Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Donald L. Rothstein, 73, a long time resident of Fort Wayne and most recently of Waterloo, died at 5:30 a. m. on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at his home.  He had been in declining health for some time and been seriously ill since March.

Mr. Rothstein was born in Chicago on December 8, 1935, a son of John and Mary (Spisak) Rothstein.  He had resided at the Fort Wayne Developmental Center for 23 years, and for the past ten years had resided with his friends and caregivers Chuck and Nikki Graham of Waterloo.

His parents preceded him in death.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p. m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at the Catholic Cemetery, 3500 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne.  Father Dave Carkenord, pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Waterloo, will officiate and interment will follow.

There will be no calling hours.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana, P. O. Box 13611, Fort Wayne, IN  46865

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

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Marie E. Jones, 90, a former resident of Churubusco and Fort Wayne and more recently of Columbia City, died at 4:15 p. m. on Friday, May 29, 2009, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Columbia City following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Jones was born in Thorncreek Township in Whitley County on February 11, 1919, and spent her formative years there.  On June 18, 1938 she was married in Columbia City to Virgil W. Jones.  She lived in Fort Wayne from 1941 until 1985 when she moved to Churubusco.

Employed in the cafeteria at ARA Food Services in Fort Wayne, she retired from there in 1984 after 15 years.  She volunteered as a chaplain’s assistant at Whitley County Hospital for several years, and had been a dedicated volunteer for the Whitley County Health Department’s Well Child Clinic.  In 1998 she received the Whitley County Heart of Gold award for her years of volunteer service.

In addition, she had worked as an attendant at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco for 13 years until moving to Columbia City in 1998.

She was a member of Believer’s Bible Fellowship in Churubusco, the Green Township Home Economics Club, and had also attended the Columbia City Church of the Nazarene.  Her quiet and unassuming spirit of love and devotion will always be remembered by her family and all who knew her.

Mr. Jones preceded her in death unexpectedly on May 14, 1958.

The surviving relatives include her daughters Sue (Bill) Lewis of Churubusco, Marilyn Messmann of Columbia City, and Sharon (Ron) Kelley of Deep Gap, N. C; a brother Marshall Smith of Columbia City; seven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren, and two step-great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters Mildred Downing and Mabel L. Smith; and by a son-in-law Dennis Messmann.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Rick Van Horn, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the services Tuesday morning. 

Interment will be in the Nolt Cemetery, Columbia Township.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Whitley County Well Child Clinic or to Parkview Home Health & Hospice.

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

Betty M. Zolman, 88, a former resident of Blue Lake near Churubusco and widow of Cline C. Zolman, died at 9:45 p. m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at The Oaks in Columbia City.  She had been a patient there for over four and one half years.

Mrs. Zolman was born in Thornville, Ohio on September 29, 1920, a daughter of William V. and Adah M. (McManus) Grove.  She spent her formative years in that area, and graduated from Thornville High School in 1938.

On January 8, 1945 she was married in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Cline C. Zolman of Churubusco.  Following his military discharge, the couple moved to Churubusco and spent their married life at Blue Lake.  They also wintered in Winter Haven, Florida for 23 years until 2003.

Employed in the offices of Dana Weatherhead in Fort Wayne, she retired from there in 1979 after over 20 years of service.  She was a member of Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star 136, Gamma Alpha Eta Sorority, and the Churubusco American Legion Post 157 Ladies Auxiliary.

Mr. Zolman preceded her in death on November 17, 2003.

The surviving relatives include her children Patty (Don) Amber of Churubusco, Michael G. (fiancee Diane Perry) Zolman of Fort Wayne, and Gary W. Zolman of Blue Lake; five grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Monday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Corinne K. Boruff, pastor of Churubusco United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Monday morning.  Churubusco Order of the Eastern Star will conduct memorial services at 5 p. m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Entombment will be in the Covington Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Fort Wayne.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to The Oaks Activities Department, 411 N. Wolf Road, Columbia City, IN  46725

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

Elizabeth (Betty Joseph) Sprague, 81, formerly of Fort Wayne and Columbia City, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 24, 2009.  Her family is thankful that she is now at peace.

She was born in Napfor, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Rome and Catherine (Strong) Campbell, and lived in Fort Wayne until moving to Columbia City in 1994.  Employed as a waitress, she worked at the Van Orman Hotel, Ceruti’s, and the Waynewood Inn.  She was a member of the Saturn Christian Church near Laud, DAV Ladies Auxiliary, AMVETS Post 33 Ladies Auxiliary, and Women of the Moose in Columbia City.

Surviving are five sons Philip Joseph of Chicago, Peter (Becky) Joseph of Fort Wayne,  Michael Joseph  of Fort Wayne, Frank (Suzanne) Joseph of Carmel, James (Bobbi) Joseph of Fort Wayne, and Timothy (Rhonda)  Sprague of Erin, Tenn; two sisters Juanita Robbins of Dayton, Ohio and Margaret Flannery of Pensacola, Fla; 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Charles Campbell; three sisters Bertha Whiteman, Gertrude Morrison, and Bobbie Jean Massingale; and by a daughter Katherine Joseph Sloffer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Russell Riley, pastor of Saturn Christian Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends a the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed in memory of Katherine Joseph Sloffer to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, P. O. Box 80201, Fort Wayne, IN  46898

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

Matthew Wayne Miller, 41, a resident of Huntertown, died unexpectedly at 2:55 p. m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at the family residence. 

Born in Kendallville on May 27, 1967, he was the son of Jerry W. and Charsie L. (Stewart) Miller.  He spent most of his life in Huntertown, and graduated from Carroll High School in 1986.

Surviving besides his parents in Huntertown is a sister Stephanie Sue Miller of Oklawaha, Fla; his maternal grandmother Audrey Downing of Wolcottville; a nephew Tyson Allen; a niece Tia Allen; and several aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. Thursday, May 7, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with his uncle David Stewart, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Thursday morning beginning at 11 a. m. until the time of the service.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, Allen County.

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

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