Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Ruth A. Herron, 88, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Arthur L. Herron, passed away at 4:30 a. m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, at the Laurels of DeKalb in Butler following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. Herron was born on August 27, 1921 in DeKalb County, a daughter of Leroy C. and Florence Ethel (Musser) Hodges.  She moved to Churubusco with her family as a youth where her parents owned and operated the Hodges Dairy for many years.  She graduated from Churubusco High School in 1939, and was married in Columbia City on February 19, 1941 to Arthur L. Herron.

A resident of Churubusco all of her adult life, she had worked at the former Barnhart Drug Store and later in the cafeteria at Smith-Green Community Schools.  She was employed at Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne for 25 years, retiring there as an inspector in 1985.

She was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel.

Mr. Herron preceded her in death on October 31, 2002.

The surviving relatives include her children Sally (Victor) Spear of Churubusco, Julie (Rev. Terry L.) Zolman of Albion, Reynard (Joan) Herron of Churubusco, and Susan (Peter) Rogers of Albion.  There are ten grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and spouse, she was preceded in death by a sister Verna Crooks; by two brothers Elsworth J. Hodges and Charles L. Hodges; and by a granddaughter Sarah Rogers.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, July 2, 2010, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastors Terry L. Zolman and Steve Pulley, officiating.

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

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, the family requests that memorials be directed to EMS Medic 21, 204 N. Line Street, Churubusco, IN  46723; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6324 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN  46804.

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Lewis W. Brown, 92, a resident of Columbia City, passed away at 8:40 p. m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Columbia City following an extended illness.  He had been a patient there for the past eleven months.

Mr. Brown was born in Richland Township on September 6, 1917, a son of Ernest V. and Erma F. (Goodrich) Brown.  He graduated from Larwill High School in 1936, completed Dodge’s Institute in Valparaiso for radio communications, and spent most of his life in Whitley County.

On May 17, 1941 he was married in Indianapolis to Ann Dalesio, and was employed in communications with the Indiana State Police for nearly 26 years.  He was one of the early state police employees and was assigned Badge 94.  He retired from there in 1966.

Following his tenure there, he worked as a maintenance electrician for General Electric in Fort Wayne for six years, owned and operated Larwill Hardware for three years, and was employed in the maintenance department at Whitley County Hospital for ten years, retiring from there in 1987.  In addition, he had owned and operated several farms in Thorncreek and in Etna-Troy Townships.

He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, and also attended St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City.   He was also a member of the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club and the Pioneers of the Indiana State Police.

Mrs. Brown preceded him in death on June 22, 2002.

The surviving relatives include his children Jeanne (Mark) Teghtmeyer, Carolyn Banyash, Lewis M. “Mike” Brown, and Victor Brown, all of Columbia City; a brother Eldon A. (Audrey) Brown of Liberty; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son Roger Brown in 1977; by two sisters Lucille Bohnstedt and Faye Keefer; and by a brother Walter Brown.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a. m. Thursday, July 1, 2010, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p. m., or after 9 a. m. Thursday.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p. m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, Larwill.

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Charles A. Miller, 86, a resident of rural Columbia City and long-time Churubusco rural mail carrier, passed away at 11:20 a. m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at the North Ridge Village Nursing Home in Albion.  He had been in failing health for some time and had been a patient there for the past three weeks.

Mr. Miller was born on April 22, 1924 in Allen County, a son of Lilan and Velma M. (Keltner) Miller, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1942.  As a young man he served with the U. S. Army during World War II, and was married in Whitley County on March 22, 1947 to Virginia Lee.  The couple have lived at their present home north of Columbia City for the past 58 years.

Employed with the U. S. Post Office in Churubusco, he worked as a rural carrier for over 32 years.  He was a lifetime member of the Gilbert Davis American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco and the Ideal Fish & Game Club in Churubusco.

The surviving relatives include his wife Virginia, to whom he was married for over 63 years; two sons Bruce (Sue) Miller of Fort Wayne and Kent A. (Deborah) Miller of Columbia City; a brother Alva Miller of Monticello; two grandchildren Joy Miller and Andy Miller; and one great-grandchild.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son Randy Miller on January 9, 2010; and by a grandson M. J. Miller.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastor Barry Faucett, officiating.

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

Interment with military graveside rites will be in the family plot at Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Ideal Fish & Game Club in Churubusco.

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Paul B. Zeigler, 68, a resident of rural Albion, passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 3:41 p. m. at his home in Noble Township following an extended illness.

Mr. Zeigler was born in Fort Wayne on March 17, 1942, a son of Joseph “Ben” and Edith B. (Porter) Zeigler.  He spent his formative years in Lake Township, and graduated from Arcola High School in 1960.

On September 24, 1966 he was married in Fort Wayne to Nancy Dafforn, and had lived at his farm home in Noble Township for the last several years.  Besides being engaged in farming, he had previously worked at Newhouser Hatchery and Rea Magnet Wire in Fort Wayne, and Autojectors, Inc. in Avilla.  For the past 12 years he had been employed at 80/20, Inc. in Columbia City, and had worked part-time at Builder’s Square and Panel Mart in Fort Wayne.

He was a member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church, and had served as the assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 509 in Wolf Lake.

The surviving relatives include his wife Nancy; his four children Scott (Annette) Zeigler of Merriam, Heather (Rob) Rawles of Albion, Todd (Kim) Zeigler of Mooresville, N. C., and Chad Zeigler of Fort Wayne; and 12 grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Thomas Zeigler.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Thursday, June 24, 2010, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with Pastors Corinne K. Boruff and 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.

Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

For those who wish, the family requests memorials be directed to Wolf Lake Boy Scout Troop.

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Bryan C. Tiede, 49, a resident of Churubusco, was pronounced dead on arrival in the emergency room at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne on Friday, June 18, 2010, at 3 p. m.

Mr. Tiede was born in Tecumseh, Michigan on October 18, 1960, a son of Max N. and Lela J. (Strong) Tiede.  He spent his formative years in Holgate, Ohio, and graduated from Holgate High School in 1979.

As a young man he served with the U. S. Navy, and earned his associates degree in industrial technology at ITT.  He later earned an bachelor’s degree in drafting from Ivy Tech, and had been employed as an designer engineer with United Technologies Electronics Controls (UTEC) in Huntington for the past 20 years.

On August 31, 1985 he was married in New Bavaria, Ohio to Diane M. Mangas.  The couple lived in Monroeville for a period before moving to Churubusco in 1989.

He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, was a Eucharistic Minister, an usher, a member of the Parish Council, and the St. Vincent dePaul Society.  He was also a lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars in New Bavaria, Ohio.  In his leisure time he enjoyed golf, all types of sporting activities, personal fitness, and most especially loved and cherished his family.

The surviving relatives include his wife Diane; two children Megan Tiede and Benjamin Tiede, both at home; his parents Max N. and Lela Tiede of Blissfield, Mich; four brothers Mark Tiede of Sylvania, Ohio, Scott Tiede of Lyons, Ohio, and Joel Tiede and Tim (Lynn) Tiede, both of Blissfield, Mich; a sister Amber Pierce of Bisssfield, Mich;  two brothers-in-law Daniel (Elaine) Mangas of Montpelier, Ohio and Douglas (Monica) Mangas of Holgate, Ohio; and 17 nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a. m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco with Father Danney Pinto, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Sunday from 5 to 8 p. m. and from 4 to 8 p. m. on Monday.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p. m. Monday at the funeral home.

Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Ege Catholic Cemetery, Noble County.

For those who wish, the family requests that memorials be directed for masses or to the St. Vincent dePaul Society.

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