Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

David L. Pippenger, age 68, a resident of Blue Lake Churubusco, Indiana died early Sunday in his residence following a lengthy illness. He was receiving care from Visiting Nurse Service and Hospice Home and his loving and attentive family

David was born May 15, 1940 in Noble County, Indiana a son of the late Ted and Carnie (Herron) Pippenger. As a young man he formed an avid interest in airplanes and became a certified pilot. He went on to fly and own many airplanes and was very skilled in his aviation endeavors. He also enjoyed greatly; boating, NASCAR, and his beloved Canada. He was the owner/operator of the Churubusco Lift Truck, Inc. from 1985 until retiring in 2003.

On October 10, 1970 he was united in marriage to his wife of 37 years, Betty Jane Schiek. They lived at Blue Lake for many years. His survivors include his wife Betty, their children Randy (Sandra) Pippenger of Rome City, Indiana, Les (Laurie) Hossinger of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Teresa (Richard) (Pippenger) Hyser of Roanoke, Indiana. Four brothers, Phillip (Norma) Pippenger, Jim (Carolyn) Pippenger, Ted (Terri) Pippenger all of Churubusco, Indiana and Dan (Linda) Pippenger of Gibson, Florida. Four sisters, Esther Anderson, Dorcas (Tod) Pressler both of Churubusco, Indiana Ruth Pressler of Columbia City, Indiana and Naomi (Paul) Coats of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Also 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother Paul Pippenger.

There will be no calling hours or services. Sheets and Childs Funeral Home of Churubusco, Indiana are entrusted with the arrangements. For those who wish memorials may be directed to the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home 5910 Homestead Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814

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Robert E. Shlater, 80, a resident of Churubusco, died at 7:29 a. m. on Friday, August 22, 2008, at his residence. He had been in failing health for the past two years, and had been seriously ill for the past week.

Mr. Shlater was born in Fort Wayne on June 3, 1928, a son of Willis and Mildred (Schroeder) Shlater. He moved with his parents to Churubusco in 1932, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1946.

As a young man he worked as a car salesman for the former Floyd’s Auto Sales in Churubusco, and later for other auto dealers. He owned and operated Bob’s Auto Sales in Churubusco from 1971 to 1997.

An avid pilot, he had been a successful flight instructor for many years. He enjoyed motorcycles and car racing, and was a former track champion at the Warsaw Motor Speedway. A member of the Churubusco Town Council from 1992 to 2000, he was a member of the Fort Wayne Greater Aviation Museum.

On March 24, 1947 he was married in Columbia City to Betty J. Weigold. She preceded him in death on May 22, 1978. He later married Jeannette “Jan” (Derrow) Hollopeter in Fort Wayne on September 15, 1984. She survives.

Other surviving relatives include his children Stephen L. Shlater of Markle, Robert L. (Karen) Shlater of Huntington, William E. (Becky) Shlater of Port Orange, Fla., Sondra Shlater of Churubusco, and James A. (fiancee Jan Shamo) Shlater of Fort Wayne; his step-children Wesley (Carrie) Hollopeter, Shane Hollopeter, and Kimberly Hollopeter, all of Fort Wayne, and Tonya Hollopeter of Houston, Tx; a brother James (Bobbie) Shlater of Columbia City; a sister Sue (Wayne) Putt of Fort Wayne; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was also preceded in death by a son Richard C. “Duke” Shlater on July 23, 1974.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 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 mortuary from 2 to 8 p. m. on Tuesday.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, 2270 Lake Avenue, suite 200, Fort Wayne, IN 46805; or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-4401.

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Arthur Nicholas Keister, 60, and Pamela Sue Keister, 57, of rural Albion in Green Township, died Wednesday evening at State Roads 40 and 60 near Jones, Michigan, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Mr. Keister was born on December 1, 1947 in Wolf Lake, a son of Arthur L. and Betty (Brackney) Keister. He spent his formative years in Noble Township, and graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1966. As a young man he served in Vietnam with the U. S. Army, and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Mrs. Keister was born on June 17, 1951 in Huntington, a daughter of Floyd and Waneta (Kennedy) Brown, and spent her formative years near Mount Etna. She graduated from Huntington North High School in 1969, earned her bachelor’s degree from Taylor University in 1973, and received her master’s degree from IPFW. As a young woman she was employed as an elementary teacher at the Wolf Lake Elementary School.

