Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Jane Bangs, 95, a long-time resident of Churubusco and widow of widely acquainted Churubusco businessman Rex D. Bangs, died at 9:35 a. m. on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Bangs was born on June 20, 1912 in Bluffton, a daughter of A. N. and Jessie Jane (Martz) Plessinger, and spent her formative years there. She graduated from Bluffton High School, and was employed as a private secretary for the John A. Morris Company in Bluffton. While in Bluffton she was a Girl Scout leader, organist of the Bluffton Presbyterian Church, and vice-president of the Tri-Kappa Sorority.

On April 3, 1938 she was married to Rex D. Bangs. The couple moved to Churubusco where they owned and operated the Bangs 5-cent to $1 Store for 32 years.

In addition to her business concerns, her life was marked by memberships in several organizations and participation in various community activities. A member of Churubusco United Methodist Church, she was also past worthy matron of Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136.  Mrs. Bangs was one of the organizers of Churubusco Elementary School’s first kindergarten. She was an organist and attendant at the former Orr Funeral Home in Churubusco, and was vice-chairperson of the Whitley County Republican Party in which she was an active member for 13 years. She was past president of the Columbia City chapter of the Tri-Kappa Sorority, was a Whitley County Red Cross blood program chairperson for 33 years, and was also a Gray Lady for many years.

For 19 years Mrs. Bangs was chairperson of the Churubusco Public Library Board of Trustees, and in 1971 received the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Jaycees. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 1975 she was presented the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash by former Governor Otis R. Bowen, and was named Grand Marshal of the 1994 Turtle Days parade.

Mr. Bangs preceded her in death on June 15, 1970. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son Timothy Rex Bangs on September 26, 1965; by a brother James B. Plessinger; and by two sister Helen Carriger and Betty Johnston.

The surviving relatives include a son Thomas (Mary) Bangs of Churubusco; three grandchildren Trisha (Randy) Hockemeyer of Decatur, Sarah (Chris) Tomlinson of Churubusco, and Laura Blackmon of Fort Wayne; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday, February 28, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Kerry L. Niman of Eel River Baptist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p. m.

Interment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Churubusco Public Library or the American Heart Association.

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Carolyn J. Wright, 77, a resident of Churubusco and wife of retired Churubusco banker Garold F. “Gary” Wright, died at 10:40 p. m. Saturday, February 23, 2008, at the family residence following an extended illness.

Mrs. Wright was born on August 25, 1930 in South Bend, a daughter of Charles Dewey and Ella May (Tuley) Estep. She spent her formative years in South Bend and graduated from John Adams High School in 1948.

Her marriage took place in South bend on November 9, 1952 to Garold F. “Gary” Wright. The couple spent the early years of their marriage in South Bend, and as a young woman she worked as a teller at First Bank & Trust. In 1963 the family moved to Churubusco, and she had worked for a period at Watson’s Greenhouse in Churubusco and as a librarian assistant at the Churubusco Public Library.

A member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church, she was a member of its United Methodist Women’s Grace Circle, and was named the United Methodist Women’s “Woman of the Year” in 1997. She was also a former member of the Churubusco Literary Club, and the Churubusco Public Library Board of Trustees. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, flowers, travel, golf, skiing, and had enjoyed wintering in Arizona since 1990. Most importantly, she loved and enjoyed her family.

The surviving relatives include her husband Gary; her children Bruce (Janice) Wright and Lori (Kurt) Uhen, both of Fort Wayne; two sisters Janet (Kenneth) Hall of Michigan City, and Nancy (Elmer) Vogelsang of Melrose, Fla; two brothers Donald (Frances) Estep of LaPorte, and Ronald (Claudia) Estep of Corpus Christi, TX; and two grandchildren John Wright and Sarah Wright.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters Mary Jane Currey and Priscilla Alexander.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday, February 27, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with Rev. Christine Newman-Jacobs, officiating.

The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

The family requests memorials be donated to Churubusco Public Library, Churubusco United Methodist Church, or Odyssey Health Care Foundation.

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Bernice M. Buchanan, age 92, died Saturday afternoon February 23, 2008 in the Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City, Indiana following a brief illness. she was a former resident of Blue Lake, Churubusco, Indiana since 1946 and was a patient at the Oaks in Columbia City, Indiana since April of 2007.

