Obituaries

Lester A. Hurlburt

August 27, 1962 to January 14, 2011

WINAMAC - Lester A. Hurlburt Jr, 48, of 706 S. West St., Winamac, passed away at 11:33 a.m., Friday, Jan. 14, 2011 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

He was born Aug.  27, 1962, in Logansport, to Lester and Caroline Jylland Hurlburt Sr. He married Melissa Grandstaff on March 24, 1990 in Winamac. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Cassie M. Hurlburt, Winamac,  Daughter
Cheyenne N. Hurlburt, Winamac, Daughter
Savannah F. Hurlburt, Winamac, Daughter
Lester A. (Barbara) Hurlburt Sr., Winamac, Father
Benjamin (Daphne) Hurlburt, Star City, Brother
Caroline Calvert, Kentland, Sister
Rex (Jessica) Hurlburt, Winamac, Brother
Betty (Jon) Crissinger, Winamac, Sister
Jennifer Hurlburt, Winamac, Sister
Carol Grandstaff, Winamac, Mother-in-law

He was preceded in death by:
Caroline Jylland Lockridge, Mother

Mr. Hurlburt had worked as a welder at Galbreath Inc. in Winamac and at Sabre Manufacturing in Knox.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday (Jan. 18), at Winamac Cemetery, Winamac, with Pastor Carl Lendermon officiating.

Memorial donations may be given to the family.

Wayne E. Agnew

January 2, 1916 to January 1, 2011

KOKOMO - Wayne Elbert Agnew, 94, Kokomo, died at 1:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, in the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo.

He was born Jan. 2, 1916, in Winamac, the son of Robert and Bessie (Zellers) Agnew. He married Helen Straley on May 6, 1949, and she survives.

Also surviving are four children, David Agnew, Kokomo, Gary Agnew and his wife, Pat, Noblesville, Myrna Fields and her husband, Richard, Spencer, and Connie Schneck and her husband, Gary, West Lafayette; 10 grandchildren, Jason Hinkle and his wife, Ling, Susan Braswell and her husband, Chris, Lindsey Baugh and her husband, Joe, Matthew McNulty, Michael Agnew, Gary N. Schneck and his fiance, Christina Weintraut, Darci Schneck and her fiance, Chad Steiner, Kelly Agnew, and Mason Riley Fields and Ethan Fields; seven great-grandchildren, Clara and Jillian Braswell, Lillian Baugh, and Kassidy and Adallee Omran; Audrey Steiner and Dean Schneck; and one sister, Lois Sights of South Bend.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Samuel Parker Fields; and two brothers, Richard Agnew and John Agnew.

Mr. Agnew grew up in Frankfort and graduated from Frankfort High School. He went to work right out of high school to support his mother and family. He worked at the Frankfort Times where he ran a small printing press and worked with the binder. He later worked in the print shop at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, where he printed menus, announcements and news. Later employment included the Grunow Co. in Marion, where he did alignment and radio reject repairs. He attended electronic schooling and had an engineering career at Delco Radio for 42 years. Delco appointed him senior project engineer, and he maintained this position until retirement in 1980. He was a member of the Kokomo Engineering Society.

Mr. Agnew enjoyed his experiences as a HAM Radio Operator, becoming licensed at the age of 16, and was known with the call letters W9LOF. He was a member of the Howard County Ham Radio Club and the American Radio Relay League. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and achieved the rank of ETM 2nd Class. He was an active member of First Christian Church, serving as an elder and elder emeritus. He had also been active in the Masonic Lodge in earlier years. He loved to travel and favorite destinations included Australia, Ireland and Russia.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, at the church. The funeral will follow at 7 p.m., (Wednesday, Jan. 5) at First Christian Church, 854 N. Malfalfa Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Will Jewsbury officiating. A reception will be held following the service at Fellowship Hall. A committal service is 11 a.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Love at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery with military rites provided by the U.S. Navy and the Howard County Military Rites Team.

Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church. Shirley and Stout Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements.

Joyce Connell

December 10, 1932 to December 28, 2010

NILES, MICH. - Joyce Connell, 78, of Coquillard Drive, Niles, Mich., died at 11:48 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following a brief illness.

She was born Dec. 10, 1932 in Winamac, to John Conn and Pearl Kistler Conn. She moved to Niles in 1958 from Mishawaka. She married Sidney Lee Connell on Feb. 27, 1954 in Winamac. He died April 21, 1994.

She is survived by her daughters, Cara Connell of Buchanan and Kelly Connell of Niles; stepson, Roscoe (Kaye) Connell of Quinton, Va.; grandsons, Christopher (Tina) Connell, Matthew Connell, Jeremey (Becca) Bachman and Zach Bachman; five great-grandchildren; brother, Edward Conn of Tuscon, Ariz.; nieces, Julie Ratz and Joan Ratz; nephew, John Ratz; and several other special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Carla Jean Connell, who died July 10, 1956; sister, Carol Conn–Ratz; and brother, Richard Conn.

Mrs. Connell had been employed at the office of Doctors Lindenfeld, Camp, Kilic in Niles. She was a former member of First Presbyterian Church in Winamac. She graduated from Winamac High School in 1950 and from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1953.

After working at the doctors’ office, she was later employed at Berrien General Hospital, Healthwin and Partner Health Insurance Co.

