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Surnames: Wygant, Pierce, Everett, Jacobs, Landrum, Fields, Becker, Welch, Beghtel
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/2860
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications, posted with permission.
Sept. 25, 2001
W. Kell Wygant, 86
A public school music educator for 35 years, W. Kell Wygant, 86, of Warren, formerly of
Markle, died at 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Mr. Wygant retired in 1972 from the Huntington County Community School Corporation after
having taught for various schools, including West Rock Creek, Salamonie Township,
Lancaster, and Warren, all in Huntington County, and East Rockcreek in Wells County.
After retirement, he taught for five years with the Lutheran Schools in Huntington. Mr.
Wygant served on the board of directors of the Huntington Senior Center until 1986 and was
a member of the Huntington Exchange Club. Until recently, he was the director for the
Markle Barber Shoppers.
A 1933 graduate of Union High School in Huntington County, he received an associate degree
in 1936 from Huntington College, a bachelor’s degree in 1937 from Manchester College and a
master’s degree in 1941 from Indiana University at Bloomington. He was a member of the
Indiana Retired Teachers Association, along with the national and local chapters. He was a
member of the Markle United Methodist Church, where he served for 25 years as choir
director and organist.
Mr. Wygant was born in Union Township, Huntington County, Nov. 19, 1914, the son of Joseph
I. and Ella M. Shank Wygant. His marriage on July, 30, 1935 at Marion was to Ilo J.
Bowman, who died Feb. 5, 1989;. His second marriage on Jan. 6, 1990 at Markle was to Iva
Mae Summers, who survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Judy Wibel of Farmington,
N.M.; a son, Dean L. Wygant of Versailles, Ind.; two stepdaughters, Joyle Allen and
Phyllis Lahr, both of Markle; a stepson, Roger Allen of Alabama; three grandchildren; two
great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; and two
stepgreat-great-grandchildren. A brother and a sister are deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel, and interment
will be in the Markle Cemetery.
Visitation hours at the Applegate Chapel of the United Methodist Memorial Home at Warren
will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and at the Myers Funeral Home’s Markle Chapel Thursday
from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Markle United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 378, Markle, IN 46770.
Jerry Ray Pierce, 57
A Portland manufacturer, Jerry Ray Pierce, 57, died at 2:15 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at his
residence in Portland.
He was co-owner of W&M Manufacturing Inc., Pier-Mac Plastics Inc., and Accelerated
Curing Inc. Mr. Pierce was a veteran of service with the U.S. Army. He was a member of the
Fairview United Methodist Church and the Elks Lodge at Portland, the American Legion Post
at Berne and the Society of Plastic Engineers.
He was born in Paris, Tenn., March 7, 1944 to Harvey R. and Mamie Myers Pierce, both of
whom are deceased as is his stepfather of 50 years, Buell Ray Farmer. His marriage at
Detroit, Mich., on May 24, 1969 was to Kay McCabe, who survives.
Other survivors are a brother, Dennis Farmer of Rolla, Mo.; a sister, Barbara Wheatly of
Hernando, Fla.; six nephews; and six nieces. A son, Douglas Robert Pierce, and a brother
are deceased.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Geneva and
burial will be at a future date. Calling hours at the Downing Funeral Home in Geneva will
be Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and at the church Thursday for one hour prior to services.
Memorials to the Jay County Boys Club Community Center Building Fund.
James C. Everett, 74
Father of Roger L. Everett of Bluffton, James C. Everett, 74, of Decatur died at 1:35 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 24, at his residence.
He retired in 1989 after 37 years with the K-Mart Corp.
Mr. Everett was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. He was a member
of Moose Lodge 1311 at Decatur.
He was born at Pleasant Mills Feb. 23, 1927 to James C. and Ada Death Everett. His
marriage on March 29, 1952 was to Carolyn J. Waltmire, who survives. Surviving, in
addition to his wife and the son in Bluffton, are two other sons, Ronald A. and Robert E.,
both of Decatur; a brother, Coral A. of Union City; two sisters, Dolly R. Bentz and Mrs.
Carl (Jean) Rumschlag both of Decatur; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A daughter, Deborah S.; a son, Rodney A.; six brothers; and three sisters are deceased.
Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in
Decatur. Burial will be at Tabor Cemetery in rural Decatur with military graveside rites
by American Legion Post 43.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel will be Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday for
one hour prior to services. A Moose Lodge memorial service will be conducted at 8 p.m.
Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials to the Adams County Chapter of the American Cancer Society or to Hospice of
Northeast Indiana.
Sept. 26, 2001 - None
Sept. 27, 2001
Ralph Edward Jacobs, 75
A retired U.S. mail carrier, Ralph Edward Jacobs, 75, of Ossian, died Wednesday, Sept. 26,
at Ossian Health Care.
Mr. Jacobs was a U.S. armed forces veteran, having served in both World War II and the
Korean War.
He was a member of the Church of Christ at Markle and American Legion Post 111 at
Bluffton.
He was born in Centralia, Ill., Feb. 14, 1926.
Surviving are his wife, Alice; two sons, Robin Jacobs of Wolf Lake and David Jacobs of
Craigville; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Susan Renea, is
deceased.
