Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Rev. E. Vaughn Powell, 85, widely acquainted resident of Churubusco and pastor emeritus of Churubusco United Methodist Church, died at 2:15 a. m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He had been in declining health for the past several months.

Rev. Powell was born on September 12, 1922 in Linneus, Missouri, a son of Alonzo Everett and Marian Rebecca (Stone) Powell. He spent his formative years in Linn County, Missouri, and graduated from Linneus High School in 1940.

As a young man he served with the U. S. Army during World War II, and was married in Hot Springs, Arkansas on November 5, 1944 to Marie W. Sperry. Following his military discharge in 1945, the couple moved to Indianapolis and lived there for ten years. He attended the Jordan School of Music at Butler University, and was called into public ministry at Whitestown in 1958.

Rev. Powell attended Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Illinois, and was a pastor in the North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church for 32 years. The couple moved to Churubusco in 1990 following his retirement. Pastorates included Kirklin-Lanes Chapel, Mulberry, Otterbein, Churubusco, and LaGrange.

In addition to his ministerial career, his life was marked by affiliations and memberships in several organizations. He was a member and past secretary of Churubusco Lodge 515 F&AM, and was a past master. A member of the Churubusco Lions Club, he had held various Lions Club local and district offices, and was a member of the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco.

An amateur magician, he was a member of the Order of Merlin–International Brotherhood of Magicians for 35 years. He served as a chaplain for the Indiana State Police for many years, and for 24 years served on the board of directors for the Indiana United Methodist Federal Credit Union, serving as its president for ten years. He always volunteered for various community and civic activities, enjoyed traveling, and had a heart for missions and the underprivileged.

The surviving relatives include his wife Marie, to whom he was married for over 63 years; five daughters Linda (Gene) Marshall of Mulberry, Jean (Steve) Wiyatt of Effingham, Ill., Stephanie (Robert) Drake of Champions Gate, Fla., Kimberly Powell of Leo, and Kris (Jim) Fry of Churubusco; a sister Nina Birney of Sublette, Kansas; ten grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters Vera Rinehart, Leona Reid, and Mariam Stillwell; and four brothers William Bradley Powell, Francis Stone Powell, Raymond Alonzo Powell, and Gerald Powell.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p. m. on Saturday, May 31, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with the Revs. Christine Newman-Jacobs, James Copeland, and David Michel, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Riverview Cemetery, south of Churubusco, with military graveside rites by the U. S. Army.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723, or the United Methodist Committee on Relief, P. O. Box 9068, New York, New York 10087

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

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

Karen D. Brinkley, 45, a resident of Noblesville and formerly of Fort Wayne and Churubusco, died at 6:45 p. m. on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at St. Vincent’s Hospice Home in Indianapolis. She had been in declining health for the past two years.

Ms. Brinkley was born on April 5, 1963 in St. Louis, Missouri, a daughter of Thomas and Betty (Vancil) Brinkley, and spent her formative years in Kirkwood, Missouri. She moved to Fort Wayne in 1987, and later lived in Churubusco for a period before moving to her present home in Noblesville in 2001.

She was employed as a home health aid for Rescare in Noblesville.

The surviving relatives include her two daughters Tiffany (Jason) Trostel of Churubusco and Melissa Cornish of Albion; her companion John Abrams of Noblesville; two brothers Michael Brinkley of Piedmont, Mo., and Jimmie Brinkley of St. Clair, Mo; two sisters Brenda (Joe) Survillo of Sunset Hills, Mo., and Tresa (Dale) Ware of St. Louis, Mo; and her two grandsons Blake Trostel and Wesley Trostel.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother William Brinkley.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, May 30, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with the Rev. Lane Burgland, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, officiating.

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

Interment will be in the South Park Cemetery Annex, Columbia City.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

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

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

Lucy “Marie” Christlieb, 93, a resident of Garrett and widow of Milton W. Christlieb, died at 1:53 p. m. on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at DeKalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn. She had been in failing health since November.

Mrs. Christlieb was born in Etna-Troy Township near Lorraine in Whitley County on July 23, 1914, a daughter of Alan Edward and Edna Marie (Watters) Anderson. She moved to Libertyville, Illinois as a young girl with her parents, and lived there for nine years before returning to this area.

