Sheets and Childs Funeral Home

Martha Jane Johnson, 83, a resident of rural Albion and widow of Roderick C. Johnson, passed away on Sunday afternoon, January 9, 2012, at the home of her son in Green Township.  Although she had been in declining health, her death was unexpected.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Green Township in Noble County on August 17, 1928, a daughter of Samuel “Archie” and Clara L. (Ott) Friskney.  She spent her formative years on the family farm there, and graduated from Albion High School.

On August 17, 1946 she was married in Wolf Lake to Roderick C. Johnson.  She lived all of her adult life in Green Township, where she was a homemaker.  She attended the Sugar Grove Church of God, north of Churubusco.  Most importantly, “her family was her life.”

Mr. Johnson preceded her in death on March 6, 1999.

The surviving relatives include three children Phyllis (Dan) Ferguson of Churubusco, and Mary Lou (Danny) Biddle and Billy F. Johnson, both of Albion; a son-in-law Bill Nicodemus of Columbia City; a brother Merle “Bud” Friskney of Arvada, Colorado; 21 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sons infant Harold Samuel Johnson in 1963 and Willis Johnson in 1979; a daughter Patricia A. Nicodemus in 2011; four brothers John Friskney, James Friskney, Boyd Friskney, and Willis Friskney; and a grandson Jonathan Nicodemus.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Friday, January 13, 2012, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Timothy Grable, pastor of Sugar Grove Church of God, officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m. Thursday at the funeral home, or one hour prior to the service Friday morning.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

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

Dorothy I. Brockhaus, 87, a resident of Churubusco and widow of Edward Brockhaus, Jr., passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 at 9:55 p. m. at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.  She had been a patient there for the past month.

Mrs. Brockhaus was born on January 26, 1924 in Defiance, Ohio, a daughter of John and Daisy (Boterf) Lipp.  She spent her formative years in that area and graduated from Sherwood Delaware High School in 1941.

On September 18, 1943 she was married in New Haven to Edward Brockhaus, Jr.  The couple lived in Fort Wayne until moving to Churubusco in 1983.  He preceded her in death that same year.

She had been employed in the offices at the Borden Ice Cream in Fort Wayne for 19 years, and after the company closed, she worked at Shroyer’s Variety & Hardware in Churubusco for several years.

She was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Churubusco, its Rosary Society and St. Vincent dePaul Society, and was also a member of the Churubusco Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary Post 3846.

The surviving relatives include her children Larry (Sue) Brockhaus and Rick (Penny) Brockhaus, both of Churubusco, Sandy (Jim) Maggert of Columbia City, and Pat (Jerry) Cox of Goshen; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers Harold Lipp and John Lipp, Jr; and by four sisters Mildred Rehmer, Esther Parker, Mabel Culler, and Ethel Sohn.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a. m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, in St. John Bosco Catholic Church with Father Edward Erpelding, the celebrant.

The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p. m., or after 10:30 a. m. Wednesday.  St. Vincent dePaul Society will conduct memorial services at 7:45 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home, followed byThe Rosary at 8 p. m.

Entombment will be in the mausoleum at Highland Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the St. Vincent dePaul Society c/o St. John Bosco Catholic Church, 220 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN  46723

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

Micheal E. Sherman, 72, a resident of Urbana, Ohio and formerly of Churubusco, passed away at 3:23 p. m. on Thursday, December 29, 2011, at his home.

Mr. Sherman was born on May 26, 1939 in Arcola, a son of Virgil C. and Edna (Butler) Sherman.  His early years were spent in the Arcola-area until moving to Noble County near Merriam with his parents.  He graduated from Wolf Lake High School.

Employed by International Harvester for over 37 years, he first worked at their plant in Fort Wayne and later moved with the company to their operations in Springfield, Ohio, retiring in inventory control in 1999.

He was a member of the Maiden Lane Church of God in Springfield, and in his leisure time enjoyed hunting and fishing.  Most importantly he loved and cherished his family.

