Obituaries

Dale R. Mitchell

November 28, 1920 to January 21, 2018

WINAMAC - Dale R. Mitchell, 97, lifelong farmer and resident of Winamac, died at 4:10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 21, at Parkview Haven Retirement Home, Francesville.

He was born Nov. 28, 1920 in Mooresburg, to the late Charles E. and Grace Rouch Mitchell. Following graduation from Star City High School, he earned a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University where he was a member of the Purdue Glee Club. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a lifetime member of the Winamac American Legion. On Nov. 2, 1946, he married Doris J. Simmons in Indianapolis. She died Feb. 13, 2011.

Survivors include: 
Randall J. (Sondra) Mitchell, Winamac, Son 
Marsha L. Sayers, Tipton, Daughter 
Nancy M. Coates, Evansville, Daughter 
Ryan (Diane) Mitchell, Grandson 
Joshua (Sarah) Mitchell, Grandson 
Corey (Mesa) Mitchell, Grandson 
Sarah (Todd) Carrington, Granddaughter 
James (Stacy) Sayers, Grandson 
Gregory (Andrea) Sayers, Grandson 
Timothy (Rebecca) Sayers, Grandson 
Valerie (Ryan) Bishop, Granddaughter 
Kyle Coates, Grandson 
Benjamin Coates, Grandson
20 Great Grandchildren 
Several Nieces & Nephews

Preceded in death by: 
Helen Weeks, Sister 
Hilda Heimansohn, Sister

Mr. Mitchell was a man of faith and was currently a member of the Pisgah Christian Church. He was a past board member of Emily Flinn Retirement Home in Marion and the Star City Telephone Co., as well as a longtime director of Farmer's Grain and Supply in Thornhope.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. A celebration of life service will follow at 5 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor James Sayers officiating. Private burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery,  Winamac. The American Legion and VFW will conduct military graveside services.

Memorial donations may be made Samaritan's Purse / Operation Christmas Child (www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child).

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

Mary K. Williamson

October 20, 1918 to January 13, 2018

KEWANNA - Mary Katherine “Mary Kay” Williamson, 99, a lifelong Pulaski County resident, passed away at 7:38 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital.

Born Oct. 20, 1918 in Pulaski County, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Katherine (Miller) Wiesjahn. She was a 1937 Star City High School graduate. On Oct. 21, 1936 she married Ed Williamson. He preceded her in death on March 10, 1989.

Survivors include her children, Katherine “Kay” Brown (Jerry) of Kewanna, Karen Kruger of Star City, John Williamson of Star City, Carol Fernandez of Star City and Rita Williamson of Winamac. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 24 great-great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by granddaughter, Abby Smith, brothers, Donald, Edgar and Ralph Wiesjahn, sisters, Ethel Overlease and Zelda Wiesjahn, step sisters, Mildred Martin, Bessie Handy and Jane Jeziorski and foster sisters, Martha Vester and Tillie Merrill.

Mrs. Williamson was a lifelong homemaker and farmwife. She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Kewanna where she played the organ for over 50 years. She was active over the years serving on the Star City Centennial and Sesquicentennial committees, Winamac Book Club, Star City TOPS, and she was also a 2007 Women of Pulaski County Honoree. She was known for her oil and watercolor painting and also her poetry. She was very proud that her poem “The Hoosier State of Indiana” was published in the Logansport Pharos Tribune. She enjoyed crafts, genealogy, traveling and helping friends and neighbors.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at Harrison-Metzger-Rans Funeral Home, Kewanna Chapel where there will also be a scripture service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 20, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Kewanna with Father Mike McKinney officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to the Star City Lions Club to benefit any future Star City community projects.

Please sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence for the Williamson family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com

Mary A. Kistler Fry

January 9, 1928 to January 19, 2018

WINAMAC - Mary Arlean Kistler Fry of Winamac, 90, died 1:32 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital, Winamac.

She was born Jan. 9, 1928 in Star City, to Oliver Jacob and Hazel Manona Rock Grostefon. She graduated from Star City High School 1946. She married Darl Kistler on March 16, 1947, at Star City Methodist Church. He died in 1992. She then married Bruce Fry on Sept. 3, 1994, at Star City Methodist Church.

Survivors include: 
Bruce Fry, West Lafayette, Husband 
Sharon (Greg) Weldy, Springfield, OH, Daughter 
David (Alla) Kistler, Ft. Wayne, Son 
Don (Dottie) Kistler, Winamac, Son 
Todd (Suzanne) Weldy, Grandson 
Grandchildren: Stephanie Weldy, Amanda Woods, Jeffery Kistler, Danny (Aida) Kistler, Abby Kistler, Justin Potter, and Janna Potter. 
14 Great Grandchildren: Jack, Maddie, Phoebe, Nina, Aaron, Breanna, Devon, Danica, Santiago, Clay, Caleb, Carter, Grayson, and Harper.
2 Great Great Grandchildren: Aiden and Amelia.
Several Nieces and Nephews

She was preceded in death by: 
Lyle Grostefon, Brother 
Ray Grostefon, Brother 
Neil Grostefon, Brother 
Jean Marie Grostefon, Sister

Mrs. Fry was a former member of the Star City United Methodist and the Pulaski Presbyterian churches. She was  a member of the Krazy Quilt Club, Tippecanoe Twirlers, and the Happy Homemakers Home Extension Club. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, canning and freezing. She was famous for her quilts. She especially enjoyed raising her kids.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, with Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Burial will be at Star City West Cemetery, Star City.

