Obituaries

Richard Franko

December 2, 1932 to June 19, 2013

WINAMAC - Richard Franko, 80, Winamac (formerly of Chicago and Fontana, CA), passed away Wednesday, June 19, at his home in Winamac.

He was born Dec. 2, 1932 in Chicago to the late Joseph and Mary Hochevar Franko.
He is survived by:
Many Nieces and Nephews
Edith Michielsen, Winamac, Companion

Preceded in death by:
Joseph "Joe" (Josephine) Franko, Brother & Sister-in-law
Edward (Molly) Franko, Brother & Sister-in-law
Marie (Louis) Kukman, Sister & Brother-in-law
Virginia (Thomas) Langbeen, Sister & Brother-in-law
Frances (Steve) Kasperzyk, Sister & Brother-in-law
Raymond W. (Mary) Franko, Brother & Sister-in-law
Lawrence Franko, Brother
Albert "Skip" Franko, Brother
2 Nieces

Mr. Franko grew up on the East Side of Chicago. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. When he returned from Korea, he moved to Fontana with his family. He served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves. While living in California, he worked at Kaiser Steel. He retired from the steel mill and went to work for the Fontana School District. He retired from the school in 1994 and moved to Winamac in 1995. He enjoyed living in Winamac very much.

Mr. Franko was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #748 in Knox, and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #220 in Chicago. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Winamac. He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Winamac. He was a caring and generous man. He acted as a caretaker for many family members over the years. "Uncle Rich" will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m., Sunday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m., Monday (June 24), at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, with Rev. Ambrose Ziegler officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac. The VFW and American Legion will conduct military graveside services.

Memorial donations may be given to the Wounded Warrior Project or Knox VFW.

Orville L. Rife

April 22, 1922 to June 20, 2013

WINAMAC - Orville L. Rife, 91, a lifetime resident of Winamac, died at 4:55 a.m., Thursday, June 20, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

He was born April 22, 1922 in Winamac to the late Burvie and Dorothy Faye White Rife. He married Lucille Mae Goble on Sept. 30, 1944 in Francesville. She passed away Nov. 28, 2003. He married Gertrude "Gert" Bleicher Stout on April 10, 2004 in Francesville. She survives.

Also surviving are: 
Carol R. (Mike) Hoffman, Winamac, Daughter
Naomi L. (Joe) Murphy, Winamac, Daughter
Harold O. Rife, Indianapolis, Son
Donald E. (Jean) Rife, Winamac, Son
John D. (Julie) Rife, Gonzales, LA, Son
Randal E. (Jill) Rife, Logansport, Son
Samuel E. (Connie) Rife, Winamac, Son
Alvin K. (Cheryl) Stout, Winamac, Step Son
Kurt D. (Michaela) Stout, Star City, Step Son
Larry E. (Laura) Stout, Winamac, Step Son
20 Grandchildren
23 Great Grandchildren
Elnora G. Jordon, Winamac, Sister
Shirley M. Beckner, Winamac, Sister
Calvin (Virginia) Rife, Highland, Brother
Mary Ann Rife, Winamac, Sister-in-law
Gloria Rife, Winamac, Sister-in-law
Evelyn Powers, Winamac, Sister-in-law
Donald Goble, Sun City West, AZ, Brother-in-law
Philip Lemeron, Winamac, Brother-in-law
Several Nieces & Nephews

Preceded in death by
3 Grandchildren
Andrea Nicole Rife, Great Granddaughter
Alysa Pearl Allen, Great Granddaughter
Gerald Rife, Brother
JB Rife, Brother

Mr. Rife was a member of the First Baptist Church in Francesville. He was also a member and co-founder of the Prisoners for Christ Missions. He worked as a machinist for Standard Auto and William Gehring Farms. He retired Jan. 1, 1987. He enjoyed horses and giving rides at the Power From the Past. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by his friends and family, as well as the prisoners he ministered to.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the First Baptist Church, Francesville; and one hour prior to services at the church Friday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday (June 28), at the church (corner of State and Yellow Streets) Francesville, with Pastor Dennis Gutwein officiating. Burial will be in Paul's Chapel Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to the First Baptist Church of Francesville.

Rose Brinkmann

February 10, 1925 to June 19, 2013

WINAMAC - Rose Maurie Brinkmann, 88, of Winamac, passed away at 11:40 a.m., Wednesday, June 19, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital, Winamac.

She was born Feb. 10, 1925, in Indianapolis, to the late Herman Alfred and Georgia Allison Thompson Bauer. She married Francis William "Bill" Brinkmann on Sept. 11, 1948 in Indianapolis. He died Oct. 6, 1997.

Survivors include
Linda (Dan) Murphy, Winamac, Daughter
Mary Jane Rhodes, Winamac, Daughter
Lisa (Patrick) Doud,Oswego, Daughter
Charles Brinkmann, Hot Springs, AR, Son
Gregory (Sue) Brinkmann, Brookfield, WI, Son
James (Margaret) Brinkmann, St. Louis, Son
Edward Brinkmann, Northbrook, IL, Son
Bradley Brinkmann Northbrook, IL Son
Grandchildren: Karen Murphy, Kevin (Alyssa) Murphy, Holly Brinkmann, Christoph Brinkmann, Eric Brinkmann, Nicholas Rhodes, Timothy (Laura) Brinkmann, Joel Brinkmann, Daniel (Emily) Brinkmann and Balin Doud.
4 Great Grandchildren

She was preceded in death by:
Joan Bauer, Sister

Mrs. Brinkmann was a member of the St. Peter's Catholic Church in Winamac. She was also a member of the Christian Mothers. She and her husband moved to Winamac in 1990. She loved spending time with her family.

