Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Marcella M. Schaefer, 80, a resident of rural Washington Township in Allen County and wife of Elmer H. Schaefer, died at 4:55 p. m. on Thursday, June 26, 2008, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne. She had been in failing health for the past two years, and had been a patient at the hospice home for the past week.

Mrs. Schaefer was born on November 2, 1927 in Lake Township, a daughter of August and Mildred (Weisenburger) Felger. She spent her formative years in Lake Township, and was a graduate of Arcola High School.

On September 17, 1949 she was married in Lake Township to Elmer H. Schaefer. The couple spent the early years of their marriage in Fort Wayne, and had lived at their present home in Washington Township since 1972.

A homemaker all of her adult life, she was a member of Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, west of Fort Wayne. In her leisure time she enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens, canning, cooking and baking, and most especially loved and enjoyed her children and grandchildren.

The surviving relatives include her husband Elmer; her children Dennis L. (Linda) Schaefer, Deborah (Michael) Reinking, and Diana (David) Greener, all of Fort Wayne, and Dalene (Mark) Thompson of Sun Prairie, Wisc; a brother Delmar E. “Bud” (Marilyn) Felger of Fort Wayne; ten grandchildren Zachary and Brooke Schaefer, Brad, Julie, and Jonathan Reinking, Danielle (Brian) Bostwick, Matthew and Melissa Greener, and Casey and Jacob Thompson; and a great-grandson Andrew Bostwick.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Tuesday, July 1, at the Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6318 W. California Road, with Pastors Jerry Nichols and Norman Aman, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church after 9:30 a. m. Tuesday.

Interment will be in the church cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the church air conditioning fund, the church school tuition assistance fund, or to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home.

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

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

George Greenwell, Jr. age 81, a former long time resident of Bear Lake near Albion, died Thursday morning June 26, 2008 at Miller’s Merry Manor Nursing Home in Columbia City. He had been a patient in the facility since 2004.

George was born May 7, 1927 in Eel River Twp. Allen County, a son of the late George and Orpha E. (Johnson) Greenwell, Sr. He lived much of his life in the Churubusco area, and spent many years at Bear Lake. As a young man he served in the U. S. Army from 1952 to 1954. While serving in Korea he was awarded the Korean Service Ribbon with two bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the United States Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. He formerly worked at Marhoffer Packing Co. in Fort Wayne for four years, the Allen County Power Plant for 18 years, and tended bar at the Churubusco American Legion Post and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, both for 10 years. He was also a member of both veteran’s organizations.

The survivors include his former wife Evelyn Rollins of Columbia City; two daughters Susan (John) Helblig of Huntington, and Alice (Merlin) Rice of Wolf Lake; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday June 30, 2008 at 11:00 a. m. 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 Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m.

Burial with military graveside rites will follow at the Christian Chapel Cemetery in Merriam.

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

You are invited to leave a condolence for the family, and may do so by clicking on “Condolence” below. . .

Archie O. Downs, 88, a resident of rural LaOtto, died Thursday morning, June 19, 2008, at his home. He had been in declining health for some time, but his death was unexpected.

Mr. Downs was born on December 24, 1919 in New Haven, a son of Frank and Goldie (Bieber) Downs, and spent his formative years in New Haven and Columbia City.   As a young man he served with the U. S. Army.  Married in Fort Wayne on April 29, 1944 to Clara M. Wells, the couple spent most of their adult lives in the Huntertown-area.

He was employed as a truck driver for the teamster’s union for many years, and retired from the former Elway Freight in Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Downs preceded him in death on February 8, 2003.

The surviving relatives include his children Michael R. (Pat) Downs of Churubusco, and Melody K. Plummer of Huntertown; four grandchildren Nicholas (Peggy) Downs, Melani (Gary) Middaugh, Dustin Downs, and Matt (fiancee Aimee Nix) Plummer; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Monday, June 23, 2008, 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 Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m.

Interment will be in Huntertown Cemetery with military graveside rites.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.

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

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

Beverly J. (Romine) Gordon, 62, a resident of Knapp Lake and a native of Churubusco, died at 12:10 a. m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. She had submitted to surgery, and had been in failing health for nearly eight months.

Mrs. Gordon was born on October 25, 1945 in Kendallville, a daughter of Leo E. and Edith M. (Clouse) Romine. She spent her formative years in Churubusco, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1964.

On April 6, 1965 she was married in Churubusco to Allen C. Gordon. The couple lived in Garrett for a period, spent 11 years in St. Paris, Ohio, and had lived at their present home on Knapp Lake in Noble County since 1999.

She had been employed as a nurse’s aid at Miller’s Merry Manor in Garrett, had worked as a waitress and cook at the Top Hat Restaurant in St. Paris, Ohio, and for 14 years worked as a teacher’s aid for disabled children with Fort Wayne Community Schools. In her leisure time she enjoyed collecting turtles, enjoyed the wildlife at Knapp Lake, and was a proud mother and grandmother.

The surviving relatives include her husband Allen; three children Timothy (Gail) Gordon, and Tammi (Rex) Durst, both of St. Paris, Ohio, and Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Gordon of Virginia Beach, Virg; her mother Edith Romine of Churubusco; two sisters Linda (John) Barrett of Churubusco and Bonita (Steve) Abshire of Columbia City; seven grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her father on July 7, 1979.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Thursday, June 19, 2008, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastors Christine and Paul Newman-Jacobs, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Thursday morning.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Churubusco American Legion Post 157, 115 S. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723; or to the American Diabetes Association, 7363 E. 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

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

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

Richard “Paul” Bianski, age 81, passed away Tuesday June 3, 2008 in Mission, Texas. He was born December 1, 1926 in South Bend, Indiana a son of the late Frank Joseph and Leona (Richards) Bianski. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served one submarine tour. He served as a Commander of the Churubusco American Legion Post # 157. He lived in Minneapolis from 1959 until 1992 when he moved to Foristell, Missouri. He retired from the United States Postal Service in Minneapolis in 1987. Paul was an avid golfer and spent his winters in Mission, Texas. Until last year he bowled regularly recording four sanctioned 300 games and an 801 series. He was voted into the Minneapolis District American Bowling Congress (ABC) Hall of Fame in 1999.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years and former Churubusco resident, Patricia (Jones) Bianski, children Paula (Jim) Kilmer, Richard “Joe” (Penny) Bianski Jr., and Julie Stone all from the Minneapolis area; granddaughters Amy (Brady) Anderson, Sara (Dennis) Stapf, Lindsey (Allen) Quinn and great-grandson Cameron Quinn. Brothers James (Phyllis) Bianski of La Otto, Indiana, Frances “Jr” (Janet) Bianski of Avilla, Indiana, sister-in-law Mary Louise “Suzy” Bianski of La Otto, Indiana and brother-in-law Russell Gienger of Avilla, Indiana. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Helen Kostielney, Catherine Miller, Joan Gienger and his brother Ralph Frances Bianski. He loved life and had many friends and will be truly missed.

A memorial service and mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ege, Indiana on June 28, 2008 with Father Danney Pinto officiating. For those who wish memorial masses may be directed to the church. A “Celebration of his Life” will be held in the Twin City area later in the summer. Sheets and Childs Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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

You are invited to leave a condolence for the family by clicking on “Condolence” below.