Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner publications, posted with permission.
Nov. 3, 2000
Elmer John Neumann, 93
Elmer John Neumann, 93, who resided at 828 South Main St., died at 7:10 a.m. today at
Meadowvale Care Center.
A resident of Bluffton since 1970, he retired as plant manager for Downing Box Co.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bluffton.
Mr. Neumann was born in Fort Wayne July 7, 1907 to Peter and Amelia Roembke Neumann. His
marriage at Fort Wayne on Aug. 21, 1926 was to Mabel Marie Bower, who died Dec. 12, 1998.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Barbara Jean Goryl of Homosassa, Fla; a son, Miles Gordon
Neumann, also of Homosassa; two brothers, Carl Neumann and Edward Neumann, both of Fort
Wayne; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Two brothers and two sisters are
deceased.
There will be no visitation hours and no services. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery at
rites officiated by Fr. Larry Kramer.
Arrangements are by Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Alfred L. Ruble, 90
Alfred L. Ruble, 90, of Warren, brother of Don Ruble of Bluffton, died at 4 p.m. Thursday
at the United Methodist Memorial Home at Warren.
Prominent in Warren community activities for years, he worked at Overhead Door in Hartford
City for 30 years and the retired from United Methodist Home.
He was an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer and was a member of the United Church of
Christ in Warren. He attended the public schools at Warren.
Mr. Ruble was born in Huntington County May 29, 1910 to Henry and Effie Hoggatt Ruble. His
marriage at Huntington on May 29, 1928 was to Celia Taylor, who survives.
Surviving, in addition to his wife and the brother at Bluffton, are a daughter, Ann
Brauchla of Warren; another brother, Dale Ruble of Grass Valley, Calif.; and five
grandchildren. Three brothers, three sisters and three grandchildren, including infant
twins, are deceased.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Warren United Methodist Home with Rev. Herschel
Dyer officiating, assisted by Rev. John Bellante and Rev. Charles Dye. Burial will be in
Woodlawn Cemetery at Warren.
Calling hours at the United Methodist Memorial Home will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Glancy Funeral Homes, Butler Chapel in Warren, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials to the United Methodist Memorial Home Child Care.
Philip H. ‘Dan’ Roser Jr., 76
Father of Julie J. Allen of Ossian, Philip H. “Dan” Roser Jr., 76, of rural North
Manchester, died at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
He retired as a farmer in 1989 and worked part time at the Super Wash Car Wash in North
Manchester. He was a member of the North Manchester First Brethren Church.
He was born in Wabash County Jan. 16, 1924 to Philip H. and Emma Stouffer Roser. His
marriage on Nov. 22, 1952 at North Manchester was to Betty Brandenburg, who survives.
Surviving, in addition to his wife and the daughter at Ossian, are a son, Mark E. of North
Manchester; another daughter, Beth A. Blatz of Wabash; three brothers, Verne and Donald,
both of Wabash, and Robert of Roann; 11 sisters, Martha Shaffer of Urbana, Lois Fleshood
of Cincinnati, Phoebe Ridenour of Roann, Peggy Riggs of Greentown, Carolyn Everest of
Marion, and Katherine Clupper, Betty McKillip, Helen Hoppes, Mary Alice Reed, Marcella
Houlihan, and Shirley Atkinson, all of Wabash; and seven grandchildren. A brother and a
sister are deceased.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the North Manchester First Brethren Church with
Rev. Kurt Stout officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery at North Manchester.
Visitation hours will be Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender
Chapel, 207 West Main St., in North Manchester.
Memorials to Springside Life Care Center at the Wabash County Hospital.
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Nov. 4, 2000
Evelyn R. Becker, 68
A lifelong resident of Decatur, Evelyn R. Becker, 68, died at 8:33 a.m. Friday at Lutheran
Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She retired from Kitco Inc. in Bluffton in 1999 as an inspector with 27 years of service.
She was a member of the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Decatur; American Legion
Auxiliary, Unit 43 in Decatur, and the Central Indiana Blue Grass Association. She was a
1950 graduate of Decatur High School.
Born May 15, 1932 in Union Township of Adams County to Walter M. and Ella M.E. Krueckeberg
Bleeke, her marriage on June 21, 1953, was to William J. Becker, who survives.
