This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Nicholson, Hawkins, Parker, Jacobs, Fausz, Roop, Hawk, Gerber, Butler, George,
Brenton, Weber, Habegger, Roth, Murray, Ginter
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3153
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004
Lelia B. Nicholson, 49
The sister of three Bluffton women, Lelia B. Nicholson, 49, of Nortonville, Ky., died
Thursday, Dec. 9 after a two year illness with cancer.
Born Oct. 22, 1955 to David T. and Ethel M. Martin Holder, she was a Tyson Foods
employee.
Surviving, in addition to the father, are a son, Brian Ray Bowman of Nortonville and a
daughter, Emily D. Bowman of Mortans Gap, Ky.; the three sisters in Bluffton, Virginia R.
Williams, Evelyn I. Hall and Dian Mahon and five grandchildren.
Red Walter Funeral Home in Nortonville is in charge of arrangements. Preferred memorials
are to the children in care of the funeral home.
Roger D. Hawkins, 65
Brother of Max Hawkins of Bluffton, Roger D. Hawkins, 65, of Berne, died at Adams County
Memorial Hospital at 2:55 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, following an extended illness.
Born in Adams County Jan. 11, 1939, to Herbert R. and Mabel E. Michenfelder Hawkins, his
marriage to the former Margaret R. Shimp Sept. 30, 1961 took place in Decatur. She
survives.
He was the former owner and operator of Pizza King in Decatur since 1970. Prior to that he
worked at CTS in Berne.
An attendee of Bethel Brethren Church, he helped with the Golden Heirs in the church. He
also served in the United States Marine Corps. from 1958 to 1961.
Additional survivors include a son, Michael of Berne; a daughter, Mrs. Matthew (Marcia K.)
Bauman of Berne and seven grandchildren.
Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday will be at Bethel Brethren Church in Berne with Revs. Joe
Nass, Bob Griffith and Jerry Mitchel officiating. Burial will follow at Backesto/Spring
Hill Cemetery in Adams County.
Calling at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services
Tuesday at the church.
Military graveside services will be performed by American Legion Post 43.
Preferred Memorials are to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or Adams County
Foundation-Dreams to Reality.
Monday, Dec. 13, 2004
Juanita J. Parker, 83
The first female president of the Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Juanita J. Parker, 83, of
1402 Deerbrook Court, died unexpectedly at 5:58 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Bluffton
Regional Medical Center.
Born in Phoenix, Ind. on May 12, 1921 to J. Earl and Deuaner Evans Alberson, she married
James M. Parker on Aug. 7, 1946 in Petroleum; he survives.
After graduating from Petroleum High School in 1938, she worked for several years at J.C.
Penney Company and then the Vogue Shop, which she and her husband purchased in the early
1960s and operated until they sold it in 1983. She served as president of the Bluffton
Chamber in 1975. She was a member of Psi Iota Xi sorority and a former member of the
Phoenix Church.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four brothers
and two sisters: Edward, Herb, Homer and Virgil Alberson, Marge Worley and Crystal
McDermit.
Calling hours are this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney
Funeral Home, and for one hour prior to the service, which will be held at the funeral
home Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Gary Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Alberson
Cemetery. Preferred memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Nellie Jacobs, 83
Graveside services will be conducted Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Hoverstock Cemetery in
Zanesville for Nellie N. Jacobs, 83, a former resident of Van Wert, Ohio. She died
Saturday, Dec. 11 at the home of her son in Celina, Ohio.
Born in Lake Charles, La. on Nov. 25, 1921, she married Arnold L. Jacobs on Dec. 2, 1946;
he died March 24, 1996. She and her husband founded and operated Jacob’s Jewelry Store in
Celina. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include a son, David Jacobs of Celina; a daughter, Linda Jacobs, of Fort Myers,
Fla.; three grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
There will be no calling. Preferred memorials to the Celina Area V.N.A. Hospice or the
church. Arrangements were handled by Cowans & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert.
