Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Paul Howard Spoerke, 65, a resident of rural Columbia City and retired Columbia City postal clerk, died at 5:15 p. m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne. He had been in failing health since November.

Mr. Spoerke was born in Canton, Ohio on February 4, 1943, a son of Clarence J. and Renata (Buenzel) Spoerke. He moved to Columbia City as a youth with his parents, and graduated from Columbia City High School in 1961.

He later served with the U. S. Air Force, and was on active duty there until receiving a hardship discharge in order to return home and assist his mother in the operation of the Western Auto Store in Columbia City after his father had a paralyzing stroke. He continued in the Air Force Standby Reserve until his honorable discharge in 1970.

Employed by the U. S. Postal Service in Columbia City, he retired from there in 1998 after 33 years of service. He had also worked at the Shady Park Nursery in Columbia City, and had worked at the former Rochester Casket Company and for Plastic Veneering in Tunker.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, and enjoyed making cabinets, furniture, and refinishing antique pieces for himself, friends, and relatives. In his leisure time he enjoyed hunting arrowheads and occasional visits to the casino. Most importantly, Paul was always ready to help anyone in need.

He was married on November 2, 1968 in Columbia City to Bonnie (Burk) Coverstone. She survives.

Other surviving relatives include three step-sons Rex Coverstone and Jeffrey (Robyn) Coverstone, both of Columbia City, and Dennis Coverstone of Fort Wayne; a sister Elaine (Charles) Stanley of Columbia City; a brother Carl (Joy) Spoerke of Interlachen, Florida; seven step-grandchildren, three step-great grandchildren; four nieces, three nephews; 13 great nieces and nephews; and two great-great nephews.

Private graveside services with military honors will be held at South Whitley Cemetery at a later date.   At the request of Mr. Spoerke, there will be no calling hours.

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

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Humane Society of Whitley County, 951 S. Line St., Columbia City, IN 46725; or to Habitat for Humanity, 378-A N. Line St., P. O. Box 803, Columbia City, IN 46725.

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Anna Lynn Long, infant daughter of Josie M. Long and Henry Gibson was stillborn on Wednesday March 5, 2008 in the DeKalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn.

Survivors include her mother Josie M. Long of Churubusco; father Henry Gibson of Garrett; loving grandparents Douglas and Margie Long of Churubusco, and Art and Sally Gibson of Waterloo; maternal great-grandmother Pat Buckler of Marion; an aunt Joy (Richard) Justice of Fort Wayne; an uncle Douglas Long, Jr. of Garrett; great-aunts and uncles: Kelly Buckler, Scott (Shella) Buckler, Rhonda Williams, Candy (Dennis) Walter, Mary (Bobby) Knight, James Martin Long, Jr., Sandra K. (Edward) Rodabaugh, Rex (Ruth) Foreman, Dennis (Pam) Foreman, Marilyn (Manuel) Cox, Dorothy Harris, Ralph Long, Margerie (Gene) Elliot, Debbie (Carlos) Snyder; and many cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Monday March 10, 2008 at 2:00 p. m. in the Eel River Baptist Church with Pastor Kerry L. Niman officiating. Burial will follow in the Eel River Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Monday from noon until service time.

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Richard P. Knotts, 68, a former resident of rural Churubusco in Allen County and more recently a resident of Harlan, was surrounded by his loving family when he left for Heaven on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 11:24 a. m. at his residence. He had been valiantly fighting cancer since November.

Mr. Knotts was born on November 26, 1939 in Wabash, a son of Ralph and Dorothy (Black) Knotts. He spent his formative years there and graduated from Wabash High School in 1958. As a young man he served in Germany with the U. S. Army, and was married in Wabash on November 21, 1965 to Jeannine Durnbaugh.

The couple moved to Allen County in 1966, and lived in Eel River Township near Churubusco for 20 years. Following his retirement, they lived in Florida for a period before returning to Allen County and moving to Harlan in 2004.

He was employed at CSR Masolite in For Wayne for over 37 years, retired as their sales manager of the concrete block division in 2004, and was well-known by architects throughout northeast Indiana for his knowledge of concrete masonry products.

A member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church, he was a member of the National Concrete Masonry Association, was past president of Indiana Concrete Masonry Association, past treasurer of the Fort Wayne Chapter of Concrete Specifier Institute, and was a member of the program committee of the Building Contractor’s Association. He was also a former member of the Fort Wayne Southside Optimist Club.

After returning to Indiana, he owned and operated Rich’s Rides, a transportation service for the Amish community. A lover of bird watching and all of nature, he enjoyed golf, had a wonderful sense of humor, and never met a stranger. Most importantly, he was a loving and supportive husband and father.

The surviving relatives include his wife Jeannine; his daughters Molly Rennaker of Harlan, and Meegan (Mark) Siegwarth and Dinah (Michael) Keeterle, both of Fort Wayne; a brother Michael (Lindal) Knotts of Clermont, Fla; a sister Sandra Black Haneline of Indianapolis; three grandchildren Donovan Rennaker, Lauren Siegwarth, and Ryan Siegwarth; and two step-grandchildren Shane Keeterle and Sarah Keeterle.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Phyllis Lombard.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Wednesday, March 12, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with Pastors Christine Newman-Jacobs and Lamar Imes, officiating.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723; or to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804

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Ruby B. Bailey, 88, a resident of rural Huntertown and wife of Eldon W. Bailey, died at 5:32 p. m. on Saturday, March 1, 2008, at her residence.  She had been in declining health since November.

Mrs. Bailey was born in Eel River Township on January 30, 1920, a daughter of James Franklin and Goldie (Hewen) Arnold.  She spent her formative years on the family farm there, and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1937.

On February 29, 1940 she was married in Huntertown to Eldon W. Bailey, and the couple have lived at their present home in Perry Township since 1955.  She had been employed as a custodian with the Northwest Allen County Schools for 26 years, retiring from there in 1982.

She was a member of the Huntertown United Methodist Church, and in her leisure time enjoyed mowing grass, gardening, her flowers, and visiting with friends.  She especially loved and enjoyed her family.

The surviving relatives include her husband Eldon; a son Arnold (Corine) Bailey of Fort Wayne; two daughters Gay (David) Inkrote of Dallas, Tx., and Kathy (Raney) Bouthot of Fort Wayne; a brother George Arnold of Fort Wayne; four grandchildren Shannon Bouthot of Fort Wayne, Nicole Bouthot of Tampa, Fla., Thane (fiancee Tanya Fee) of St. Louis, Mo., and Justin Bailey of Huntertown; and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters Fern Arnold and Fanny Burns; and by a brother Sidney Arnold.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday, March 6, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastors Greg Hiatt and Sherri Long of Huntertown United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Thursday.

Interment will be in the Huntertown Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to Family Hospice of Northeast Indiana, 265 W. Water St., Berne, IN  46711; or Huntertown United Methodist Church, 16021 Lima Road, Huntertown, IN  46748

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