Also surviving are six daughters, Mrs. Wilbur (Nadine E. Miller, Teresa L. Becker, Doreen
S. Becker and Linda K. Becker, all of Decatur, Mrs. Mark (Rhonda A.) Mendenhall of
Kendallville and Jane E. Becker of Fort Wayne; a son, Dennis W. Becker of Decatur; a
brother, Norbert L. Bleeke of rural Decatur; six grandchildren and three
stepgrandchildren.
Calling will be Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in
Decatur. Calling also on Monday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. A prayer service at the funeral
home will be held at 1:30 p.m. followed by a service at 2 p.m. at Beautiful Saviour
Lutheran Church with Rev. Jonathan Neipp officiating.
Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Decatur.
Preferred memorials to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, American Heart Association or
American Diabetes Association.
Gerald O. Archbold, 75
A native of Ossian and a retired longtime truck driver, Gerald O. Archbold, 75, died
Friday at home.
He was a driver with Associate Truck Lines for 36 years until his 1985 retirement.
Mr. Archbold was a member of the Moose, American Legion Post 409 and Teamster Local 414. A
World War II Navy veteran, he enjoyed gardening, bird-watching and handyman tasks.
Surviving are his wife, Gloria; six daughters, Lynn Archbold of North Carolina, Robin
Crispin of Bluffton, Gayle Springer of Fort Wayne, Jeri Lucabaugh of Bluffton, Gina High
of Arlington, Texas, and Kim Barnes of North Carolina; four sons, Gerald Archbold Jr. of
California, Calvin Archbold of Bluffton, Jay Imbody of Payne, Ohio, and Mark Imbody of
South Whitley; four sisters, Opal Gilbert of Uniondale, Maxine Champ of Seymour, Naomi
Eicher of Fort Wayne and Patricia Fox of Arizona; 17 grandchildren and 4
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Lou; a sister, Mary Milholland, and a
brother, Gale Archbold.
Calling will be from 2 p.m. to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the D. O. McComb & Sons
Pine Valley Funeral Home, 1320 East DuPont Rd. and also on Tuesday one hour prior to the
funeral service, which will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Graveside military
service will be at Leo Cemetery. Memorials to Parkview Hospice.
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Nov. 6, 2000
Donald D. Mahon, 49
Donald D. Mahon, 49, whose residence was at 1871W St. Rd. 218, Poneto, died unexpectedly
of a heart attack at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
He was a graduate of Bluffton High School in 1970 and served with the U.S. Army during the
Vietnam War.
He was born in Portland Nov. 22, 1950 to Donald F. and Deloris Atwood Mahon. His father
died Sept. 22, 1988 and his mother survives and resides in rural Bluffton.
Surviving also are three daughters, April Mahon of Bluffton, Brandi Mahon of Spencerville,
Ohio, and Caitlin Mahon of Waterberry, Neb.; three sons, Don D. Jr., of Bluffton, Andy of
Spencerville, Ohio, and Jesse Wayne of Waterberry, Neb.
Other survivors include four brothers, R. Gene of Bluffton, Rocky E. of Geneva, David L.
of Columbus and Steven A. of Fort Wayne; three sisters, Mrs. Kevin (Karen) Keeling of
Delphos, Ohio, and Brenda Mahon and Mrs. Robert (Sherry) Zeis, both of Bluffton; and four
grandchildren. A brother, Glen A., died in 1982.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home
with Steven R. Ringger officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the family.
Charles H. Petty, 69
Charles H. Petty, 69, who resided at 1551 St. Rd. 116, died at 4:05 a.m. today at Veterans
Hospital in Fort Wayne. Death was attributed to cancer and followed an illness of 18
months.
Mr. Petty retired after 20 years of service with the U.S. Air Force and retired also from
Magnavox Corp. after 20 years.
He was a member of Bluffton American Legion Post 111 and the VFW post at Lawrenceville,
Ill. He had been a resident of Wells County since 1973.
He was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, May 25, 1931 to Omer and Alice Fuller Petty.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Tony (Jenny) Hitchens of Poneto and Mrs. Bryan (Vicki)
Macy of Linn Grove; four sons, Charles H. Jr., Steve and Sam, all of Bluffton, and Dave of
Markle; a brother, George of Overland Park, Kans.; nine grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild, Two sisters and a brother are deceased.
Calling hours at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home will be Tuesday from 2 to 6
p.m., at which time a family funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Chuck Lambdin.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at May Chapel Cemetery at
Lawrenceville, Ill., with military graveside rites.
