Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Marie A. Diffendarfer, 84, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Homer A. Diffendarfer, passed away at 11:00 p. m. on Monday, January 24, 2011, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.   She had suffered an apparent brain hemorrhage on Thursday, and had been hospitalized since that time.

Mrs. Diffendarfer was born in Smith Township on August 16, 1926, a daughter of Roy and Florence Alice (Raypole) Gordon.  She spent her formative years in the Churubusco-area, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1944.

On October 19, 1945 she was married in Columbia City to Homer A. Diffendarfer.  She lived all of her adult life in Churubusco, and had lived at her current home for over 40 years.

As a young woman she was employed at General Electric in Fort Wayne, and was later employed in the town offices for the Town of Churubusco.  She enjoyed playing Euchre with her card club friends, served on the Churubusco election board for several years, and most importantly loved and cherished her family and friends.  She had also enjoyed spending several winters in Bradenton, Florida.

Mr. Diffendarfer preceded her in death on April 1, 1978.

The surviving relatives include her daughters Kay Lawrence of Churubusco and Sharon (Roy) Pepple of Sedalia, Col; four grandchildren Paula (Dave) Burke of Huntington, Scott (Robin) Minnick of Spencerville, Brian (Robin) Minnick of Butler and serving his fourth term in the Middle East with the USAF, and Shawn (Stacy) Pepple of Sedalia, Col; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers Gene Gordon and Tony Gordon; a sister Jane Lesh; and by a granddaughter Nicole Pepple.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011, 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 Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m.

Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46804.

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Juanita V. Imler Yoder, 86, a former resident of Washington Township in Whitley County and more recently of Valparaiso, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, January 16, 2011, in the emergency room at the Porter County Hospital in Portage.  Although she had been in declining health, her death was unexpected.

Mrs. Yoder was born in Fort Wayne on May 12, 1924, a daughter of Clarence A. and Velma (Johnson) Seslar, and spent her formative years there.  She was married in 1946 to Glenn E. Imler, and lived much of her adult life in Whitley County.  He preceded her in death in 1972.  She was then married in 1974 to Harold Yoder, who preceded her in death in 1994.

Juanita was known as a prayer warrior, and loved and cherished her family.

The surviving relatives include her daughters Darlene (Wayne) Creech of Albion, Carol (Phillip) Hatfield of Lake Station, Janet (Dan) Castle of McKee, Ky., and Alice (Wayne) Troutman of Salt Lake City.  There are ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by a brother Donald Seslar; and a sister Ruth Keller.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Paul D. White, pastor of Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 4 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Saturday morning.

Interment will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery, Waynedale.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Churubusco Church of the Nazarene Frontline Ministries, 1000 W. Whitley St., Churubusco, IN  46723

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Sharon Kay Roberson, 61, a resident of rural Churubusco in Allen County, passed away at 1:50 a. m. on Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  She had been seriously ill for the past two weeks.

Ms. Roberson was born in Wolf Lake on December 24, 1949, a daughter of Ralph and Madeline (Rosenogle) Roberson.  She was a lifelong resident of Eel River Township, and graduated with the first class from Carroll High School in 1969.

Employed at Dana Weatherhead Division in Columbia City, she retired from there in 2000 after nearly 31 years of service.  Sharon was a very caring person, and volunteered at Parkview Hospital by making “Care” blankets.   She was a member of Believer’s Bible Fellowship in Churubusco, and the Red Hat Society.

