Obituaries

Dec 27, 2015

Ken Riffel, age 80, of Mishawaka, went to be with the Lord at 2:05 am Sunday, December 27, 2015 at the Hospice House of South Bend. Ken was born February 6, 1935 in South Bend, Indiana to Kenneth and Virginia (VanLue) Riffel. On May 26, 1954, he married Joan Gushwa in South Bend. Joan survives, along with their children...

Dec 27, 2015

Patricia J. Skwiercz of Elkhart, Indiana formerly of Osceola died December 27, 2015 at East Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her husband, sons, and her cousin Ann Alderson. She was born August 4, 1935 to the late Guy J. and Lydia I. (Bixler) Stoner in Mishawaka, Indiana. Pat lived all her life in the Osceola area except...

Dec 17, 2015

Jean Claire Ross passed away at 68 in Milwaukee on December 17, 2015. Born in Jackson, Michigan in 1947, Jean was preceded in death by her parents Julia (Cocanower) and Donald Ross and sister Jill (Hammersley). She is survived by her sister Janice Ross of Portland Oregon and by many friends and relatives.

A lifelong resident of...

Nov 15, 2015

William H. “Willy” Swartz Jr., age 92 of Osceola, passed away at his home on Sunday, November 15, 2015. Willy was born July 11, 1923 in Kendallville, Indiana to the late William H. and Norma (Householder) Swartz. Upon graduation from high school, Willy enlisted in the US Navy, where he served honorably during both WWII and the Korean War...

Nov 9, 2015

Robert D. “Amish” Emmert, age 90, went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 9, 2015 at Hospice of Elkhart County. Bob was born August 15, 1925 in Mishawaka, Indiana to the late Edward and Jenny (Yoder) Emmert. On August 11, 1945, he married Barbara Funkhouser in Mishawaka, Indiana. They recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. Barbara survives, along...

Sep 18, 2015

Robert L. “Bob” Milliken, age 93, of Osceola, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, September 18, 2015 surrounded by many of his family members. Bob was born January 31, 1922 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Lawrence and Carlena (Beringer) Milliken. Following his graduation from High School, Bob joined the US Navy, where he served honorably...

Sep 15, 2015

Kenneth D. Holderread, age 86 of Elkhart, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. The Mishawaka native was born March 30, 1929 to the late Halley and Goldie (McCreary) Holderread. Kenneth was enlisted in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 195o. He married Toshiko “Susie” Sakurai in Tokyo, Japan in 1951. She...

Sep 12, 2015

Randall Jay Murphy, age 72 of Mishawaka, passed away at his home on Saturday, September 12, 2015 following a lengthy illness. The Mishawaka Indiana native was born May 13, 1943 to the late Randall Joseph and Ruth (Daniels) Murphy. He served his country in the National Guard from 1964-1970, where he achieved the rank of Private E-2 and honed...

Aug 30, 2015

Annie Marie Shank-Gentner, age 94, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2015 at her home in Osceola. The McRae, Arkansas native was born August 2, 1921 to the late Orlando P. and Malissa C. (Bone) Roberts. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Emmett Shank in 1987. On May 25, 1995, she married Kenneth E. Gentner...

Aug 8, 2015

Betty Jane Benson, age 58, of Osceola, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. Betty was born September 9, 1956 to the late Orval and Viola (Kolberg) Benson in St. Joe, Michigan. Betty earned a Bachelor’s Degree from IUSB, majoring in Women’s Studies, Sociology, and Communications. She met her husband Fred in...

Jul 24, 2015

Dennis M. Perry, age 88, of Elkhart passed away peacefully at the Hospice House of Elkhart County of Friday, July 24, 2015. The Washington, Indiana native was born December 9, 1926 to the late Sam and Adaline (Birch) Perry. He enlisted in the US Army in 1945, and served honorably during the World War II and Korean War era....

Jul 20, 2015

Marianne W. Pabst, age 89 of Angola, Indiana, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2015, surrounded by her family in Vero Beach, FL. following a brief illness. Marianne was born in South Bend, IN on November 9, 1925 to the late Glenn and Georgia White. She is survived by a brother, George R. White (Clara) of Vero Beach, FL....

Jun 30, 2015

Allison C. Freeze April 4, 1994 - June 30, 2015

BEAN STATION, Tenn. a€" Allison Christina Freeze, 21, of Bean Station, formally of Elkhart, Ind., passed away Tuesday, June 30, in Johnson City, Tenn. She was born April 4, 1994, in Elkhart, to Alan H. and Peggy A. (Jones) Freeze. Surviving are her mother, Peggy Freeze; eight...

Jun 22, 2015

Shirley Ann Perry, age 74, of Mishawaka, went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 22, 2015 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka. Shirley was born July 15, 1940 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Jack and Ruth (Wynn) Styles. The Riley High School graduate married Robert L. Perry Sr. on January 21, 1961 at...

May 22, 2015

William "Bill" Joseph Patterson, age 75, of Mishawaka, went to his Heavenly home on Friday, May 22, 2015. Bill was born August 5, 1939 in Plymouth, Indiana to the late Dale and Ruby (Swartzel) Patterson. He was a graduate of Bourbon High School, class of 1957. On August 13, 1960, he married the former Ms. Patricia Banic in Bourbon,...

Apr 10, 2015

Hazel Irene Hartbarger, age 64, of Mishawaka, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Elkhart. Irene was born September 7, 1950 to the late Leander and Nora (Campbell) Rose in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. On August 25, 1967, she married William Franklin Hartbarger. Surviving is her husband William "Frank" Hartbarger of Mishawaka,...

Mar 31, 2015

Cheri Lynn Birtcher, age 65, of Mishawaka, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Cheri was born May 22, 1949 in Houston, Texas to the late Homer W. Birtcher and Sara Beth (Erwin) Birtcher-Smith. Surviving are three daughters; Tiffany (Don) Perry of Osceola, Shea A. McCormick and Sara Cole (Bobby) Barnette, both of Houston,...

Mar 31, 2015

Vivian J. Singleton, age 91, of Osceola, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Hubbard Hills Estates in Elkhart. Vivian was born February 23, 1924 in Elkhart, Indiana to the late Elmer and Blanche (Andrews) Kindig. Following graduation from High School, Vivian joined the US Navy, and served honorably during WWII until her discharge in 1946. On March...

Mar 30, 2015

Robert D. "Bob" Stouder, age 83, of Elkhart, passed away Monday, March 30, 2015 at Hospice House of Elkhart County. Bob was born July 8, 1931 in Elkhart, Indiana to the late Menford and Myrtle (Ganger) Stouder. On May 1, 1954, he married Annette Olson. They celebrated 60 years of marriage. Annette survives, along with their children Cynthia Fry...

Mar 20, 2015

Joan M. Smith, 87, formerly of Osceola, died on Friday, March 20, at Hamilton Communities in New Carlisle. She was born Dec. 29, 1927, in South Bend to William and Mary (White) Hartley. She married Chester Smith Sept. 11, 1970. He died March 31, 1993.

She is survived by one son, Craig (Evelyn) Kirkwood of Edwardsburg, Mich.;...