Obituaries

Chester Merle Baker

August 30, 1930 to October 4, 2010

WINAMAC -  Chester M. Baker, 80, 322 South St., Winamac, died at 8:41 a.m., Monday, Oct. 4, at RiverCrest Specialty Hospital, Mishawaka.

He was born Aug. 30, 1930 in Headlee to the late George R. and Theresa B. Rex Baker. He married Viola Dunker on Sept. 29, 1974 in Winamac. She survives.

Also surviving are: a sister, Iona Haskins, Monticello; a twin brother, Lester Baker, Monon; and three brothers, Alvin (Virginia) Baker, Logansport, Ora (Rebecca) Baker, Medaryville and Charles Leroy (Martha) Baker, Walton.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Fern Jordan; and two brothers, Harold and Grover.

Mr. Baker was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Korea. He retired from Winamac Steel where he was employed for 24 years.

Friends may call after 1 p.m., Saturday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. (Saturday, Oct. 16), at the funeral home with Cliff Smedstad officiating.

John E. Graves

May 9, 1926 to October 2, 2010

WINAMAC - John E. Graves, 84, of 3961 N 300 W, Winamac, passed away at 10:27 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 2,  in LaPorte Hospital, LaPorte.

He was born May 9, 1926, in Winamac, to the late Colbert and Helen Rausch Graves. He married Elizabeth J. "Betty" Kuhn on Sept. 21, 1948, in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Sandra L. Graves, Portland, OR, Daughter
Gary L. (Karen) Graves, Winamac, Son
Roberta T. Graves, Winamac, Daughter
Beverly J. (Thomas) Bachota, Winamac, Daughter
Cobert A. Graves, Winamac, Son
Tricia D. (Damian) Flaherty, Portland, OR, Granddaughter
Shannon L. Farmer, Kalispell, MT, Grandson
Brenda E. (Richie) Graves-Croom, Indianapolis, Granddaughter
Troy W. (Synde) Hamman, Del Rio, TX, Grandson
Sharon L. (Eric) Graves, Knoxville, TN, Granddaughter & Companion
John T. Graves, Lafayette, Grandson
Brittni E. Hamman, Chicago, Granddaughter
8 Great Grandchildren
Margaret (John) Clements, Fenton, MO, Sister
Eugene Graves, Winamac, Brother

Preceded in death by:
Mary Ziebell, Sister

Mr. Graves was a retired farmer, and a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac. He was an avid pilot with a commericial pilot's license and flew his Tri Pacer for most of his life. He was a member of the Flying Farmers of America and the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. A scriptural wake service will be at 7:30 p.m.  The funeral mass will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday (Oct. 6), at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, with Rev. Martin Sandhage officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to St. Peter's Catholic Church. 

John L. Long

July 7, 1940 to September 30, 2010

MEDARYVILLE - John L. Long, 70, of 530 E. Ada St., Francesville, passed away at 5:15 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at Whispering Pines Rehabilitation Center, Monticello.

He was born July 7, 1940, in Lafayette, to the late Perry Junior and Helen Juanita Jackson Long.

Survivors include:
Bonnie Hughes, Francesville, Sister
Dennis Long, Fort Wayne, Brother
Two Nieces

Mr. Long lived at Lake Shafer for many years. He was a member of the Buffalo Christian Church.

Friends may call from 12 noon until 1 p.m., Saturday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville. A private family funeral service will follow (Saturday, Oct. 2), at the funeral home. Burial will be in Roseland Cemetery, Francesville.

Ruth M. Stiller

December 27, 1923 to September 29, 2010

FRANCESVILLE - Ruth M. Stiller, 86, of 410 Tioga Rd, Monticello, passed away at 1:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Whispering Pines, Monticello.

She was born Dec. 27, 1923, in Peru, to the late Edwin and Lucille Maxwell Jones. She married Waldo V. "Mike" Stiller on Nov. 18, 1942 in Rensselaer. He died Dec. 10, 2004.