The surviving relatives include her devoted sisters Karen Roberson and Lois Hull, both of Churubusco; two nephews Bradley (Deborah) Hull of Auburn and Gregory Hull of Churubusco; a niece Zondra Hull of Fort Wayne; a niece-in-law Rebecca Hull of Huntertown; five great-nieces Anne (Chad) Guggenbiller of Fort Recovery, Ohio, Heather (Shaun) Engel of Fort Wayne, Emily Hull of Indianapolis, and Chelsea (Justin) Rentschler and Caitlin Hull, both of Huntertown;  a great-nephew Adam Hull of Indianapolis; and a great-great-niece and nephew Eva Engel and Tyler Guggenbiller.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant brother Bruce Roberson; a brother-in-law Dale Hull; and a nephew Randall Hull.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p. m. on Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Believer’s Bible Fellowship in Churubusco with Pastor Robert Siegrist, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday after 10 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 Parkview Foundation, 2200 Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne, IN  46805;  or to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Avenue, #200, Fort Wayne, IN  46805.

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Jerry L. McGuire, 62, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 4:19 a. m. at the family residence in Smith Township.  Although he had been in failing health since October, his death was unexpected.

Mr. McGuire was born on March 15, 1948 in Wolf Lake, a son of Carl and Pauline (Weidman) McGuire.  He graduated from Churubusco High School in 1966, and was a lifelong resident of the Churubusco-area.

He had served with the U. S. Army National Guard, was a member of American Legion Post 82 in Fort Wayne, and had retired 12 years ago from General Electric in Fort Wayne after 35 years of employment there.  In addition, he had been engaged in farming in Smith Township all of his life, and was an avid fisherman.

On July 17, 1980 he was married in Fort Wayne to Judy (Bodigon) Holzinger.  She survives.

Also surviving is a son Stacy (Krista) Holzinger of Churubusco; three step-children Walter (Trish) Gratz of Huntertown, and Pam (Chuck) Voors  and Linda Mobley, both of Fort Wayne; his parents Carl and Pauline McGuire of Churubusco; a sister Patricia McGuire of Churubusco; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son Chad J. McGuire on January 27, 2008.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Friday, January 21, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Greg Smith, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary from 3 to 8 p. m. on Thursday.

Interment will be in the Blue River Cemetery, Whitley County.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Avenue, #200, Fort Wayne, IN  46805

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Harold O. Fairchild, Sr., 74, widely acquainted area contractor and a resident of rural Columbia City, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 6:07 p. m., at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  He had been a patient there since Monday after suffering an apparent heart attack at his home.

Mr. Fairchild was born on November 15, 1936 in Huntington County, a son of Herbert R. and Myrtle L. (DeWitt) Fairchild.  As a child he moved with his parents to rural Allen County.  He spent his formative years there, and graduated from Jefferson Center High School in 1955.

On November 13, 1956 he was married in Roanoke to Adena Hyser.  The couple lived in the Roanoke-area for a period before moving to their present farm home in Smith Township in 1966.

He had previously worked at Zolner Piston in Fort Wayne, and for two years worked along with his brother at Fairchild Custom Butchering.  From 1974 to 1980 he was the co-owner and operator of Fairchild & Hyser Contractors, and was the owner and operator of H. O. Fairchild & Sons, Inc. for 19 years, retiring in 1999.   In addition to his work as a contractor, he raised cattle, and was engaged in farming in Smith Township.

He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco and the American Pinzgauer Association.

The surviving relatives include his wife Adena, to whom he was married for over 54 years; his children Harold “Jack” (Jeannine) Fairchild, Jr. of Churubusco, Pam (Kevin) Pequignot of Columbia City, Brian (Christine) Fairchild of Albion, Brenda (Tom) Brumbaugh of Columbia City, and Adam (Maria) Fairchild of Churubusco; a sister Wanita Gerig of Woodburn; five brothers Wayne Fairchild of Columbia City, Ronald (Pat) Fairchild of Bippus, John Shaw of Churubusco, William Shaw of Reidsville, NC, and Donald (Joan) Shaw of Mt. Airy, NC; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother Mae Fairchild; a sister Carolyn Gilgen; and by four brothers Robert Fairchild, Floyd Fairchild, William Fairchild, and Ray Shaw.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco.

The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 1 to 4 and from 6 to 8 p. m.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Whitley County Community Foundation, 400 N. Whitley Street, Columbia City, IN  46725.

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