Memorial donations may be given to Krazy Quilt Club or Quilts of Valor.

Beverly J. Krasner Albright

January 26, 1934 to January 19, 2018

WINAMAC - Beverly J. "Bev" Krasner Albright, 83, of Lafayette (formerly of Winamac), passed away at 8:05 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Mary's Healthcare, Lafayette.

She was born Jan. 26, 1934 in Omaha, NE. On June 30, 1958, she married Albert Crissinger in Omaha. He passed away Dec. 20, 1979.

She is survived by: 
Linda (Chris) Schiuszi, Lafayette, Daughter 
Connie (Dave) Scott, Winamac, Daughter 
Alan (Deb) Crissinger, Lafayette, Son 
Grant Krasner, Step Son 
Clay (RyLee) Krasner, Step Son 
Jackie Clark, Step Daughter 
11 Grandchildren & 2 Step Grandchildren 
16 Great Grandchildren & 3 Step Great Grandchildren 
Georgia Darlene Bockmann, Sister 
James L. (Pam) Bockmann, Brother 
Robert R. Bockmann, Brother 
John C. (Modra) Bockmann II, Brother 
Blaine (LaVonne) Brown, Half Brother 
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by: 
Lucille E. & George Bockmann, Mother & Step Father 
Gordon E. & Anna Brown, Father & Step Mother 
Albert L. Crissinger, Husband 
Stephen Krasner, Step Grandson 
Karen Brown, Half Sister 
JoKay Bockmann, Sister-in-law 
Lucille Bockmann, Sister-in-law 

Mrs. Albright worked many years as a teacher's aide at Eastern Pulaski Elementary School and retired in 1996. After retirement, she worked for and participated in Weight Watchers. She was a member of the Winamac First United Methodist Church where she had been active in the bell choir. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting and sewing. She was an avid genealogist and enjoyed traveling, especially visiting family. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, at the funeral home. Burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Winamac First United Methodist Church or St. Mary's Healthcare.

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

Robert L. Tilden

January 8, 1934 to January 14, 2018

WINAMAC - Robert L. "Bob" Tilden, 84, of Winamac, passed away at 4 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 14, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

He was born Jan. 8, 1934 in Gary, to the late Robert A. and Myrle Mitchell Tilden. He graduated from Hammond High School in 1952 and attended Purdue University Calumet Campus. In his younger years, he worked for his parents at their diner, Kwik-Kee-Snax in Hammond where he met his late wife of 55 years, Esther Irene Tilden. She died Nov. 12, 2017.

Survivors include five children, Judy (Ralph) Williams of Pulaski, Bobby (Valerie) Gilbert of Griffith, Freddy (Kathy) Gilbert of Lake of Four Seasons, David (Wendy) Tilden of Woodbury, MN, and Darcy (Patrick) Grieger, of Hanna; 21 Grandchildren; Many Great Grandchildren; sister, Sharron (Paul) Kleihege of Chicago and brother, John (Elaine) Tilden of Shipshewana; Several Nieces and Nephews; and Special Friends, Bill & Dana Alliss and Bob & Joyce Kellie of Winamac.

He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Gilbert.

Mr. Tilden served in the U.S. Navy on the destroyer USS Frank E. Knox and was very proud to receive a Quilt of Valor in 2017. He was retired from NIPSCO where he had worked as a powerhouse operator. He was a member of the United Steelworkers Union and Winamac First United Methodist Church. He was an avid IU Hoosiers fan. He enjoyed quiet time on the Tippecanoe River and evenings in the yard with his neighbors. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at the First United Methodist Church, Winamac, with Pastor Tom Richards officiating. A graveside service with military honors will be at 3:30 p.m. (ET), Friday, Jan. 19, at Memory Lane Memorial Park in Crown Point.

Memorial donations may be made to Winamac First United Methodist Church or Guardian Angel Hospice or Pulaski Health Care Center or LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter.

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

Trellie Ritchie Kruger

March 1, 1933 to January 8, 2018

FRANCESVILLE - Trellie Ritchie Kruger, 84 , of Michigan City, passed away Monday, Jan. 8, at Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital, Michigan City.

She was born on March 1, 1933, in Vest, Ky. to the late Dillard D. and Elizabeth Shepherd Ritchie. She married Paul Herman Kruger on Oct. 20, 1956 in Medaryville. He died April 22, 2012.

She is survived by: 
Michael Kruger, LaPorte, Son 
Timothy (Ronda) Kruger, Chesterton, Son and daughter-in-law 
1 Grandchild 
Lovelie Joseph, Wheatfield, Sister

Preceded in death by: 
Cassie Beverly, Sister 
Shirley Piazza, Sister 
Tressie Ritchie, Sister 
Arthur Ritchie, Brother

Mrs. Kruger was a member of Great Faith Baptist Church, Michigan City. She enjoyed crocheting, writing poetry and tending to her flowers. She especially enjoyed visits from her family and her church family. She had worked as an assembler at Gateway Industries, Michigan City.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 11, at the funeral home with Pastor Paul Richardson officiating. Burial will be at St. James Salem Cemetery, Francesville.

Memorial donations may be made to Great Faith Baptist Church.

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