Friends may call beginning one hour prior to services at the church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday (Dec. 31), at Pokagon United Methodist Church, Niles with the Rev. Patricia Haas of the church officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial donations may be made to The Old Rugged Cross Foundation or National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

Amos J. Peterson

March 31, 1924 to January 12, 2011

WINAMAC - Amos J. Peterson, 86, of 4770 E 400 N, Monterey, passed away at 5:40 a.m.. Wednesday, Jan. 12,  in St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.

He was born March 31, 1924 in Monterey, the son of the late George and Clara Ollie Braden Peterson.  He married to Sarah Kathryn Reinholt on March 31, 1949, in Winamac.  She passed away on Nov. 29, 2007.

Survivors include:

Jane (Jarrel) Hartle, Monterey, Daughter
Judy (Loren) Hartz, Plymouth, Daughter
Jenny (Michael) McGraw, Zionsville, Daughter
Mark Peterson, Logansport, Son
Ginger (Jim) Boys, Valparaiso, Daughter
Steven Hartle, San Pierre, Grandson
Michael Hartle, Shirley, Grandson
Janell Hartle, Fort Wayne Granddaughter
Jacob Hartle, Chicago, IL, Grandson
Andrew (Kimberly) Hartz, Pendleton, Grandson
Jason (Jessica) Hartz, Mount Pleasant, OH, Grandson
Phillip (Ann) Hartz, Naperville, IL, Grandson
Sarah McGraw, Zionsville, Granddaughter
Joshua McGraw, Zionsville, Grandson
Jordan McGraw, Zionsville, Grandson
Matthew Peterson, Monterey,  Grandson
Brandon Boys, Champaign, IL, Grandson
Erica (Matt) Waggoner, Indianapolis, Granddaughter
Noah Boggs, Fort Wayne, Great Grandson
Kat White, Bedford, Great Granddaughter
Ayddan Hartle, Bedford, Great Grandson
Shadow Watson, Bedford, Great Great Granddaughter

Preceded in death by:

George A. Peterson, Grandson
Harold K. Peterson, Brother
Donald G. Peterson, Brother

Mr. Peterson was a retired farmer and was also a retired heavy equipment operator Level A for NIPSCO, retiring after 25 years. He was a member of the Lawton Christian Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.  He was also a charter member of the VFW Post #1728, Winamac. He was an accomplished musician with the ability to play many instruments, and played professionally for many years with his wife Sarah.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Monday (Jan. 17), at the funeral home with Rev. Jarrel Hartle officiating. Burial will be in McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.  A military graveside service will be conducted by the VFW and the American Legion.

Memorial donations may be given to Lawton Christian Church.

Kenneth Lee Strayer

June 22, 1941 to January 11, 2011

WINAMAC - Kenneth Lee Strayer, 69, of 1937 S. U.S. 35, Winamac, passed away at 3 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 11,  in his residence.

He was born June 22, 1941, in Black Oak, Ind., to the late Merle and Elnora Melcher Strayer. His first marriage was to JoAnn Jones. He was then married on June 22, 2009, in Winamac, to Karen L. Foster Brown. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Mykel Boyles, Hobart, Daughter
Donna (Omar) Leal, Gary, Daughter
Kenneth Edward (Judy) Strayer, Gary, Son
5 Grandchildren
Larry (Audrey) Strayer, Crown Point, Brother
Janet Neilson, Gary, Sister
Louise (Lloyd) Mason, Ora, Sister
Donna (Robert) Lee, Schererville, Sister
Barbara Anderson, Gary, Sister
Several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceded in death by
JoAnn Jones Strayer, First Wife
Gary Strayer, Brother

Mr. Strayer lived in Winamac for the past 19 months to enjoy the Tippecanoe River, coming from Gary, where he lived all of his life. He was an ironworker for 49 years and member of the Ironworkers Local 395.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday, at the Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday (Jan. 14), at the funeral home with Pastor Denny Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Leiters Ford Cemetery.

Annetta Johnson

August 30, 1946 to January 9, 2011

WINAMAC - Annetta F. Johnson, 64, of 503 W. Eastlawn Road, Burnettsville, formerly of Star City, passed away at 11:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9, in her residence.

She was born Aug. 30, 1946 in Logansport, to Walker and Virginia Holcomb Pugh. She was married on Dec. 12, 1967, in Winamac, to Alan G. Johnson. He survives.

Also surviving are:
Shannon Wade (Karen) Johnson, Ashford, CT, Son
Joseph Alan Johnson, Chicago, Son
Sarah Margaret Johnson, Ashford, CT, Granddaughter
Eric Alan Johnson, Ashford, CT, Grandson
Virginia Steele, Winamac, Mother
Robin Pugh, Hoagland, Brother

Preceded in death by:
Walker Pugh, Father
Eva Marie Johnson, Daughter
William Henry Steele, Step Father

Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Star City United Methodist Church. She was a former employee of Orion Safety Products in Peru. She also had been a self-employed beautician in Star City. She was a graduate of Logansport High School and Wright's Beauty College, Logansport. She was proud of her Cherokee heritage.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday (Jan. 13), at Star City West Cemetery, Star City, with Rev. Brian Smith officiating.

Memorial donations may be given to Renal Cell Kidney Cancer Research, Hope Hospice, Rochester,or the Star City United Methodist Church.