Survivors include:
Michael "Mick" (Celeste) Stiller, Indianapolis, Son & daughter-in-law
Cheryl (Roger) Kinney, Advance, NC, Daughter & son-in-law
Brian Stiller, Grandchild
Kim Stiller, Grandchild
Matt Stiller, Grandchild
Greg Stiller, Grandchild
Addison Stiller, Great granddaughter
Jean Rusk, Monon, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Betty Pelley, Sister

Mrs. Stiller owned and operated her own beauty shop in Monon, for 25 years. Following retirement she worked at the Monticello Public Library.

Friends may call from 12 noon to 3 0.m., Saturday, at the Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m., (Saturday, Oct. 2), at the funeral home with Pastor James Ketchen officiating. Burial will be in Roseland Cemetery, Francesville.

Memorial donations may be given to the Diabetes Association or Heart Association.

Robert W. Brockus

June 3, 1937 to September 26, 2010

WINAMAC - Robert "Bob" Wayne Brockus, 73, 26455 S. Hogan Drive, Sun Lakes, AZ (formerly of Culver) died  Sept. 26, at St. Joseph Medical Center, Phoenix.

He was born June 3, 1937, in Argos, to the late Buros and Margaret Maier Brockus. He married Sharon Mowiser on Dec. 29, 1957 at the Walnut Church of the Brethren in Argos. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Debra K. (Mark) Gordon, Winamac, Daughter
Steven W. (Barbara) Brockus, Phoenix, AZ, Son
Whitney Brockus, Granddaughter
Derek Brockus, Grandson
Drew Brockus, Grandson
Konner Brockus, Grandson
Chantal (Kyle) Rensberger, Granddaughter
Vanessa Gordon, Granddaughter
Bria Rensberger, Great-Granddaughter
Mary Batcho, Plymouth, Sister
Bernice (Richard) Erow, Milford, Sister
Evelyn (Warren Maxwell) Bowman, Sturgis, MI, Sister

Preceded in death by:
2 Brothers
4 Sisters

Mr. Brockus and his wife lived in Indiana for many years before moving to Arizona in 1983. He had been an active supporter of the Argos Little League and was a former member of the Lion's Club. He was a member of the St. Steven's Catholic Church in Sun Lakes, AZ.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m., (Friday, Oct. 15), at the funeral home with Rev. Martin Sandhage officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Argos.

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

Theodore J. Dresbaugh

March 5, 1923 to September 25, 2010

WINAMAC - Theodore J. Dresbaugh, 87, of 159 S. Old State Road 14, Winamac, passed away at 5:21 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, at Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus in Valparaiso.

He was born March 5, 1923, in East Chicago, to the late Edward and Delilah Grensburg Dresbaugh. He married Hazel Ruth Hawkins on Aug. 16, 1946 in Crown Point. She died May 2, 2002.

Survivors include:
Mitchell TJ (Kathleen) Dresbaugh, Logansport, Son & Daughter-in-law
Richard Karl Dresbaugh, Wheatfield, Son
James Frederick "Flip" (Elizabeth) Thompson, Auburn, WA, Step Son
Marcella Jean Dresbaugh, San Francisco, CA, Granddaughter
Matthew Ryan Dresbaugh, Hobart, Grandson
Victoria Jo Dresbaugh, Wheatfield, Granddaughter
Elizabeth Ann (Edward) McCall, Hobart, Granddaughter
Conner McCall, Hobart, Great-Grandson
Piper Emily McCall, Hobart, Great-Granddaughter

Preceded in death by:
Jane Dorothy Dresbaugh, Daughter-in-law
Mitchell Thompson, Stepfather
Francis Edward "Buck" Thompson, Brother
Herbert "Toots" Dresbaugh, Brother

Mr. Dresbaugh served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Carlson Raider during Woarld War II. He worked at Youngstown Sheet & Tube (J&L Steel) for 27 years. When he retired, he and Hazel moved to Winamac to live on the Tippecanoe River.

Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m., Wednesday,  at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday (Sept. 30), at the funeral home with Pastor Rick Abbott officiating. Burial will be in Reed Cemetery, Winamac. The VFW and American Legion will conduct military graveside services.

Memorial donations may be given to the American Cancer Society.