Obituaries

John S. Meiser

November 9, 1924 to April 4, 2017

GREENFIELD – John S. Meiser, 92, of New Palestine, passed away Tuesday, April 4, at Hancock Regional Hospital, Greenfield.

Born Nov. 9, 1924 in Winamac, he was the son of the late John E. and Ardell Zehner Meiser. He graduated from Winamac High School in 1942. He married Betty Mae Rode on June 4, 1976, at Zion Lutheran Church, New Palestine. She survives.

Also surviving are children, Vicki (Joe) Darnell of Dryfork, VA, Kristi (Larry) Jonas of Cumberland, IN, Greg (Terri) Meiser of Landrum, SC, Marc (Susan) Meiser of Cincinnati, OH, Patti (Rob) Keaton of Stokesdale, NC, Terri (Kevin) Willard of Knightstown, and Sherri (Jim) Tucker of Rushville; step-children, Noble (Debbie) Mitchell of New Palestine, and Patricia Sue Boyd of Greenwood; 21 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great great-granddaughter.

Preceding him in death were three sisters and two grandchildren, Bradley Toll and Aaron Willard.

Mr. Meiser served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving multiple medals, including the Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal. After returning from the service in 1946, he farmed. He then worked at the Indianapolis Post Office as a mail clerk for 26 years before retiring. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and American Legion Post #182, both in New Palestine.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 7, at Zion Lutheran Church, New Palestine. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 8, also at the church, with calling one hour prior to the service. Pastor Jason Taylor will officiate. Burial with full military rites will follow at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary, Greenfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to Zion Lutheran Church, 6513 W 300 S, New Palestine, IN, or to Honor Flight, Inc., Attn: Diane Gresse, 175 S. Tuttle Rd., Springfield, OH 45505 (www.honorflight.org/donate-now/). Envelopes will be available at the church.

Friends may share a memory or a condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.

Mary Lou Coglianese

September 2, 1937 to March 24, 2017

NEW CARLISLE - Mary Lou Coglianese, 79, of South Bend, passed away Friday March 24, at Hospice House, South Bend.

She was born Sept. 2, 1937, in Winamac, the daughter of Herman and Dorothy Freeman Seidel. On June 15, 1957, she married Richard "Dick" Coglianese. He survives.

Along with her husband of 59 years, she is survived by her daughter, Cynthia A. (Mick) McCaffrey of Tiburon, CA; her son, Richard (Mary) Coglianese of Houston, TX; and one granddaughter, Felicia Coglianese of Houston.

Mrs. Coglianese worked as a secretary at IBM in South Bend and was a paraprofessional in high school education in Omaha, Neb. for six years. She had many hobbies and interests including reading, arts and crafts, crocheting, needlepoint and sewing. She was an avid cook and enjoyed spending time in the kitchen perfecting her cooking and baking skills. She enjoyed celebrating holidays and prepared spectacular feasts for her family, and as a master at arts and crafts made many of her own holiday decorations. She also enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, gardening, spending time online interacting with family and friends, and was a fan of the Food Network. She loved to travel, whether she was on a road trip to a winery in Michigan or on an adventure to her favorite destinations, Italy, France, and Germany. She spent many hours volunteering for the Telephone Pioneers of America in Dallas, TX. She loved following college and professional football, especially Notre Dame, Michigan State University, the Chicago Bears, and the San Francisco 49ers. She was devoted to her many pets over the years and loved animals of all kinds.

A funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Thursday March 30, at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 201 S. Filbert St., New Carlisle, where friends may visit for one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in St. John Kanty Catholic Cemetery, Rolling Prairie.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Joseph County Humane Society or the Center for Hospice Care, South Bend.

To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.

Leona A. Sommers

September 25, 1929 to April 5, 2017

WINAMAC - Leona A. Sommers, 87, of Winamac, passed away at 8:10 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

She was born Sept. 25, 1929 in Kewanna, to the late Jonas Mathias and Genevieve Rosella Weaver Kuhn. On Jan. 19, 1963, she married Paul P. Sommers Jr. in Winamac. He survives. 

Also surviving are:
Nancy Sommers, Indianapolis, Daughter 
Marie (Tom) Hunt, Indianapolis, Daughter 
Tina (Dave) Bengs, Valparaiso, Daughter 
Steven (Danna) Sommers, Winamac, Son 
Nathan Sommers, Grandson 
Kathryn Sommers, Granddaughter 
Adam Sommers, Grandson 
Gabriele Bengs, Granddaughter 
Cassandra Bengs, Granddaughter 
Samuel Bengs, Grandson 
Joseph Bengs, Grandson 
Mary Pletka, Orlando, FL, Sister 
Frances (Bernard) Knouff, Winamac, Sister 
James Kuhn Winamac, Brother

Preceded in death by: 
10 Siblings: Bernice Braun, Agnes Bossung, Theresa Olson, Ruth Ann Kuhn (Sister Terrance), Ralph Kuhn, Richard Kuhn, Leonard Kuhn (Twin), Triplets (2 boys, 1 girl)

Mrs. Sommers was a faithful member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, as well as the Ladies of Charity, Christian Mothers, and Victorian Ladies. She enjoyed volunteering on Saturday mornings at the Good Samaritan Store and helping with funeral dinners. She was a proud homemaker and farmwife. She enjoyed baking, sewing, quilting, canning, and helping on the farm. She also enjoyed flying with her husband and had taken flight lessons. She was a member of the Indiana Flying Farmers and International Flying Farmers. She was a collector of bells and Christmas village houses. November was always spent decorating the house for the Sommers family Christmas and hosting BUNCO the first Thursday in December. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her. 