Friends may call from4 to 8 p.m., Friday, at Frain Mortuary,Winamac. A rosary service will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a Christian Mothers service and a scriptural wake service. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m., Saturday (June 22), at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, with Rev. Bert Woolson and Rev. Ambrose Ziegler officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of the donor's choice.

Warren D. Short

April 8, 1923 to June 19, 2013

WINAMAC - Warren D. Short, 90, Winamac, died at 2:05 a.m., Wednesday, June 19, at the Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

He was born April 8, 1923, in Winchester, to the late J. Milton and Bessie Hiatt Short. He married Elsie Brown on Aug. 24, 1951, in Arba Friends Church near Lynn, IN. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Leonard M. (Carol) Short, Winamac, Son
Evelyn R. (Bernard) Regier, Newton, KA, Daughter
Grandchildren: Michelle A.(Tim) Bowyer, Leonard W. Short, Natalie L. Shidler, Jacob K. Short, Abigail Regier, Gretchen Regier and Bernard K. Regier.
15 Great Grandchildren
1 Great Great Grandchildren
Naoma Girton, Richmond, Sister
Roy (Patty) Short, Lynn, IN Brother
Howard (Mary) Short, Racine, WI, Brother

He was preceded in death by:
Palmer Short, Brother
Larry Girton, Brother-in-law
Jeff Shidler, Grandson-in-law

Mr. Short farmed with his father during his high school years. He attended Earlham College and graduated from Purdue University in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the Phillipines and Japan as part of the Japanese Occupation Force. After graduation from Purdue, he began a career of service to others beginning as a Purdue Extension agent in Johnson, Blackford and Grant counties. He and Elsie served as agriculture missionaries in Kenya East Africa for eight years. While there he established the Lugari Farmer Training Center. Upon their return to the U.S. he became the manager of the Pulaski County Farm Bureau Co-op. After retiring he worked for two years for FHA doing financial couseling with farmers.

Mr. Short was a lifetime member of the Arba Friends Church. He was a member of the Winamac Church of the Nazerene. He was building chairman during the construction of the new church sanctury. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Winamac. He served as trustee and mission chairman. He served on the Pulaski Memorial Hospital Board for three years.

He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. After retirement he and Elsie traveled in their motor home throughout the West and Southwest United States. He enjoyed any kind of construction projects. He was proud to have overseen the construction of the Medaryville Grain Elevator.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac; and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m., Monday (June 24), in Arba Friends Church, Lynn, with Pastor Brooks Martin officiating. Burial will be in Arba Friends Church Cemetery, Lynn, IN.

Memorial donations may be given to Pulaski County 4-H.

Jenay L. Stukofski-Kneece

June 17, 2013

ROYAL CENTER - Infant Jenay Louise Stukofski-Kneece was stillborn at 9:56 a.m., Monday, June 17, at Logansport Memorial Hospital Family Birth Center.

She is survived by her parents, Michael Kneece and Jenessa Stukofski of Kewanna; grandparents, John and Mary Stukofski of Star City and Raymond Eugene Kneece of Circleville, Ohio; great grandparents, Joseph and Carole Kuhn of Winamac; sisters, Alishia, Heather and Lacy Kneece and brothers, David and Michael Kneece, Jr. all of Ohio; uncle, Joseph Stukofski of Winamac and aunts, Cassondra Stukofski of Indianapolis and Rosemary Stukofski of Star City.

She was preceded in death by grandmother, Loretta Louise Kneece and great grandparents, Frank and Alice Stukofski.

A private family service will be held. Interment will be at South St. Joseph Cemetery, Pulaski.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Homes, Royal Center.

Joseph N. Keller

December 4, 1914 to June 10, 2013

CULVER - Joseph Nicholas Keller, 98, passed away at 11 a.m., Monday, June 10, at Hickory Creek Nursing Home, Winamac.

He was born in Monterey, on Dec. 4, 1914, the youngest child of Joseph G. and Maggie (Hartman) Keller.

He leaves several nieces and nephews: Patricia O'Donnell (John), Ruth Zehner (Don), John Keller (Colleen), Tom Keller (Toni), Mary Personett (Gene), Bob Keller (Sheila), Jim Keller (Bertie), Jerry Keller (Rea), Dan Keller (Peggy) and Margie Wise (Tim). He also leaves many great-nieces and nephews and many great-great-nieces and nephews.

A nephew, Clem Keller Jr. (Jean), preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil and Clement Keller, and his sister, Laura Keller.

Mr. Keller lived in the Monterey community his entire life. He attended Holy Family Catholic School and graduated from Monterey High School in 1933. After high school he went to Ball State University for a year, but soon learned that he wanted to return to the farm. He was a lifelong member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Monterey. Until he lost his sight, he was an avid reader. Then he began to listen to books on tape from the state library. His hobbies included listening to and taping music from the radio, especially music from the 30s. He also enjoyed having a garden and several fruit trees. After he retired from farming and milking cows, he took up cooking and baking, always searching for new recipes.

Viewing will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Odom Funeral Home in Culver. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday (June 14), at St. Anne Catholic Church in Monterey. Burial will follow at St. Anne Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the church. The Odom Funeral Home, Culver, is in charge of arrangements.