On April 14, 1973 he was married in Auburn to Karen S. Boylan.  She survives.

Also surviving are two sons Steven M. (Joy) Sherman of Springfield, Ohio and Weston E. Sherman of Columbus, Ohio; four brothers Norman Sherman of Churubusco, Phil (Grace) Sherman of Cromwell, Willard “Willie” (Salley) Sherman of Albion, and Rick (Lisa) Sherman of Columbia City; four sisters Barbara (James) Campbell of Columbia City, Nancy Sherman of Merriam, and Kathy (Jay) Hostetler and Jennifer (Mike) Patterson, both of Albion; and a grandson Elijah Sherman.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers Clyde “Red” Sherman, Lester “Les” Sherman, Paul Sherman, and Kerry Sherman; and by a sister Janice Mann.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 in Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Merriam with Pastor George Cecil, officiating.

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

Interment will be on Wednesday in the Oakdale Cemetery, Urbana, Ohio.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Community Mercy Hospice, 444 W. Harding Rd., Springfield, OH  45504

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

Dorothy J. Mittendorf, 86, a resident of Huntertown and wife of Ralph Mittendorf, Jr., passed away at 2:26 p. m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Garrett.  She had been in declining health for some time, and had been a patient at the nursing home for the past five and one-half weeks.

Mrs. Mittendorf was born on December 17, 1925 in Summitville, a daughter of Stephen and Myrtle (Poindexter) Ellsworth.  She spent her formative years in Madison County, and graduated from Summitville High School in 1943.

On February 1, 1947 she was married in Detroit, Michigan to Ralph Mittendorf, Jr.  The couple lived most of their adult lives in Huntertown, where she was a member of the Huntertown United Methodist Church, its United Methodist Women, and the Perry Township Homemakers.  In addition, she enjoyed her church activities, was an expert cook, and most especially loved and cherished her family.

She had formerly been employed in the cafeteria at Huntertown School and Carroll High School, and later retired in 1991 from food services at the Byron Health Center.

The surviving relatives include her husband Ralph, Jr., to whom she was married for over 64 years; her son David L. (Cathy) Mittendorf of Huntertown; a brother Jerome J. Ellsworth of Dearborn, Mich; a sister Barbara Weber of Rock Island, Ill; four grandchildren Joel (Kassie) Davis of St. Joe, Lisa (Ryan) Heyn of Huntertown, Ben (Emily) Davis of Auburn, and Greg (Molly) Mittendorf of Fort Wayne; and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter Connie S. Davis on February 8, 2009.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, December 31, 2011, in the Huntertown United Methodist Church, 16021 Lima Road, with Pastor Greg Hiatt, 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 Huntertown Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Huntertown United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 426, Huntertown, IN  46748

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

Audra M. Hatch, a resident of Churubusco and wife of Walter L. Hatch, went to be with her Lord peacefully on Sunday, December 18, 2011, at the family home.

Mrs. Hatch was born in Fort Wayne, a daughter of John Alva and Iva (McCullough) Powell, and spent the majority of her life in Churubusco.

On May 29, 1945 she was married in Columbia City to Walter L. Hatch.  She had been employed for many years at the former Bangs Five & Dime in Churubusco, and later owned and operated S & A Variety in Columbia City for nine years.

She had been a member of the former Ari Church of God for many years, and attended Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco.

The surviving relatives include her husband Walter, to whom she was married for over 66 years; her son Vaughn (Janet) Hatch of Springdale, Ark; two sisters Janet (Francis “Junior”) Bianski of Churubusco and Rita (Norman) Rowe of Avilla; a niece that she raised Sharon (Michael) Geiger of Columbia City; and two grandchildren Lisa Hatch of Rogers, Ark., and Michael Hatch of Ark.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother John Powell; and by four sisters Alice Kirkpatrick, Marge Davidson, Nancy Darrol, and Eleanor Richardson.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, in the Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco with Pastor Edward A. Thompson, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church on Wednesday after 11 a. m. until the hour of the service.

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

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Indiana University Cancer Research.

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