This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Rohde, Lawrence, Kipfer, Bicknell, Bennington, Newcomer, Roembke, Jones, McCain,
Surfus
Classification: Obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADI/3224
Message Board Post:
Obituaries courtesy of News-Banner Publications. Posted with permission.
Monday, Aug. 15, 2005
Clella ‘Rose’ Rohde
Clella “Rose” Rohde, 77, Bluffton, died at 4:35 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 at Select Specialty
Hospital in Fort Wayne after an extended illness.
Born in Geneva March 7, 1928 to Ralph H. and Mabel Gaskill Pace, she married Edwin C.
Rohde Sept. 2, 1961 in Bluffton; he survives. She retired from Franklin Electric in 1989
after 31 years of service.
Other survivors include two daughters, Beulah G. Tanner of Sabina, Ohio, and Mrs. Patrick
(Jane A.) Eisenhut of Bluffton; two sons, Fred L. Blocker and Wayne A. Rohde, both of
Bluffton; eleven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death
by two sisters, Lewetta J. Arnold and Thelma Hicks; three brothers, Freeman D. Huffman,
Ralph Pace, Jr., and Jonathan E. Pace; and a grandson, Tony Sills.
Calling hours are today from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral
Home. Services will be held there Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Lyle Breeding
officiating. Burial will be in Mossburg Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the family or
the Alzheimers Association.
Elizabeth Lawrence, 17 - Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Goodwin Memorial Chapel for former Bluffton resident Elizabeth
Lawrence, 17, of Rockford,Ohio, who died as a result of an automobile accident Sunday
morning in Van Wert County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Rex and Sharon Lawrence.
Marguerite A. Kipfer, 85
Marguerite A.Kipfer, 85,of Bluffton, died at 4 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2005, at her
home.
Born December 18, 1919, in Cissna Park, Illinois, she was a daughter of Gustav and Bertha
Grusy Meiss. Her marriage was on Sept. 2, 1945, in Cissna Park to Martin L. Kipfer, who
died Dec.8, 1993. She was a homemaker and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church.
Surviving are four daughters, Mary Ann Gerber, Mrs. Keith (Ruth) Baumgartner, Mrs. Jerry
(Lois) Drayer and Elaine Kipfer, all four of Bluffton; two brothers, Harold Meiss of
Washington, Ill., and Roy Meiss of Fishers; three sisters, Mrs.Ralph (Verena) Knapp of
Bloomington, Ill.; Mrs. Joseph (Irene) Rinkenberger of Goodfield, Ill., and Mrs. Edna
Zeltwanger of Hancock, Minn.; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 1 to 8 p.m. at Goodwin Memorial Chapel and on Tuesday for one
hour prior to the service at the church. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at
the Bluffton North Apostolic Christian Church. Burial will be in Apostolic Christian
Cemetery. Memorials to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana or Loving Shepherd
International.
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005
Elizabeth C. Lawrence, 17
An active student at Bluffton High School prior to moving to Rockford, Ohio this year,
Elizabeth C. Lawrence, 17, died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 of injuries sustained in an
auto accident in Van Wert County, Ohio.
Born in Bryan, Ohio on Oct. 21, 1987 to Rex E. and Sharon S. Rickenberg Lawrence, she
would have been a senior at Parkway High School. Her activities at Bluffton High School
included the concert band, in which she was first chair flute, the track team and
cross-country team, on which she earned the mental attitude award and was named most
improved runner. She was a member of the National Honor Society, carrying a 4.0 grade
average. She was also involved in Youth for Christ, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and the
March of Dimes. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her parents, a sister at home, Caroline; her maternal grandmother,
Marion Rickenberg of Bryan, Ohio; and her paternal grandmother, June Lawrence of
Bluffton.
Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.
Calling hours are Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m.
Burial will be in the Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan, Ohio. Preferred memorials are to
the March of Dimes.
Wilma Bicknell, 68
The mother of Chuck Harris of Markle, Wilma Grace Bicknell, 68, Huntington, died at 4:45
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Huntington.
Born in Elkhart County on Nov. 21, 1936 to Annon J. and Cathleene Neely Dunn Miller. She
was a former Certified Nurse’s Assistant in Gainesville, Fla and had also worked at the
Y.M.C.A. in Marion. A graduate of Dorsey Business College in Trenton, Mich., she was a
member of the Faith Community Church of God in Huntington.
Other survivors include two other sons, Daniel Harris of Auburn and Keith Harris of
Claypool; a brother, Annon Miller of Mishawaka; and ten grandchildren. She was preceded in
death by two sisters, Betty Rinke and Allene Reaves.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bailey-Love Mortuary in
Huntington, with visitation for two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at a later
date in Elkhart. Preferred memorials are to the Cancer Services of Huntington County or to
the church.
Mark T. Bennington, 44
Mark Thomas Bennington, 44, Pennville, died Monday, Aug. 15 at his residence.
Born Sept. 9, 1960 in Muncie to Tom L. Bennington and Norma (Russell) Berry, he was a
manager at the Briar Patch in Pennville. A former U.S. Marine serving in Japan, he was a
member of the American Legion Post in Hagerstown and also a member of Amvets. He graduated
from Yorktown High School in 1978.