Bernice was born November 28, 1915 in Kokomo, Indiana a daughter of the late Homer James and Flossie Mae (Smith) Troyer. As a young girl she and her family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. She was united in marriage on November 23, 1944 to Herschell L. “Red” Buchanan who died October 6, 1982. She had worked for Monsanto, in Ligonier for 8 years, and in Churubusco, Indiana she worked at the Super Value, and retired in 1994 as a Matron with the Churubusco Post office after 8 faithful year.

Survivors include her 3 sons, Paul A. (Nicolette) Buchanan, Terry L. Buchanan and Sam J. Buchanan all of Churubusco, Indiana, 1 brother Jim D. (Betty) Troyer of Mishawaka, Indiana, 5 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. In addition to her parents, and husband, she was preceded in death by a son Michael James Buchanan, 2 grandsons Terry Buchanan, Jr. and Michael Buchanan. A sister Cecelia Winebarger, 3 brothers Louis, Cyrille, and Howard Catallier.

Celebration of Christian burial will be held Tuesday February 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, Indiana with Father Danney Pinto officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The family will receive friends on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8:00 p.m.  in the Sheet and Childs Funeral Home  Churubusco, Indiana. The rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening in the funeral home.

Richard Lee Conner, age 68, a resident of West Washington Street Churubuco, Indiana died Wednesday morning February 20, 2008 in the emergency room of the Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City, Indiana following a sudden illness.

Mr. Conner was born November 16, 1939 in Churubusco, Indiana a son of the late Howard and Leila M. (Krieger) Conner.  He spent his formative years here in the Churubusco area and entered the US Air Force where he served faithfully for20 years. During his military service he was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, in the Republic of Vietnam as a Mobile Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team member under hostile fire. He was also promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and received the Bronze Star, and was united in marriage in Denver, Colorado to the former Dorothy L. Sagee. After retiring from the Air Force he was a truck driver for Lakeside Transport Co. in Wolcottville, Indiana. He retired from there in 1990 but continued to drive for them part time. He loved to fish, and was a member of the Churubusco V.F.W. 

The survivors include his wife Dorothy Conner, their children Shawn L. (Micheal) Hartman of Churubusco, Indiana, Steven E. Conner of Churubusco, Indiana and Julie (Estill) Stratton of Albion, Indiana. One sister Ruth Ann Morgan of Albion and 6 grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Robert Conner, and an infant sister Margaret Conner.

The family will receive friends in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home on Saturday March 1, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.  A memorial service honoring Richards life will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home. 

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Rodney Lansaw, 86, a resident of Churubusco, died at 8:10 p. m. on Monday, February 18, 2008, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Mr. Lansaw was born in Breathitt County, Kentucky on January 14, 1922, a son of Taylor and Gracie Alma (Lockard) Lansaw, and attended Jackson High School in Jackson, Kentucy. He moved to the Churubusco area as a young man, and was a World War II Army veteran, serving in the European, African, and Middle Eastern theaters. He participated in the invasion of France, was wounded there, and received the prestigious Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

On August 28, 1946 he was married in Avilla to Janice E. Guiff, and spent all of his adult life in the Churubusco community. An employee of Petrolane Gas Company, he retired from there in 1985.

He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in LaOtto, and was a former Sunday School superintendent. He was also a 50-year member and twice worshipful master of Huntertown Lodge 689 F&AM, the American Legion, Disabled Veterans, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, and enjoyed visiting with friends at the Magic Wand Restaurant in Churubusco.

The surviving relatives include his wife Janice, to whom he was married for over 61 years; his children Leon Creech of Churubusco, Sandra (Larry) Jensen of Kendallville, Michael (Susan) Lansaw of Fort Wayne, David (companion Robert Laycock) Lansaw of Cleveland, OH., and Kristina (Richard) Holbrook of West Des Moines, IA; three sisters Delphia (Richard) Lauer, Dorothy (Ernest) Faurote, and Shirlee Sidicane, all of Fort Wayne; 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers Raleigh Lansaw, Garland Lansaw, Woodford Lansaw, Ruben Lansaw, Terry Lansaw, and Ralph Lansaw; and by three sisters infant Marjorie Lansaw, Geneva Parks, and Bethel Nitcher.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Friday, February 22, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Sue Socha, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Thursday from 4 to 8 p. m. Huntertown Lodge 689 F&AM will conduct memorial services at 8 p. m. Thursday at the mortuary.

Interment with full military graveside rites will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Emmanual Lutheran Church, LaOtto; or to Huntertown Lodge 689 F&AM.

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