Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Phyllis G. Ott, 79, a resident of rural Churubusco and wife of Glen D. Ott, died at 1:40 p. m. on Sunday, August 30, 2009, at the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.  She had been in declining health for the past month.

Mrs. Ott was born on August 7, 1930 in Wolf Lake, a daughter of Melvin and Esther [Miller] Bender.  She spent her formative years in Wolf Lake and Albion, and graduated from Albion High School in 1948.

Following her high school graduation, she was married in Wolf Lake to Glen D. Ott on May 28, 1948.  The couple lived for a short period in Kimmell following their marriage, and spent much of their married life on the Ott family farm in Eel River Township in Allen County before moving to their present home near Churubusco in 1980.

A committed woman of faith and church worker, she was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, east of Churubusco.  In addition to volunteering at her church in various capacities over the years, she served as its United Methodist Women’s treasurer for many years.   She loved and treasured her church, and was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many.

The surviving relatives include her husband Glen, to whom she was married for over 61 years; her three children Judy [Roy] Langdon of Sheridan, Larry [Christina] Ott of Avilla, and Jerry A. [Pamela] Ott of Churubusco; a sister Bonnie [Hal] Stump of Kimmell; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister Irene Bender.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday, September 3, 2009, at the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church with Pastor Larry Smith, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Wednesday from 3 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Thursday morning.

Interment will be in Eel River Cemetery, Allen County.

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

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

Joyce E. Dice, 75, a resident of Eel River Township near Huntertown, and wife of Keith M. Dice, died at 4:10 p. m. on Friday, August 28, 2009, at Parkview North Hospital in Fort Wayne.  She had been in declining health since January.

Mrs. Dice was born in Huntington on July 29, 1934, a daughter of Paul and Katherine [Marshall] Whitacre, and spent her formative years in that community.  She graduated from Huntington High School in 1952, and earned her R. N. from the Parkview School of Nursing in Fort Wayne in 1955.

On July 21, 1957 she was united in marriage in Huntington to Keith M. Dice, and lived her adult life on the family farm in Eel River Township, northwest of Huntertown.  Employed as a registered nurse, she had worked at Parkview Hospital, Byron Health Center, and retired in 1999 from St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne.

She was a member of Christ’s Hope Church, the Parkview Alumni Association, and had served as a Sunday School teacher for several years.  In her leisure time she enjoyed swimming and traveling, and found pleasure working in her flower garden.  Most importantly she loved her children and grandchildren.

The surviving relatives include her husband Keith, to whom she was married for over 52 years; her children Karen S. [Lee] Sloffer, Kathy L. [Mark] Wehrle, and Kevin H. [Dawn] Dice, all of Fort Wayne; her mother Katherine Whitacre of Fort Wayne; a sister Marjorie Bowden of Urbana, Ill; a brother James [Elaine] Whitacre of Huntington; and her grandchildren Cole, Hope, Drew, Brooke, and Blake Wehrle, and Laura, Grant, and Katie Sloffer.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a daughter Karla K. Dice on August 8, 1982.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at Christ’s Hope Church, 2818 Carroll Road, with Pastor Erick Riddle, officiating.

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

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Christ’s Hope Church.

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

Herman H. Osterholt, 81, a resident of Lake Township in Allen County, died at 7:30 a. m. on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at the family residence at Lake Everett.  He had been in declining health since April.

Mr. Osterholt was born on December 4, 1927 in Fort Recovery, Ohio, a son of Ben J. and Johanna [Wenning] Osterholt.  He spent his formative years in Ohio, and graduated from Coldwater High School.

On May 7, 1960 he was married in St. Anthony, Ohio to Jeanette Homan.  The couple moved to Allen County in 1964 from Ohio, and had lived at their present home at Lake Everett since 1990.

Employed for 20 years at Essex Wire in Fort Wayne, he retired in 1989 as a machinist with Pease Wind-A-Matic in Huntertown.  He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco.

The surviving relatives include his wife Jeanette; a son Mark G. Osterholt of Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia; three daughters Catherine Osterholt and Susan [Wendell] Fromm, both of Fort Wayne, and Marie [Shawn] Perrella of Huntertown; a brother Leo [Dee Dee] Osterholt of Coldwater, Mich; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A son Henry J. Osterholt preceded him in death on February 25, 1997.  Also deceased are his parents;  four brothers Aloysius Osterholt, Walter Osterholt, Anthony Osterholt, and Edward Osterholt; and two sisters Rose Lothamer and Catherine Fortman.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p. m. on Monday, August 31, 2009, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco with Father Diniel Leeuw and Father Danney Pinto, the celebrants.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Sunday from 2 to 7 p. m.  The Rosary will be recited at 6 p. m. Sunday at the mortuary.

Interment will be in the Ege Catholic Cemetery, Noble County.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed for Masses or to Goshen Center for Cancer Care.

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

Kenneth E. Gross, 77, a former resident of Churubusco, died at 12:18 p. m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at the Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester, where he had lived since 2004.

Mr. Gross was born in Arcola on October 31, 1931, a son of Alfred H. and Icie [Shively] Gross, Sr.   He spent his formative years in Arcola, and graduated from Arcola High School in 1951.

A volunteer with the Brethren Volunteer Service for two years, he served in Vienna, Austria helping rebuild the city that had been destroyed during World War II.  In 1957 he again shipped out, this time from Chicago as a cook on an iron ore boat which sailed the Great Lakes.   He worked as a cook for Republic Steel for 14 years, and later for Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, retiring in 1984.

Kenneth had a great love of books and old movies, and  exhibited great concern and care for God’s creation.  He was a member of the Blue River Church of the Brethren, Whitley County.

His parents preceded him in death.  Also deceased is his older brother Alfred Gross, Jr., who died  on September 20, 1991.

The surviving relatives include a niece Anita Gross of Columbia City; and three nephews Bob [Rachel] Gross of North Manchester, Andrew Gross of Fort Wayne, and Gary [Micki] Gross of Churubusco.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at the Christian Chapel Cemetery in Merriam with Pastor Craig Alan Myers of Blue River Church of the Brethren, officiating.  Interment will follow.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Saturday morning after 9:30 a. m.  The cortege will depart for the cemetery at 10:45 a. m.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Blue River Church of the Brethren, Timbercrest Senior Living Community, or Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home.

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

Wavalene M. Smith, 71, a resident of Fort Wayne,  died Thursday evening August 20, 2009 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, following an extended illness. She was a former resident of Florida, and prior to that  had lived in rural Allen County.

Wavalene was born January 6, 1938 in Gomer, Ohio a daughter of the late Evan and Letha (Plikert) Evans. She graduated from Gomer High School with the class of 1956, and was united in marriage in Gomer on November 14, 1959 to Wesley Lee Smith who survives.  She was a homemaker,  an avid gardener, loved her family, and kittens. She sadly missed her beloved late cat, Bubbles.

Survivors include her husband of almost 50 years, Lee; their children Donald L. Smith and David L. (Jill) Smith both of Fort Wayne,  Robert (Denise) Smith of Valrico, Florida; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a. m. Tuesday,  August 25, 2009, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco,  with Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Eel River Cemetery, Allen County.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 5 to 8 p. m. at the funeral home.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Cancer Services of Allen County or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.

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