Survivors include his father and step-mother in Muncie; his mother in Pennville; a son,
Bryant Bennington of Henry County; a brother, Paul Bennington of Pennville; two
half-brothers, Bryce Paxson, Pennville, and Joseph Bennington, Anderson; and two
step-brothers, Tim Vaught, Fishers and Tom Vaught, Indianapolis. He was preceded in death
by his step-father, Ned Paxson.
Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Glancy Funeral Home, Walker Chapel in
Montpelier. Calling hours are Wed. from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday for two hours prior to
the service.
Burial will be in the Pennville I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Preferred memorials to the Bryant
Bennington Education Fund.
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005
Corwin L. ’Corky’ Newcomer, 84
A retired 40-year postal employee at Geneva including mail carrier routes in Adams, Jay
and Wells Counties, and a World War II B-24 bomber pilot plus an activist for education
in South Adams, Corwin L.”Corky” Newcomer, 84, died at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2005,
at Swiss Village in Berne where he had resided since 1999.
Previously a lifelong resident of the Geneva area, he was a member of the FIrst United
Methodist Church there, a former member of the Geneva Fire Department and Geneva Lions
Club and served on the South Adams School Board at the time of schools consolidation. He
spoke in programs for 20 years to South Adams fifth grade history classes learning about
World War II. After his bomber pilot role in World War II, serving from January of 1944 to
July of 1945 and attaining the rank of captain, he served as a postal instructor during
the Korean War.
Born September 20, 1920, in Jay County, he was the son of James S. and Sarah A. Kelly
Newcomer. He was a 1937 graduate of Hartford Township High School. His marriage was on
June 19, 1943, at Montgomery, Alabama, to Phyllis J. Fields, who preceded him in death on
Feb. 3, 1999.
Surviving are a son, Patrick A. Newcomer of Geneva; a daughter, Mrs. Chuck (Jill) Padgett
of Berne; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were two
sons, Mike D. and Denny J. Newcomer.
Calling will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the time of services,
Saturday at Downing & Glancy Funeral Home, Geneva.. Pastor Judy Fuller and Chaplain
Anita Rediger will be officiating and burial will follow in West Lawn Cemetery, Geneva.
Memorials to the Geneva Public Library.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 - None
Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 - None
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005
Adele Roembke, 94
A resident of River Terrace Estates, Adele Roembke, 94, died at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19,
at River Terrace.
Born March 31, 1911 in Adams County to Rudolph and Bertha Buuck, she married William
“Bill” Roembke at Zion Friedheim Lutheran Church Sept. 23, 1933. He preceded her in death
in 1988.
A member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ossian, she was active for many years in the
Ladies’ Aid Society, Christian Fellowship and the church choir. She was a homemaker and
was well-known throughout the area for her professional quilting.
Survivors include a son, John, of Bluffton; a daughter, Sharon Ewell of Preble; two
sisters, Gertrude Bittner and Hildegard Conrad, both of Decatur; six grandchildren and
nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Erwin Buuck and two sisters, Alvina and Meta
Dettmer.
Services at 3:30 p.m. Sunday under the direction of Rev. William Brege will be held at
Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Ossian.
Calling will be at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday and one hour
prior to services Monday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ossian, the “Voice of Bethlehem” or
the donor’s choice.
Richard S. Jones, 75
The father of Mrs. Bob (Shirley) Spangler of Uniondale, Richard S. Jones Sr., 75, of Gas
City died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at Marion General Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Gas City, Mr. Jones attended Gas City High School and was a member
of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. He worked at Twin City Chevrolet for 30 years and then
worked at the Gas City Waste Water Treatment Plant from 1982 to 1993.
He was born May 28, 1930, in Marion to Charles and Morfydd (Penry) Jones.
In addition to the Uniondale daughter, other survivors include a daughter, Mrs.Don (Becky)
Hill of Jonesboro; a son, Steve Jones of Elwood; two brothers, Ivor Jones of Yuma, Ariz.,
and David Jones of Gas City; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles “Chuck” Jones; and a sister, Betty Couch.
Calling is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, Storey
Chapel, Gas City.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with Rev. Frank King officiating.
Preferred memorials are to the American Diabetes Association or to St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church, Gas City.
Monday, Aug. 22, 2005
Hank Dillon McCain, Infant
A nine-day-old infant, Hank Dillon McCain of Bluffton died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005 at home.
Born Aug. 12, 2005, in Bluffton, he was the son of John McCain Jr. and Norma Jean Van Horn
of Bluffton.
In addition to the parents, other survivors include a half sister, Amanda Dooska of
Missouri; and two half brothers, Brian McCain of Ohio and John McCain III of South
Carolina.
No services are planned. Arrangements are by Goodwin Memorial Chapel.
Maxine D. Surfus, 84 -- Rites Pending
Arrangements are pending at Glancy Funeral Homes, H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren, for
Maxine D. Surfus, 84, of Warren, who died at10:28 p.m. Saturday, August 20, 2005, at
Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.