On February 5, 1977 the couple were married in Merriam, and lived all of their married lives in Noble County. In recent years they both operated a small produce farm in Green Township.

Mr. Keister had been employed at BAE Systems in Fort Wayne for 38 years, retiring from there in 2005. He was a member and deacon of the Merriam Christian Chapel, and was an AWANA leader. In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing and playing basketball, and most especially loved his family, his church, and his Lord.

A member and deaconess of the Merriam Christian Chapel, Mrs. Keister was also a member of the church’s Sarah’s Circle, and was an AWANA leader. She enjoyed cooking, and most importantly loved her family, her church, and her Lord.

The couple are survived by their children Dr. Jennifer (Michael) Lortie of Kimmell, and David N. (Lindsay) Keister of Wolcottville.

Also surviving Mr. Keister are his parents Arthur L. and Betty Keister of Albion; a twin sister Jane (Harold) Weaver of Albion; a brother Dan (Mary) Keister of Albion; his in-laws Floyd and Waneta Brown of Warren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Keister is also survived by her parents Floyd and Waneta Brown of Warren; a sister Karen Brown of Roanoke; two brothers Terrill (Teresa) Brown of Pierceton, and Steve (Jayne) Brown of Cortland, Ohio; her in-laws Arthur L. and Betty Keister of Albion; and several nieces and nephews.

Joint funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Keister will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday, August 26, at the Merriam Christian Chapel, with Pastor Terry L. Zolman, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church multi-purpose room on Monday from 2 to 8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Merriam Christian Chapel, 3985 South U. S. 33, Albion, IN 46701; or Gideon’s International, P. O. Box 863, Kendallville, IN 46755

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Betty L. Henline 84, a resident of Fort Wayne and a native of Columbia City, died at 8:08 a. m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.. Although she had suffered a stroke earlier in the month, her condition was improving until she was stricken with another stroke on Monday.

Mrs. Henline was born near Columbia City on May 21, 1924, a daughter of Levi L. and Grace V. (Smith) Harman, and spent her formative years in Whitley County. She graduated from Columbia City High School in 1942, and attended the Fort Wayne Gospel Temple Bible College.

As a young woman she was employed in the baby department of the former Wolf & Dessauer Department Store in Fort Wayne, and was married on January 5, 1945 in Fort Wayne to Robert E. Henline.

She had taught for Child Evangelism for a number of years, and for many years was manager of the Fort Wayne Gospel Temple Book Shop.

A member of the Westview Alliance Church in Fort Wayne, she volunteered in the office there for ten years. She was also a member of the Senior Saints vocal ensemble.

Mr. Henline preceded her in death on June 28, 1983.

The surviving relatives include her children Gary L. (Sue) Henline of Phoenix, Ariz., and Sue Ellyn (Stephen) Dannenfelser and Caryn G. Freeman, both of Fort Wayne; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers Virgil Harman and Gerald Harman.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p. m. on Sunday, August 24, in the Westview Alliance Church, 9804 Illinois Road, with Pastor Bob Petty, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 10 a. m. until noon and from 1 to 3 p. m. There will also be calling one hour prior to the funeral on Sunday afternoon.

Interment will be in the Poe Cemetery, Allen County.

Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco is in charge of the arrangements.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Westview Youth Scholarship Fund, 9804 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804; or Feed the Children, P. O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73101-0036

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Dennis L. Cramer, age 55, a resident of Churubusco, Indiana died suddenly Saturday night August 9, 2008 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana of an apparent heart attack. He had been treated in the past for heart related illnesses.

Dennis was born March 27, 1953 in Fort Wayne, Indiana a son of the late Wilbur L. and Catherine L. (Lynch) Cramer. For most of his life he lived in Churubusco, and as a young man graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne with the class of 1971. He worked at Precision Heat Treat Company in Fort Wayne for over 20 years and was the night supervisor. He loved coaching little league baseball in Churubusco for 20 years.

He is survived by his brother Michael (Marilyn) Cramer of Huntertown, Indiana; his sisters Lisa K. Miller of Fort Wayne,Indiana, Monica (Thomas) Lang of La Otto, Indiana, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother Patrick T. Cramer.

Calling hours for Dennis will be held Wednesday August 13, 2008 from 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. in the Sheets and Childs Funeral Home where a rosary services will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Family burial will take place at a later date.

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