Obituaries

Bonnie Ruhl

April 28, 1934 to August 3, 2023

ROYAL CENTER - Bonnie (Deam) Ruhl, 89, of Star City, passed away Thursday, Aug. 3, at Hickory Creek Nursing Home in Winamac, surrounded by family.

Born April 28, 1934 to Ralph and Marcella Deam in Ft. Wayne, she grew up in rural Decatur, IN. Bonnie had three younger siblings: Betty, Linda and Margie. She was a graduate of Monmouth High School (Decatur) where she enjoyed cheerleading, playing clarinet in the band, and acting in school plays. She married Dean Ruhl of Hoagland, IN on July 3, 1953. The couple recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. He survives.

Bonnie Ruhl

Also surviving are children Joe (Gail) of West Lafayette; Dana (Kathy) of Delphi; Dan (Linda) of Star City; Mark (Kelly) of Logansport; and Kelly (Penny) of New Castle. The couple have 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Barry Day of Winamac, and a great-grandson, infant William Powlen of Fayetteville, NC.

After high school, Mrs. Ruhl worked at Lincoln Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, until she and husband moved to West Lafayette where he pursued his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at Purdue University, and she remained an avid Purdue basketball fan throughout her life. She enjoyed reading, gardening, swimming, fishing, walks in the woods, and raising her children. In addition to taking care of her five children and maintaining a spotless (she did teach her kids how to clean the kitchen, dust the furniture, and sweep the floors – regularly!), well-organized home, for a time she worked a few evenings a week as a waitress at Italian Gardens and later at the Shafer House in Monticello. In more recent years she worked part time at the video store and beauty shop in Winamac, as well as Oak Grove restaurant in Star City.

Her children (for several years they were a house of five teenagers!) will always remember their mother as a person who had compassion for all people, and who was a loving, devoted wife, as well as a hard-working, yet fun-loving mom with a contagious smile and laugh and a witty sense of humor. Home was a warm, happy place filled with unconditional love, laughter, singing, and the aroma of baking cookies in the kitchen. Precious memories will remain of a mom who taught us how to work and about God’s love for us; a mom who loved people; a mom who taught us to read, played baseball with us, ice skated with us in the woods, taught us to swim, rode bicycles through the countryside with us, dried our tears when needed; and a wise and “with it” counselor mom who we could talk to about absolutely anything.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Star City United Methodist Church, Star City. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 10, at the church with one hour of visitation prior to the service. Final place of rest will be at Victor Chapel Cemetery in rural Star City.

Expressions of sympathy can be messages or donations to Star City United Methodist Church and/or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rans Funeral Homes, Royal Center.

Jacqueline Armstrong

August 11, 1940 to July 31, 2023

WINAMAC - Jacqueline “Jackie” Armstrong, 82, of Beardstown, passed away at 11:55 p.m., Monday, July 31, at Miller’s Merry Manor in Culver.

She was born Aug. 11, 1940 in Monterey, to the late Thomas Woodrow and Marguerite Ruth [Wolfram] Reinholt. She attended Monterey High School where she met Ralph Jacob Armstrong. They were married Feb. 1, 1958 at the Riverbank EUB Church in Tippecanoe Township. He passed away Jan. 20, 2003.

Jackie Armstrong

She is survived by:
Mick Armstrong, Beardstown, Son
Pam (Jim) Chumley, Beardstown, Daughter
Jay (Swirv) Podell, Beardstown, Daughter
Grandchildren: Krystal (Josh) Attinger, Jennifer (Sly) Burns, Julie (Jeff) Attinger, Nichole Armstrong, Amber (Dalton) Johnson, Bryanne (Jerry) Smith, Jake Armstrong, Kyle Chumley, Riley Chumley, Dakota Podell, Whitney (Damon) Woods, Michael Chumley, David Chumley, and Cayden Chumley.
Great-Grandchildren: Hailey Attinger, Kylie Attinger, Austin Attinger, Blair Burns, and Zander Smith.
Kay Nies, Winamac, Sister
Donald (Jane) Reinholt, South Bend, Brother
Rick (Sue) Reinholt, Knox, Brother
Marsha DuBois, Palmer, AK, Sister
Many Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Peggy Sue Armstrong, Daughter
Patricia Greene, Sister
Bill Reinholt, Brother

Mrs. Armstrong worked for Kewanna Metals for over 20 years and later worked as a dispatcher for Alliance EMS for several years. She worked hard her entire life. She liked playing cards, especially Euchre. She raised peacocks and zedonks. She enjoyed hosting family events, especially around the holidays. She was supportive of all of her grandchildren’s activities. Most of all, she loved her family very much. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 4, at the funeral home with Marsha DuBois officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (Town Addition) in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to the funeral home to assist the family with final expenses.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com