Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Kenneth L. Frazier, 72, a resident of rural Churubusco in Allen County, passed away at 2:51 p. m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  He had submitted to surgery earlier in the day, but his death was unexpected.

Mr. Frazier was born on September 27, 1938, a son of Leonard D. and H. Naomi (Gordon) Frazier.  He spent his formative years on the family farm in Eel River Township, and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1956.

On November 15, 1957 he was married in Old Shanty Town, Illinois to Marilyn E. Eytcheson.  He lived all of his adult life in Eel River Township, and as a young man was engaged in farming with his father.  He later worked as a custodian at the Mutual Security Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne and at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.

He retired from the custodial staff at Northwest Allen County Schools in 2007 after 20 years of service.  In his leisure time he enjoyed watching NASCAR, spending time on his computer, watching movies, and was a great fan of Carroll High School basketball.  Most importantly, he loved and cherished his family, and was a friend to many.

Mrs. Frazier preceded him in death on December 29, 2010.

The surviving relatives include his two daughters Melody (William) Gingery of Powell, Tenn., and Monica Frazier of Wichita, Kan; his sister Judy (Joe) Clifford of Churubusco; a sister-in-law Doris Jones of Columbia City; three grandchildren Melissa (Todd) Reynolds, Bradley Gingery, and Brandon Frazier; and a great-granddaughter Maddisyn Reynolds.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Tuesday, August 30, 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 funeral home on Monday from 5 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Rd., Fort Wayne, IN  46814

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To leave an online condolence for the family in Mr. Frazier’s memory, click on “Condolences” below. . .

Olive M. Tonkel, 87, a former resident of Collins and widow of Charles Merl Tonkel, Sr., passed away at 9:23 p. m. on Sunday, August 21, 2011, at The Oaks in Columbia City.  She had been in declining health for some time, and had been a patient at the nursing home for the past six years.

Mrs. Tonkel was born in Fort Wayne on May 3, 1924, a daughter of Lyman and Pauline (Sines) Blanchard.  She spent her formative years in Fort Wayne, and was married there on May 25, 1941 to Charles Merl Tonkel, Sr.  The couple owned and operated the Campus Inn Restaurant in Fort Wayne for several years, and had moved to Collins over 50 years ago.

Mr. Tonkel preceded her in death on January 14, 1982.

The surviving relatives include her daughter Pat (Bruce) Geiger of rural Columbia City; two sisters Joan Kessler of Fort Wayne and Mary Ellen (Jim) Meskimen of Apache Junction, Ariz; nine grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sons Charles Tonkel, Jr., Dennis Tonkel, and Jerry W. Tonkel; and a sister Lorraine Bunn.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. on Thursday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Jerry Blanchard, pastor of Anthony Wayne First Church of God, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Thursday afternoon.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Heartland Hospice in Fort Wayne, or to the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence for the family in Mrs. Tonkel’s memory, log on to www.sheetsandchilds.net

Gladys O. Durham, 90, a former resident of Avilla, passed away at 12:00 a. m. on Sunday, August 21, 2011, at North Ridge Village Nursing Home in Albion.  She had been in failing health for some time, and had been a patient at the nursing home since March, 2010.

Mrs. Durham was a Kentucky native, born on January 10, 1921 to Benjamin Franklin and Florence (Butler) Smith.  As a young adult she moved to the Fort Wayne-area, and had later spent time in Florida and in Martinsville, before moving to Avilla 18 years ago.

For much of her adult life she had been a homemaker, and worked as a caregiver for the elderly later in her life.  She enjoyed crocheting, and most importantly loved and cherished her family.

Her husband Medford Durham preceded her in death.

The surviving relatives include her four children Charlotte (Clarence) McCormick of Avilla, Carolyn Wietfeldt of Larwill, Randy Biglow of Warsaw, and Bill Biglow of Avilla; two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco.

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

Entombment will be in the mausoleum at Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne.

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

Doris King, 86, a resident of Carmel and mother of Churubusco resident Jeanine Childs, passed away at 1:30 a. m. on Sunday, August 14, 2011, at her home following a lengthy illness.

Mrs. King was born on October 2, 1924 in Herrin, Illinois, the daughter of James and Flora (Armstrong) Stubblefield, and spent her formative years there.  She graduated from Asbury University and later attended the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

She was a dedicated pastor’s wife, and enjoyed flower gardening, and taking care of her home and family.

The surviving relatives include her husband the Rev. Jack T. King of Carmel; her daughter Dr. Jeanine (C. Gregory) Childs of Churubusco; a son Dr. Ted (Lisa) King of Oak Brook, Illinois; her grandchildren Drew (Becca) Childs of Indianapolis,  Perry Childs and Joel (Brittany) Childs, both of Huntington, and Eileen, Annie, Sarah, and Emily King, all of Oak Brook, Illinois; one brother; and one sister.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at Carmel United Methodist Church, with calling one hour prior to the service.

Calling will also be on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p. m. at the church.

Interment will be in the Carmel Cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Carmel United Methodist Church, 621 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, IN  46032; or Asbury University, 1 Macklem Drive, Wilmore, KY  40390.

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To leave an online condolence for the family in Mrs. King’s memory, log on to www.bussellfamilyfunerals.com

Diane Sue Kahlenbeck, 60, a resident of Green Township in Noble County and wife of Ned W. Kahlenbeck, passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, at 12:50 p. m. at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  She had been in declining health since November, and had been a patient at the hospital for the past two weeks.

Mrs. Kahlenbeck was born on October 13, 1950 in Richmond, a daughter of Dwight and Alberta (Hackman) Lanman.  She moved to Angola as a girl with her parents, and graduated from Angola High School in 1968.  She lived much of her adult life in the Angola-area until moving to her present home in rural Noble County.

A homemaker for much of her life, she, along with her husband, was a member of the Gold Wing Riders Association.

On February 12, 2001 she was married in Avilla to Ned W. Kahlenbeck.  He survives.

Also surviving are two daughters Dawn Wolf of Fremont and Amber (D. J.) Stone of Garrett; her parents Dwight and Alberta Lanman of Angola; a sister Kitty (Jim) Thompson of Arab, Alabama; a brother Dwight (Kim) Lanman III of Angola; and three grandchildren Victoria Stone, Morgan Stone, and Donavan Stone.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Friday, August 12, 2011, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Lane Burgland, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 5 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Friday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be directed to Shadarobah Horse Rescue, 10113 Goshen Road, Fort Wayne IN 46818

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