William Fausz, 77 - Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel, for William D. Fausz, 77,
rural Markle, who died at 10:44 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Roger D. Hawkins, 65
Brother of Max Hawkins of Bluffton, Roger D. Hawkins, 65, of Berne, died at Adams County
Memorial Hospital at 2:55 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, following an extended illness.
Born in Adams County Jan. 11, 1939, to Herbert W. and Mabel E. Michenfelder Hawkins, his
marriage to the former Margaret R. Shimp Sept. 30, 1961 took place in Decatur. She
survives.
He was the former owner and operator of Pizza King in Decatur since 1970. Prior to that he
worked at CTS in Berne.
An attendee of Bethel Brethren Church, he helped with the Golden Heirs in the church. He
also served in the United States Marine Corps. from 1958 to 1961.
Additional survivors include a son, Michael of Berne; a daughter, Mrs. Matthew (Marcia K.)
Bauman of Berne and seven grandchildren.
Services at 10 a.m. Tuesday will be at Bethel Brethren Church in Berne with Revs. Joe
Nass, Bob Griffith and Jerry Mitchel officiating. Burial will follow at Backesto/Spring
Hill Cemetery in Adams County.
Calling at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur will be held today from 3 p.m. to 8
p.m. and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.
Military graveside services will be performed by American Legion Post 43.
Preferred Memorials are to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or Adams County
Foundation-Dreams to Reality.
(The above obituary is being re-published to provide corrected information)
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
William D. “Bill” Fausz, 77
A resident of rural Markle, William D. “Bill” Fausz, 77, died at 10:44 p.m. Sunday, Dec.
12, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born Nov. 30, 1927, in Huntington County to Albert John and Lela May Smith Fausz, he
married the former Clara Mae Douglass Dec. 28, 1947 in Markle. She survives.
He was a member of the Markle United Methodist Church and a lifelong Wells County farmer.
He had served for the past 35 years as a member of the Board of Directors for United REMC.
He was an active bowler in various area leagues.
Additional survivors include two sons, Gary L. and Terry L., both of Markle; a daughter,
Mrs. Dale (Sherry) Jones of Oxford; two sisters, Mrs. Burl (Clara Louise) Pease of Roanoke
and Londa K. Fausz of Marion; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services Wednesday, Dec. 15, will be held at noon at the Markle United Methodist Church
with Rev. Kaye Patton officiating. Burial will follow at Markle Cemetery.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Myers Funeral Home, Markle Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Rickie Roop,, 52 — Rites Pending
Rickie Roop, 52, died at his rural Warren residence at 4:55 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13. Rites
are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel in Warren.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Rick L. Roop, 52
A resident of rural Warren, Rick L. Roop, 52, died at 4:35 p.m. Monday, Dec.13 at his
residence.
He was owner-operator of R&S Electronics in Warren and was a tool and die maker at
Cyclone Manufacturing in Urbana, Ind. He served in the U.S. Army and lived in Allen County
before moving to the Warren area in 1989. He was a 1970 graduate of Central Catholic High
School in Fort Wayne.
Born Aug. 18, 1952 in Fort Wayne to Joe and Darlene Heiser Roop, his marriage on Oct. 28,
2002 in Huntington was to Sherry Grace, who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Dan Laisure of Lakeworth, Fla.; Richard Roop of Waterloo
and Derick Roop of Fort Wayne; two daughters, Kay Crocker of Jupiter, Fla., and Tracey
Steinmann of St. Charles, Mo.; a brother, Terry Roop of Fort Wayne, five grandchildren and
two great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Glancy Funeral Homes H. Brown & Son
Chapel in Warren,where calling will be Thursday from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., and for one
hour prior to services on Friday.
Preferred memorials are to the Huntington County Cancer Society.
Charles Allen Hawk, 53
Wells County-related Charles Allen Hawk, 53, of South Whitley, died Monday, December 13,
2004, at the Veterans Administration Northern Indiana Health Care System in Marion.