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, April 9, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. A scriptural wake service will be at 6 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home followed by a Ladies of Charity and Christian Mothers Service. The funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 10, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Winamac, with Rev. Leroy Kinnaman officiating. Burial will be at St. Peters Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski Health Care Center or to Ladies of Charity.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com. 

Joseph H. Cramer

September 20, 1941 to March 16, 2017

HAWKINSVILLE, GA. - Joseph Harold “Joe” Cramer, 75, of Eastman, GA passed away Thursday, March 16, at the Regency Hospital, Macon, GA after a brief illness.  

He was born Sept. 20, 1941 in rural Franklin Township, Pulaski County, to the late Arthur and Lucille Riggleman Cramer. He was raised in the Winamac area and attended Winamac High School.

Survivors include:
Hazel Cramer, Wife
3 Daughters and 3 Sons
Robert “Bob” (Sharon) Cramer and Gerald “Jerry” Cramer, Brothers
Many Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
1 Grandson

In 1962, Mr. Cramer answered the call to serve his country. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1982 as a Master Sergeant with 20 years of service. He served two tours in Vietnam as well as a tour in the Philippines. His military career took him many places and also afforded him the opportunity to receive his GED. In 2016, he was proud to receive a Quilt of Valor honoring his service.

Upon retirement from the Air Force, Mr. Cramer began working for the U-Haul Rental Company, first as a field manager, then as a general manager, and upon retirement he had attained the position of senior staff vice president of South Georgia U-Haul Company. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, canning, and collecting just about anything. He especially enjoyed reminiscing and telling stories. His close friends and family all received unique nicknames over the years. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor and smile. He loved his family very much and will be sadly missed.

Funeral services and burial with full military honors took place at Georgia Veterans Cemetery in Milledgeville, GA, on Monday, March 20.

Memorial donations may be made to Pulaski County Quilts of Valor.

Arrangements were entrusted to Clark Funeral Home in Hawkinsville, GA.

Luella A. Shideler

November 10, 1938 to March 28, 2017

WINAMAC - Luella Ann Shideler, 78, of Winamac, passed away at 1:38 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, at her residence.

She was born Nov. 10, 1938 in Beardstown to the late Ralph Bernard and Florence Viola Mays Heims. On March 30, 1968 she married Frank Kenneth Shideler. He preceded her in death on July 26, 1998.

She is survived by: 
Faith M. (John) Jones, Daughter 
Deborah L. (Roger) Miller, Daughter 
Stuart "JR" Siebenhaar Jr., Son 
11 Grandchildren 
9 Great Grandchildren

Preceded in death by: 
Marcia Louise Siebenhaar, Daughter 
Johnnathon S. Siebenhaar, Grandson 
Kenneth Ray Miller, Grandson 
Estella Barnett,Sister 
Eva Jean Heims, Sister 
Ray Heims, Brother 
Ralph Bernard Heims Jr., Brother

Mrs. Shideler was a member of the First Baptist Church Winamac. She was a Sunday School teacher and had served as a teacher at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Knox. She was a member of the Logansport YMCA and was active in the senior water aerobics classes. She enjoyed reading, studying her Bible and praying. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 31, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Mark Pilger officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Winamac.

Wynona Fitz

January 19, 1946 to March 27, 2017

WINAMAC - Wynona Fitz, 71, of Winamac, passed away suddenly Monday, March 27, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Ft. Wayne.

She was born Jan. 19, 1946 in Salyersville, KY to the late Langley and Francis Minix. On May 2, 1975, she married Jon W. Fitz. He preceded her in death on April 11, 2001.

She is survived by: 
Jonwood (Julie) Fitz, Son 
Jonathon Fitz, Son 
Courtney (Matt) Artist, Daughter 
7 Grandchildren 
JC (Nila) Minix, Brother 
Billy Joe (Katie Jackson) Minix, Brother 
Leatrice Hochstedler, Sister 
Edna (Adrian) Richie, Sister 
Loretta (Arnold) Craft, Sister 
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by: 
Sean Fitz, Son 
Peyton Fitz, Grandson 
Reagan Artist, Granddaughter 
Oliver Artist, Grandson 
Denver Minix, Brother 
Donald Minix, Brother 
Juanita Howard, Sister

Mrs. Fitz was an Indiana Hoosier Basketball fan and loved to watch March Madness.She enjoyed shopping and listening to country music. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be sadly missed.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Private burial will be at Winamac Cemetery, Winamac.

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

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.