On November 14, 1932 she was married in Churubusco to Milton W. Christlieb. The couple lived on a farm near Avilla following their marriage, and moved to DeKalb County in 1939. After selling their farm, the couple moved to Altona near Garrett in 1961.

She was a homemaker, and also assisted her husband in the operation of Altona Heating & Plumbing for several years. In her leisure time she enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, and most especially loved and enjoyed her family.

Mr. Christlieb preceded her in death on November 27, 2001.

The surviving relatives include her daughters Vivian Marie (Max) DePew of Churubusco, Fay Ann Holbrook of Garrett, and Doris Jean Jones of Fort Wayne; a son Lee F. (Janice) Christlieb of Avilla; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother Edward L. Anderson; a son-in-law Howard Holbrook; and a great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday, May 28, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Jim Lilley of the First Church of Christ in Garrett, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Tuesday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m.

Interment will be in the Hooper-King Cemetery, southwest of Avilla.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to DeKalb County Hospice in Auburn or St. Martin’s Soup Kitchen in Garrett.

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

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

Iva M. Gorsuch, 92, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Dean W. Gorsuch, died at 11:45 p. m. on Saturday, May 24, 2008, at Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville. She had been taken there on Friday from the Provena Sacred Heart Home in Avilla, where she had been a patient for the past six weeks.

Mrs. Gorsuch was born on April 15, 1916 in Smith Township, a daughter of Sanford and Alice L. (Richey) Gordon. On August 2, 1934 she was married to Dean W. Gorsuch, and was a lifelong resident of the Churubusco-area.

Formerly employed at Huntner Paris and Sears Roebuck & Company in Fort Wayne, she retired from the printing department at Dana Corporation in Churubusco. In her leisure time she enjoyed caring for her home and yard, cooking, and enjoyed wintering with her husband in Leesburg, Florida. Most especially, she loved and enjoyed her family.

She was a member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church.

Mr. Gorsuch preceded her in death on February 6, 2003.

The surviving relatives include her sons Roger (Sharon) Gorsuch of Huntertown and Donald (Mariann) Gorsuch of Dripping Springs, Texas; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and spouse, she was preceded in death by five brothers Charles Gordon, Arthur Gordon, Roy Gordon, Lawrence Gordon, Elmer Gordon and David “Pete” Gordon; and by four sisters Nora Beights, Mary Crabill, Amy Fager, and Lori Gray.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Wednesday, May 28, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Christine Newman-Jacobs, pastor of Churubusco United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Tuesday from 3 to 7 p. m.

Interment will be in the family plot at the Riverview Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723 or American Heart Association, 208 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604

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

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

Warren R. Lopshire, 91, a resident of Churubusco and formerly of Allen County, died at 2:10 p. m. on Thursday, May 15, 2008, at The Oaks in Columbia City. He had been a patient there for the past four months.

Mr. Lopshire was born in Wayne Township in Allen County on October 30, 1916, a son of G. Herbert and Zetta (Robinson) Lopshire. He spent his formative years in Lafayette Township in Allen County, and graduated from Lafayette Central High School in 1934.

On October 14, 1939 he was married in Allen County to Etta I. Johnson, and lived all of his married life in Allen County until moving to Churubusco from Marion Township in 1984. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator for the Allen County Highway Department for 20 years, retiring from there in 1981. He was also engaged in farming in Allen County prior to his retirement.

He had previously served as the Lafayette Township Trustee, and was an avid fisherman.

The surviving relatives include his wife Etta, to whom he was married for over 68 years; his children Gene M. (Sharon) Lopshire of Avilla, Warren Lynn “Buck” (Marge) Lopshire of Albion, and Lonnie Lopshire of Salt Lake City; his sister Verne (Charles) Rosenthal of Salt Lake City; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Tuesday, May 20, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Christine Newman-Jacobs, pastor of Churubusco United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Monday from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 p. m.

Interment will be in Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne.

The family requests that memorial contributions be directed to Whitley County EMS Medic 21.

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

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