Services at 2 p.m. Saturday will be at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home in Ossian, where
calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Horeb Cemetery near
Uniondale.
Memorials to Heartland Hospice.
Dean L. Landrum, 80
Dean L. Landrum, 80, of Wabash, formerly of Bippus, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the
Wabash County Hospital in Wabash.
Mr. Landrum retired in 1983 after 54 years as a farmer. During that time he also worked at
Bippus Farm Supply for more than 20 years. He spent 22 years, from 1977 to 1999, during
the winter months, in Tucson, Ariz.
He was a 1939 graduate of Lancaster High School in Huntington County and was a member of
the St. John’s United Church of Christ and the Bippus Lions Club.
Mr. Landrum was born in Huntington County Aug. 12, 1921 to Raymond and Lilly Burnworth
Landrum. His marriage in Huntington County on Dec. 23, 1945 was Beulah M. Colclesser, who
survives.
Additional survivors are a son, Gerald of North Manchester; a daughter, Mrs. Bill (Janet)
Cantrell of Wabash; three brothers, Paul of Huntington, Wayne of Old Town, Fla., and Myron
of Warren; a sister, Mary Louise Rich of Huntington; eight grandchildren; and eight
great-grandchildren. A sister and a grandson are deceased.
Services at 2 p.m. Saturday will be at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel with Rev.
William Hainstock officiating. Interment will be in Shock Cemetery in Huntington County.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the St. John’s United Church of Christ.
Richard ‘Roy’ Fields, 99
Richard “Roy” Fields, 99, a retired farmer, school bus driver and seed salesman, died at
12:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Swiss Village in Berne.
In addition to farming, Mr. Fields was a bus driver for Hartford Schools for 20 years, and
a salesman for Funks G Seeds and Swift Fertilizer Co. He was a former member of the Adams
County Farm Bureau.
He was born in Adams County Feb. 11, 1902 to David and Lucinda Snyder Fields. His marriage
in Adams County on Feb. 9, 1922 was to J. Nema Runyon, who died in 1992.
Surviving are a daughter, Jean “Norma Jean” Aspy of Bryant; three sons, Robert of St.
Louis Park, Minn., David of Gaston, and Richard of Geneva; 14 grandchildren; 30
great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Two brothers and two sisters are
deceased.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne with
Rev. Randall Luther officiating. Burial will be in Alberson Cemetery at Linn Grove.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.
until time for services.
Memorials to Swiss Village, to Cross United Church of Christ Assistance Fund or to Adams
County Community Foundation’s Heart Fund.
Gladys A. Becker, 99
Gladys A. Becker, 99, of Markle, died at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the Markle
Health Care Center.
Mrs. Becker worked as a receptionist/clerk for 25 years at the Markle Drug Store. She
attended the United Methodist Church at Markle.
She was born in Markle Aug. 4, 1902, a daughter of Douglas and Lillian Kelsey Lesh.
Surviving are a sister, Hilda Lesh of Fort Wayne, and two nephews, Douglas LeMaster of
Howe and Charles Le Master of Fort Wayne. A sister, Lucille LeMaster, and a nephew are
deceased.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Myers Funeral Home Markle Chapel and interment
will be in Horeb Cemetery near Uniondale.
Visitation hours at the funeral chapel will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Markle Park Foundation or to the Markle United Methodist Church.
Mildred A. Welch, 89 -- Rites Pending
Mildred A. Welch, 89, of Hartford City, died at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the
Blackford County Hospital in Hartford City. Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral
Homes Walker Chapel at Montpelier.
Sept. 28, 2001
Mildred A. Welch, 89
Funeral services for Mildred A. Welch, 89, of Hartford City, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at
Glancy Funeral Homes Walker Chapel in Montpelier.
Mrs. Welch died at 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Blackford County Hospital in Hartford
City.
Calling hours at the funeral chapel are today from 4 to 8 p.m.
Mrs. Welch was a member of the Pleasantdale United Methodist Church and its Ladies Aid and
a graduate of Goodboo School in Blackford County.
She was born in Blackford County Dec. 10, 1911 to Scott and Margaret Cale Shannon. Her
marriage on June 9, 1937 was to Ney E. Welch, who died Nov. 1, 1980.
Surviving are a son, Terry Welch of Hartford City; a sister, Helen Buckland of Warren;
three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A sister is deceased.
Rev. Robert Davis will officiate at services and burial will be in Hartford City
Cemetery.
Colleen J. Beghtel, 73
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Roanoke for Colleen J. Beghtel, 73, who
died Tuesday, Sept. 25, at her home in Roanoke.
Calling hours are today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Roanoke Memorial Chapel. Burial
will be in Glenwood Cemetery at Roanoke.
Born in Hartford City, Mrs. Beghtel retired from Wayne Feeds in Fort Wayne. She was a past
president of American Legion Post 160 Auxiliary at Roanoke.
Surviving are her husband, George; a sister, Joyce Mickley Worster of Warren; and her
parents, Ruth Schmidt and Harry Schmidt, both of Warren.
Memorials to Christ United Methodist Church.