs. Arno D. Reed, 88, of 525 East Spring St., died at 8:10 a.m. today at Wells Community
Hospital following a sudden illness. Arrangements are pending at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt &
Chaney Funeral Home.
David A. Bonjour, 49 -- Rites Pending
David A. Bonjour, 49, a former resident of Montpelier, died Wednesday at his residence in
Casa Grante, Ariz., following an extended illness. Rites are pending at Glancy Funeral
Homes, Walker Chapel, in Montpelier.
‘Nikki’ Sue Rees-Constable, 51
“Nikki” Sue Rees-Constable, 51, of Hartford City, died at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Adams County
Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
She worked at Peyton Northern Distribution Center in Bluffton for 12 years.
She was born in Hartford City and was a graduate in 1968 of Hartford City High School. She
was a member of American Legion Auxiliary 159.
A lifelong resident of Blackford County, she was born Sept. 2, 1949 to Floyd M. and
Rosemary “Rosie” Dutton Rees. Her mother died Jan. 30, 2000.
Surviving are her father, Floyd, of Hartford City; three daughters, Mrs. Kevin (Amy L.)
McCammon of Bluffton, Mrs. Shawn (Robin A.) Willmann of Great Lakes, Ill., and Mrs. Brian
(Stephanie L.) St. John of Muncie; three brothers, Robert C. Rees of San Diego, Calif,
Steve Rees of Marion and Bruce W. Rees of Bloomington; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Keplinger Funeral Home in Hartford City with Father
Keith Hosey officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory at Muncie.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 12 noon
until time for services.
Memorials to the American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate, P.O. Box 541, Chicago,
Ill., 60680-1541.