Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Kenneth E. Beachler, 68, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away at 6:05 p. m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at the family residence in Green Township.  He had been in declining health for the past three years.

Mr. Beachler was born in Wabash on September 27, 1941, a son of the late Ernie and Flora E. (Renicker) Beachler, and spent his formative years in Laketon.  He graduated from Laketon High School in 1959, was a graduate of Findlay College, and was an ordained pastor in the Church of God.

He spent his early years engaged in farming and also in carpentry, and lived in Iowa for a period.  The owner and operator of Classic Wood Products in Columbia City, he later owned and operated Thor Trucking.  Following his retirement in 2000, he and his wife started Garden Cottage Flowers & Produce at their residence north of Churubusco, and sustained that until closing this fall for the season.

A member of the Sugar Grove Church of God north of Churubusco, he was a skilled woodworker, and in his leisure time enjoyed fishing.

On September 26, 1992 he was married in Churubusco to Elizabeth “Liz” (Bayford) Krider.  She survivies.

Other surviving relatives include his children Kirk (Kim) Beachler of Fort Wayne and Kathy (Jim) Hite of Garrett; his step-children Wayne (Judy Johnson) Krider of Churubusco, Darlene (Don) Leon of Fort Wayne, Lisa (David) Waterman of Churubusco, Donna (Mike) Ellis of Edmund, Ok., and Lynda (Eddie) Arnold of Columbia City; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Sugar Grove Church of God with Pastor Timothy Grable, 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 Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice, 1315 Directors Row, suite 210, Fort Wayne, IN  46808; Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, 6316 Mutual Dr., Fort Wayne, IN  46825; or Sugar Grove Church of God, 5019 E 500 S-57, Churubusco, IN  46723

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Mary Catherine Didion, 54, a resident of Round Lake, passed away at 8:14 p. m. on Monday, January 4, 2010, at the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne following a lengthy illness.

Born in Fort Wayne on June 2, 1955, she was the daughter of John Paul and Mary Ellen (Clemmer) Wisniewski.  She spent her formative years in Fort Wayne, and graduated from New Haven High School in 1974.  She spent a portion of her adult life in Fort Wayne before moving to Round Lake over 20 years ago.

She was employed at GTE/Verizion in Fort Wayne for 30 years, and was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco.   In her leisure time she greatly enjoyed fishing and water sports, outside activities, reading, and especially loved her dog “Taffy.”

The surviving relatives include her daughter Melissa Didion, a sophomore at Manchester College; her mother Mary Ellen Wisniewski of Round Lake; a sister Joellen (Lynn) Gross of Churubusco; a brother Paul (Sue) Wisniewski of Morristown, Tenn; one niece and five nephews.  She was preceded in death by her father.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. on Friday, January 8, 2010, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Thursday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p. m. Thursday at the mortuary.

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

The family requests that memorial contributions be directed for Melissa Didion’s education fund.

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