Arrangements in Lawrenceville are by Emmons Funeral Home.
Virgil L. Affolder, 80
Virgil L. Affolder, 80, of Ossian, died Sunday at Caylor-Nickel Medical Center.
A farmer, he was born in Adams County Aug. 6, 1920 to Charles and Mary Affolder.
Mr. Affolder was a veteran of U.S. Navy service during World War II.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Ellen, to whom he was married at Ossian on Nov. 15, 1941; two
sons, Steven of Berne and Gary of Ossian; three sisters, seven grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren. Two brothers are deceased.
There will be no service or visitation.
Memorials to the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Rd., Fort
Wayne.
Esther Johanna Minniear, 91
A former resident of Huntington, Esther Johanna Minniear, 91, died at 7:10 p.m. Friday at
the Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester.
She worked as a bookkeeper/accountant with E-Systems (Memcor) for 20 years, retiring in
1973.
She was a member of St. Peter's First United Church of Christ in Huntington, past
worthy matron of the Huntington Floral Order of Eastern Star Chapter 75, past noble grand
of Huntington Rebecca Charity Chapter 261 and a member of the Bluffton Women of the Moose
and of the Erie Lackawana Auxiliary.
She was born in Hammond Oct. 7, 1909 to Henry and Estella Mae Moore Vis. Her marriage in
Joliet, Ill., on March 8, 1929, was to Guy E. Minniear, who died July 9, 1959.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Dennis (Ruth) Dolby of Warsaw; a sister, Mrs. John (Ruth)
Lamer of Hobart; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A daughter, Lilly
Allen, a brother and twin sisters are deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Myers Funeral Home, Huntington Chapel, with
Rev. Jonathon Heaslet officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Warren.
Visitation hours at the Myers Funeral Home, Huntington Chapel, are today from 2 to 4 and 6
to 8 p.m. The Huntington OES Chapter will conduct a service at 6:30 p.m.
Memorials to the Huntington County Cancer Society or to St. Peter’s First United Church of
Christ.
Elmer John Neumann, 93
Graveside services for Elmer John Neumann, 93, will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Elm Grove
Cemetery, with Father Larry Kramer officiating.
Mr. Neumann, who resided at 828 South Main St., died Friday at Meadowvale Care Center.
A resident of Bluffton since 1970, he retired as plant manager for Downing Box Co.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bluffton.
Mr. Neumann was born in Fort Wayne July 7, 1907 to Peter and Amelia Roembke Neumann. His
marriage at Fort Wayne on Aug. 21, 1926 was to Mabel Marie Bower, who died Dec. 12, 1998.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Barbara Jean Goryl of Homosassa, Fla; a son, Miles Gordon
Neumann, also of Homosassa; two brothers, Carl Neumann and Edward Neumann, both of Fort
Wayne; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Two brothers and two sisters are
deceased.
Arrangements are by Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
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Nov. 7, 2000
Hilda Jeanette Nussel, 80
Sister of Erma Dalrymple of Ossian, Hilda Jeanette Nussel, 80, died Sunday at her home in
Fort Wayne.
She was an executive secretary for 23 years at General Electric Co., retiring in 1975.
She was a native of Union Township, Allen County.
Surviving, in addition to the sister at Ossian, are her husband, Clarence R.; a daughter,
Patricia L. Kirkpatrick of Mishawaka; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Klaehn, Fahl & Melton Funeral Home Wayne Street
Chapel, 420 West Wayne St., Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Lindenwood Cemetery.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to American Cancer Society, to Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice Inc., or to
Trinity English Lutheran CHurch.
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Nov. 8, 2000
Robert L. Bunn, 72
Robert L. Bunn, 72, died Tuesday at his home in Fort Wayne.
He was a native of Fort Wayne and owner and operator of Robert L. Bunn Trucking, retiring
in 1989 after 21 years. For the last eight years, he has worked at Bunn Asphalt Paving.
Surviving are his wife, Juanita J.; five sons, Michael R. of West Palm Beach, Fla., John
C. of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., Steven A. and Robert P., both of Fort Wayne, and Gregory L.
of Ossian.
Others surviving are a sister, Lorene Gump of North Webster; two brothers, Paul of Ossian
and Gary W. of Roanoke; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Elzey & Haggard Home for Funerals, 6810 Old
Trail Rd., Fort Wayne, where calling hours will be Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Huntertown Cemetery.
Memorials to Parkview Home Health Care and Hospice.