Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Edith Zeigler Hively, 87, a resident of Skinner Lake near Albion and formerly of rural Allen County, died at 1:40 p. m. on Monday, December 17, 2007, at the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Hively was born in Fort Wayne on January 30, 1920, a daughter of Paul and Edith (Sarber) Porter. She spent her formative years in Fort Wayne, and was a graduate of Central High School.

Her first marriage was to Joseph “Ben” Zeigler, and they spent much of their married lives in Lake Township in Allen County. A homemaker for much of her life, she had also worked in various retail stores and offices, and was active in the Allen County Home Extension Club.

Mr. Zeigler preceded her in death on May 5, 1989.

In 1991 she was married to Dale Hively and had lived at Skinner Lake for the past 16 years. He survives.

Other surviving relatives include her son Paul B. (Nancy) Zeigler of rural Albion; two step-daughters Beverly (Don) Gardner of Flushing, Mich., and Phyllis (Gerd) Schue of Switzerland; a sister Margueretta Coleman of New Haven; four grandchildren Scott (Annette) Zeigler of Merriam, Heather (Rob) Rawles of Albion, Todd (Kim) Zeigler of Mooresville, NC, and Chad Zeigler of Fort Wayne; three step-grandchildren Heather (Rick) Gill and Jackie O’Dae, both of Flushing, Mich, and Jeff Justice of South Bend; 11 great-grandchildren, and three step-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and first husband, she was also preceded in death by a son Thomas R. Zeigler; two sisters Pauline Walda and Phyllis Clark; and by a brother Robert Porter.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Friday, December 21, 2007, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Thursday, December 20,  from 4 to 8 p. m.

Interment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Provena Sacred Heart Home, 515 N. Main Street, Avilla, IN 46710.

*********************************

To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Hively’s memory, please click on “Condolences” below. . .

Kay (Wakeman) Geiger, 66, a resident of Churubusco, died at 8:10 p. m. on Sunday December 16, 2007, at her residence following an extended illness.

Mrs. Geiger was born on October 4, 1941 in Wolf Lake, a daughter of George and Alberta (Gongaware) Wakeman, and spent her early years on a farm west of Churubusco. As a youth she moved to Eel River Township with her parents, and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1959.

During her adult life she lived in Fort Wayne for a period, and had lived in Churubusco for the past 35 years. A former employee of C & A Tool and Engineering in Churubusco, she retired from there in 1999 after 12 years.

She was a member of Churubusco American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 157.

On February 19, 1987 she was married in Las Vegas, Nevada to Harry L. Geiger. He survives.

The other surviving relatives include her three daughters Trina Peters, Sherri Godschalk, and Michelle Godschalk, all of Fort Wayne; her son Harold C. (companion Heidi Geller) Coil II of Churubusco; a step-daughter Nicole (John) Bortner of Albion; a brother Robert (Mary Ann) Wakeman of LaOtto; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister Rosalie Wakeman on December 25, 2004.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday, December 20, 2007, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 2 to 7 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Thursday morning.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the SPCA, 4914 Hanna Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46806; or Visiting Nurse & Hospice, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814

**********************************

To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Geiger’s name, please click on “Condolences” below. . .

Juanita G. Irvin, 87, a resident of rural Churubusco and formerly of Galatia, Illinois, died at 5:55 p. m. Thursday, December 6, 2007, at Parkview North Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Irvin was born on November 25, 1920 in Galatia, Illinois, a daughter of James L. and Reba (Evans) Garner, and spent her formative years there. She graduated from Galatia High School in 1938, and was married to Bernie F. Irvin on April 14, 1940.

She and her husband lived in New Haven for several years, and she was employed as a specification writer at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for 25 years. Following her husband’s retirement, the couple returned to Galatia and lived there. He preceded her in death in 1988, and she moved to Churubusco in 2006 to be near her daughter.

She was a member of the Galatia United Methodist Church, and attended the Collins United Methodist Church.

The surviving relatives include her daughter Kay (James A.) Bearman of Churubusco; a son Bill D. (Jeanne) Irvin of New Haven; a sister Edith Henn of Galatia, Illinois; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Irvin will be taken from the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco to Raleigh, Illinois, where graveside services will be held at the Masonic Cemetery at 2 p. m. (1 p. m. Illinois time) on Friday, December 14. Rev. Buddy Payton, pastor of Galatia United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will follow.

At the request of the family, there will be no calling hours.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Galatia United Methodist Church in Galatia, Illinois.

***********************************

To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Irvin’s name, please click on “Condolences” below. . .

Don Graft, 82, a resident of Lake Township in Allen County and widely-acquainted area milk dealer, died Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 4:35 a. m. at the Hospice Home in Fort Wayne following a brief illness. He was a resident of rural Fort Wayne and was the owner and operator of the Graft Milk Transport for 63 years, delivering to the former Allen Dairy and Prairie Farms.

Don was born August 17, 1925 in Wells County, a son of the late Charles and Adalinda (Zwick) Graft. He was united in marriage on June 1, 1946 in Fort Wayne to Sue C. Blessing. Living in this area all of his life, he was a member of Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where he was a volunteer coach for the Suburban Bethlehem School’s Basketball team for 40 years. He served as the Lake Twp. Trustee from 1955 to 1962, and was president of the Allen County Board of Education from 1959 to 1962. As a young man he played on various area basketball and softball leagues.

The survivors include his wife of 61 years, Sue Graft,; their children Jim (Vicki) Graft and Donald L. Graft both of rural Fort Wayne, and Diane (Ed) Mayer of Valrico, Florida; two brothers, Ray Graft of Hoagland and Ralph Graft of New Haven; a sister Bertha Braun of Decatur; grandchildren Jami (PJ) Steffen, of Avon, Kelli (Chris) Moran, and Alissa (Ken) Knepple both of Fort Wayne, Kendall (Tyler) Hoffman of Columbia City, Ian Graft, Brandon Graft, and Aaron Graft all of Fort Wayne, Jeremy (Nicole) Mayer of Ocoee, Fl., and PFC Greg Mayer of South Korea; and great-grandchildren Timothy Knepple, Rebekah, Joshua, and Jessica Steffen, and Lydia Moran.

He was preceded in death by two brothers Charles Graft andThurman Graft; and a sister Viola Fisher.

Funeral services will be held Friday December 7, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. in the Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6318 W. California Road, with Pastors Jerrold L. Nichols and Timothy Edwards officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and also on Friday morning at the church from 9:00 A.M. until service time.

Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.

For those who wish memorials may be directed to Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, or Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the church.

*******************************

To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. Graft’s name, please click on “Condolences” below. . .