Obituaries

John B. Riggs

August 13 1917 to May 16, 2014

GALVESTON - John Bryon (JB) Riggs, a World War II veteran who taught at area high schools for more than 35 years, died Friday, May 16, at Northwoods Village, Kokomo. He was 96.

He was born in Johnson County on Aug. 13, 1917 to the late Charles and Meta (Saltwell) Riggs. He married Sara Martha Miner, his wife of nearly 63 years, in Windfall on June 17, 1951. She survives.

Also surviving are his children Susan (Rick) Rust, Kokomo; Tom (Marsha), Galveston; and Bob (Misty), Alabaster, Alabama; and a niece and several nephews.

He was preceded in death by siblings Naomi Ruth Budd and Homer, Helen, and Marie Riggs.

Mrs. Riggs grew up in Francesville and graduated from high school in 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Purdue University. He started teaching vocational agriculture and farming practices at Galveston High School in 1941. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Army Air Corps at the rank of tech sergeant as a weather forecaster stationed in North Africa and Italy. He returned to teaching at Galveston High School in 1946 and started teaching at Kokomo High School in 1957. He retired in 1981 from Haworth High School, where he had taught biology and related sciences. At Haworth, he started the outdoor science lab.

Mr. Riggs was an active member of the Galveston United Methodist church, where he taught the Willing Workers Sunday School class for more than 50 years. He was a charter member of the Galveston Lions Club, a member of the Galveston American Legion, and a member of the Howard County Retired Teachers. For more than 30 years he was a 4-H club leader in Cass County.

In 1958 the family bought a 1939 International school bus and converted it into a motor-home. “Alice in Wonderland” took JB and Sara (with family) to every state capital, except Hawaii, and every provincial capital of capital of Canada – more than 250,000 miles.

The family would like to thank the many former students who have stayed in touch with Mr. Riggs over the years. The family would also like to thank the wonderful people at Reflections of Wellington for their care of Mr. Riggs for the last two and one-half years.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday; and one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday (May 20) at the Galveston United Methodist Church. Pastor Roy Ice will officiate. Burial services will be held a Galveston Cemetery following the funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Galveston United Methodist Church memorial fund, PO Box 639, Galveston, Indiana 46932.

Murray Weaver Funeral Home in Galveston assisted the family with arrangements.

Bonnie Rausch

January 4, 1929 to May 11, 2014

WINAMAC - Bonita "Bonnie" Rausch, 85, Winamac, passed away at 8:16 p.m., Sunday, May 11, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

She was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, to the late Elliott H. and Margaret A. Lenzner Brady. She married Daniel Raymond Rausch on March 30, 1948, in Pulaski, IN. He passed away May 30, 1996.

Survivors include:

Christine (Bob ) Smith, Winamac, Daughter
Judy (Butch) Fitz, Winamac, Daughter
Jeannie Neff, Winamac, Daughter
Tony Rausch, Winamac, Son
Barney (Patti-Jo) Rausch, Winamac, Son
8 Grandchildren
5 Great Grandchildren
Juan Knarr, Winamac, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Mark Rausch, Son
Virginia Koepkey, Sister
Franklin Brady, Brother
William Brady, Brother

Mrs. Raush attended Pulaski High School. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Northern Indiana Power From the Past, Tops, Cops and the Pulaski County Historical Society. She frequently served on the Franklin Twp election team. She was a frequent blood donor.

She grew a business known as "Bonnie's Punkins" from a self-serve change bucket in the 1960s, located north of Winamac. Generations of neighboring school children enjoyed the pumpkin patch. Mrs. Rausch enjoyed feeding birds, crocheting snow flakes and afghans. She logged over 60,000 miles on her bicycle "Blue Boy." She frequently roller skated down US 35 and hiked for hours in the Tippecanoe River State Park. She also enjoyed picking flowers and berries that she used to make jams and jellies. She was known to push mow her three acres in the sweltering heat while wearing her tube top and short shorts. She pulled weeds while cursing them. She would then throw them into her eternally smoldering burn pile. Her favorite saying was "I never met a flower that I didn't love".

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, (May 14), at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, with Rev. Bert Woolson officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to Friends of the Tippecanoe River State Park.