A first cousin of Rose (Gibson) Barrick and Steve Gibson both of Ossian, he was a Navy
veteran of the Vietnam War, a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars,
and a life member of the National Rifleman Association.
Mr. Hawk was born April 21, 1951, in Fort Wayne to Gale F. and J. Julianne Bowman Hawk,
both deceased. He was a 1971 graduate of Marion High School and a custodian by
occupation.
Surviving, in addition to the Wells County first cousins are other cousins and aunts. A
brother, James Ray Hawk, is deceased.
Visitation will be Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home,
Ossian Chapel, where services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday with Chaplain James McConnell
and Jack Baumgardner officiating. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Ossian.
Memorials to donor’s choice.
Glennys J. Gerber, 95
Co-owner of Gerber House from 1953 to 1976, Glennys J. Gerber, 95, died Monday, Dec. 13,
2004, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.
Born Nov. 13, 1909, to Wade H. and Eva Caroline (Ehling) McBarnes, she married Walter S.
Gerber on Nov. 15, 1930. He preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 1994.
Survivors include a son, Gerald Gerber, of Syracuse; two sisters, Doris Brown of Grayson,
Ga., and Ruth Summers of Decatur; a brother, Melvin McBarnes, of Decatur; two
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren of Fort Wayne. Preceding her in death were a
brother, Victor McBarnes, and a sister, Irma Hildebrand.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Covington Memorial Funeral Home, Fort Wayne, with
visitation from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Entombment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Memorials to Christian Care, 720 East Dustman Road, Bluffton.
Mable M. Butler, 100
Mable M. Butler, 100, of Decatur, died at 10:40 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at Ossian Health
& Rehabilitation Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nile M. Butler, on Feb. 7, 1998.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Shirley J.) Pickford of rural Decatur,
Marjorie Reed of Decatur and Mrs. Frederick (Kay) Bidwell of rural Hoagland; 14
grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
Two sons, Bill and Charles E. “Ben” Butler, are deceased.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur,
where the funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Decatur Cemetery.
Memorials to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
Helen L. George, 89
Mother of Cheryl Ann Haddix of Ossian, Helen L.George, 89, died Saturday, Dec, 11, 2004,
at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Born Aug. 25, 1915, in Columbus, Ohio, she was a daughter of Russell and Frances Bailey
Hanaway. Her marriage was on Nov. 5, 1940, in Columbus to Harold C. George, who preceded
her in death on April 26, 1995.
Surviving, in addition to the Ossian daughter, are a son, Geoffery H. George of Fort
Wayne; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two
sisters, Geraldine Noll and Mary Baker.
Calling was today from noon until 2 p.m., which was the funeral service time at Covington
Memorial Funeral Home in Fort Wayne, with entombment in Covington Memorial Gardens.
Memorials to the Ossian Nazarene Church or Ossian Health Care & Rehabilitation.
Leonard Louis Brenton, Jr.
A native of Liberty Center, Leonard Louis Brenton Jr., died Nov. 24, 2004 at his home in
Leesburg, Texas, after a battle with leukemia.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, the former Barbara Chism of Liberty Center; four
sons, three grandchildren, two step grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Services are pending due to the release of his remains from the Willed Body Program
affiliated with the Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas, Tex.
James A. Weber, 64
A former head basketball coach at Bellmont High School, with Wells County ties, James A.
Weber, 64, of Auburn died Monday, Dec. 13 at his home from complications due to a blood
clot in his heart.
In addition to coaching and teaching at Bellmont, he also coached basketball and taught at
DeKalb High School. He retired from teaching after 25 years of service.
Born April 18, 1940 in Chicago to William E. and Margaret Pence Weber, his marriage on
June 10, 1967 in South Bend was to Josie A. Van Damme, who survives. Also surviving are
two sons, W. Erik Weber of Auburn and Brad J. Weber of Cleveland, Ohio; a sister, Pamela
Weber Hippensteel of Fort Wayne and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a
daughter, Wendy Joy Weber.
