Obituaries

Mar 15, 2025

Local businessman, Jerry Anderson, 72, of Kendallville, Indiana, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at his residence.

He was born August 26, 1952, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Francis and Motae "Martha" (Morishta) Anderson.

On September 4, 1971, in Kendallville he married Deanna L. Deter.

He honorably served in the U.S. Army.

Mar 13, 2025

Timothy Fugate, 61, of Wawaka, Indiana, died Thursday, March 13, 2025, at his residence with his family by his side.

He was born January 29, 1964, in Kendallville, Indiana, to Homer Fugate and Dana (Dixon) Homister.

On November 27, 2013, in Syracuse he married Jamie L. Thomas.

Mr. Fugate was a self-employed mechanic....

Mar 11, 2025

Harold Dean Smith, 89, of Hudson, Indiana, died Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Cameron Memorial Hospital in Angola.

He was born at home on November 8, 1935, in LaGrange County, Indiana, to Paul E. and Blanche (Hose) Smith.

On June 6, 1954, at Zion Lutheran Church, West Fairfield he married Patricia Holsinger.

Mr....

Mar 11, 2025

Connie L. Weber, 83, of Wolcottville, Indiana died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at her residence.

She was born February 2, 1942, in Wolf Lake, Indiana to David and Eunice (Hill) Roher.

Connie retired from Wal-Mart in Warsaw as a manager in the fabric department.

She was a member of the Eastern Star....

Mar 11, 2025

L.D. "Bo" Slone, 30, of Rome City, Indiana, started his journey as a hero through organ donation on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana.

He was born February 23, 1995, in Auburn, Indiana, to L.D. Slone, Jr. and Lisa (Amburgey) Slone.

He worked at Chief Buildings in Renssalaer as a...

Mar 9, 2025

Diana Kay Green Kirchner, 64, of LaGrange, Indiana died Sunday, March 9, 2025, at her residence after a battle with cancer.

She was born January 7, 1961, in Winchester, Indiana to Carl and Barbara (Alberson) Green.

On March 17, 2019, she married Michael Kirchner.

Diana was a vendor at the Shipshewana Flea Market...

Mar 8, 2025

Kay Ann Gaerte Riddle, 90, of Albion, Indiana, went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Orchard Pointe Health Campus in Kendallville.

Mrs. Riddle was a lifetime area resident. She had worked over 20 years as a grain merchandiser and bookkeeper at Gaerte Grain in Kimmell.

She was a...

Mar 8, 2025

Mary Janet Parker Kankamp of Angola, Indiana, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025, just after celebrating her

89th birthday. Mary was born on March 7, 1936, in a farmhouse in Hendricks County, Indiana. The attending

physician didn't anticipate her survival and, after setting her aside, quickly learned that Mary's resilience was as

...

Mar 6, 2025

Dorothy L. McHenney, 100, of Rome City, Indiana, passed away peacefully at her home in Rome City on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

She was born October 5, 1924, in Kendallville, Indiana, to Clarence and Nora Miller.

On December 15, 1972, she married Gerald B. McHenney in Howe.

Dorothy was an honorary life member...

Mar 6, 2025

Crystal Joy Price, 47, of Kendallville, Indiana died Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

She was born June 21, 1977, in LaGrange, Indiana to Robert and Mary (Grate) Thalheimer.

On May 7, 2004, in Rome City, she married Paul D. Price.

Crystal was a homemaker.

...

Mar 1, 2025

Connie Sue Lee, 73, of Kendallville, Indiana, died Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville following a brief fight with cancer.

She was born May 10, 1951, in Greencastle, Indiana, to Carl E. and Esther Earlene (Newgent) Berry.

On December 16, 1967, in Rome City she married Bill H. Lee. He preceded...

Feb 28, 2025

Wayne A. Zumbrun, 84, of Albion, Indiana, died Friday, February 28, 2025, at Orchard Pointe Health Campus in Kendallville.

He was born October 29, 1940, in Green Township, Noble County, Indiana, to Obra and Maydene (Lohrei) Zumbrun.

On June 24, 1960, in Churubusco, he married Janice A. Black. She survives in Albion.

Mr....

Feb 28, 2025

Jerry H. Essenberg, 87, of Angola, Indiana, died Friday, February 28, 2025, at his residence.

There will be no services.

Burial will be in Flint Cemetery.

Young Family Funeral Home, Hudson/Ashley Chapel, 612 North Main Street, Hudson is assisting the family with arrangements.

Feb 27, 2025

Fred William Kunkel, 42, of Decatur, Indiana, died unexpectedly Thursday, February 27, 2025, while on business in Lansing, Michigan.

He was born December 24, 1982, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Fred J. and Denise (Gardner) Kunkel.

On October 11, 2014, in Auburn he married Rebecca Lynn "Becci" Young.

Mr. Kunkel was a field...

Feb 24, 2025

Gordon Elwood Parr, 76, of Salem Center, died on February 24, 2025. He was born to Elwood and Louise Parr (Degraw) of Stroh on March 4, 1948.

His early days were spent working on the family farm before being drafted into the US Army and deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a doorgunner for the 71st...

Feb 23, 2025

Janet Kay Peters, 83, of Kendallville, Indiana, died Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

She was born April 18, 1941, in Kendallville, Indiana, to Elvin Ellsworth and Thelma Francis (Smith) Svoboda.

On June 26, 1965, in Kendallville she married Carl Ronald Peters. He preceded her in death on January...

Feb 23, 2025

James E. Tucker, 68, of Rome City, Indiana went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at his residence, surrounded by his family.

He was born March 7, 1956, in LaGrange, Indiana to Ernest G. and Mary Lou (Nicodemus) Tucker. They preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife of...

Feb 20, 2025

Janet L. Howe, 78, of Wolcottville, Indiana, died Thursday, February 20, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

She was born September 25, 1946, in Garrett, Indiana, to Ralph L. and Fern A. (Wells) Hoover.

She graduated from Huntertown High School.

She married Donald L. Howe on November 28, 1964, at...

Feb 16, 2025

Richard Scott Swagart, 64, of LaGrange, Indiana, and formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died unexpectedly Sunday, February 16, 2025, at his residence.

He was born on Labor Day, September 1, 1960, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Richard A. Swagart and Virginia (Hobbs) Swagart-Nutt.

Scott graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1979....

Feb 11, 2025

Tommy Lee Ritchie, 65, of Wolcottville, Indiana, died Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

He was born April 10, 1959, in LaGrange, Indiana, to Dallas and Maulta (Jones) Ritchie.

Tommy was a 1977 graduate of East Noble High School.

He married Lorrie Schmitt on May 12, 1993....