A private family service is under arrangements by Feller Funeral Home of Waterloo.
Preferred memorials are to the DeKalb Youth Football League in care of Erik Weber,130 E.
Seventh St. Auburn, IN 46706.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Pauline E. Habegger, 89
A native of Wells County and a resident of LaPorte the past two years, Pauline E.
Habegger, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 15 at LaPorte Hospital.
Mrs. Habegger lived in Bluffton for many years before moving to Florida. She was a 1933
graduate of Bluffton High School and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in
Bluffton and the Methodist Church in Coral Springs, Fla. She worked for the Broward County
School System in Florida for 20 years.
Born Sept. 27, 1915 in Wells County to Stanley and Grace Cloud Miller, her marriage in
1939 in Bluffton was to Ivan J. Habegger, who preceded her in death on Nov. 24, 1967.
Surviving are two sons, David L. Habegger of Fort Wayne and Richard C. Habegger of Apex,
N.C., a daughter, Mrs. George (Ann) Mares of LaPorte, eight grandchildren and nine great
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, George Miller and a sister, Mary
Louise Liberty.
Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 20 at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney
Funeral Home, where calling will be Monday from 9 a.m. until time of services. Rev. Gary
Lewis will officiate and burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery.
Marguerite Roth, 85 — Rites Pending
Rites are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel for Marguerite Roth, 85, of Columbia City,
who died at 12:16 a.m. today.
Barbara C. Murray, 82 — Rites Pending
Rites are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes-H.Brown & Son Chapel in Warren for Barbara
C. Murray, 82, Warren, who died at 12:35 a.m. today at Miller’s Merry Manor in
Huntington.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Marguerite E. Roth, 85
Former Bluffton resident Marguerite E. Roth, 85, Columbia City, died at midnight,
Thursday, Dec. 16 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Columbia City.
Born in Dixon, Ohio on June 7, 1919 to Clarence and Rose Ellen Beatty Zinn, she married
Harry Roth on Nov. 6, 1943 in Fort Wayne; he died. Nov. 11, 1962. She worked at Franklin
Electric in Bluffton for 19 years, retiring in 1987.
Survivors include two daughters, Jackie Roth of Ossian and Mr. James (Sheryl) Hedges of
Fort Wayne; a son, Jerry Roth of Columbia City; five grandchildren; and two great
grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, with
Rev. Chad Clark officiating. Visitation hours are today from 2 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in
Fairview Cemetery.
Barbara C. Murray, 82
The mother of William Murray of Warren, Barbara Christine Murray, 82, Huntington, died at
12:35 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Huntington.
Born in Biddford, Maine on April 1, 1922 to James W. and Edna Schear Small, she married
William W. Murray on Feb. 2, 1945 in Angola; he died on July 5, 1992. She was a homemaker
most of her life. She was also a professional dancer and worked in retail for several
years.
In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Jacqueline
Karrais; and a brother, Harry Small.
There will be no visitation. A graveside service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at
Woodlawn Cemetery in Warren. Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel in Warren is
in charge of arrangements.
Vernon H. Ginter, 77
Known in the area for his involvement in Wheels of Yesteryear, Vernon H. Ginter, 77,
Decatur, died Thursday, Dec. 16 at his home.
Survivors include his wife, Pat; a son, John Ginter; a daughter, Mrs. David (Susan) Rice,
all of Decatur; two sisters and three grandchildren.
Retired from Fruehauf Corp. in Fort Wayne after 37 years of service, he was active in a
number of antique clubs in the area.
Calling hours are Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home in
Decatur. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, with
calling there one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Decatur Cemetery, with
military graveside rites by the American Legion Post 43. Preferred memorials to the church
or to the Heart Club of Adams County.