Obituaries

Stephina Watkins

Auguts 23, 1924 to January 11, 2022

WINAMAC - Stephina Watkins, 97, of Winamac, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 11, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born Aug. 23, 1924 in Stickney, IL to the late Albert and Agnes Pavlak Mroczek. She was the last of nine siblings. She attended Catholic school in San Pierre and North Judson. On May 29, 1944, she married William “Bill” Watkins in Winamac. He passed away on Nov. 26, 1987.

She is survived by:
Joyce (Mark C.) Faulstich, Plymouth, Daughter
Josephine (David) Ramp, Columbia City, Daughter
Jacqualine Owens Terry, Winamac, Daughter
Emzie (Kathy) Watkins, Nappanee, Son
Grandchildren: Jason (Angie) Faulstich, Mark J. (Kara) Faulstich, Jeffrey (Dr. Valerie Lake) Faulstich, Wayne (Patsy) Watkins, Nicklos Watkins, Paul Ramp, Sheila Jackson, Billy Owens, Michael (Shelley) Owens, Lisa (Dominic) Ricci, Jenny (Tony) Schmucker, Jaime Watkins, and Debra Jo (Jason) Harmon.
Many Great-Grandchildren
3 Great-Great-Grandchildren
Many Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
James Faulstich, Grandson
3 Brothers and 5 Sisters

Mrs. Watkins worked at a factory in downtown Winamac for many years, where she sewed zippers into blue jeans. She was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. She crocheted many afghans, scarfs, and hats for her family and friends. She enjoyed playing Pinochle at the Bass Lake Community Center as well as at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Knox. She was the “Queen of Scrabble” in her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 17, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 at the funeral home with Rev. Andrew DeKeyser officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael Catholic School in Plymouth.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Rocky D. Gourley

October 3, 1953 to January 11, 2022

WINAMAC - Rocky David Gourley, 68, of Winamac, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 11, at home surrounded by his family.

He was born Oct. 3, 1953 in Winamac, at Carneal Hospital to the late Robert W. and Phyllis E. Nice Gourley. He was a 1971 graduate of Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatfield; the first graduating class from the new school after consolidation. He married Laurie Ann Lewis, on June 20, 1987 in Wheatfield at the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church by the late Rev. Roger Sculley. She survives.

Rocky Gourley

He is also survived by:
Daisy (Don) Hahn, Star City, Sister
Connie (Stan) Myers, Monterey, Sister
J. Douglas Gourley, Sr., Winamac, Brother
R. Clyde (Lena) Gourley, Winamac, Brother
Vickie Pence, Anderson, Sister-in-law
Dennis (Carole) Lewis, Hobart, Brother-in-law
Karen Lewis, Lake Station, Sister-in-law
Kathy (David, Sr.) Davis, Schererville, Sister-in-law
Tom (Carolyn) Lewis, Wanatah, Brother-in-law
Patty (Matt) Fancher, Brazelton, GA, Sister-in-law
Mike (Mary) Lewis, Hebron, Brother-in-law
Many Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Ellwood and Bonnie [Rusk] Lewis, Sr., In-laws
Beulah Gourley, Sister-in-law
Joel Pence, Brother-in-law
Ellwood Lewis Jr., Brother-in-law
Curtis Ellwood Lewis, Brother-in-law

Mr. Gourley retired from North White High School after 28 years where he worked as a custodian. In his younger years, he served as Deputy Town Marshal in Wheatfield; working under his dad. He was a dedicated member of Tippecanoe Christian Church in Winamac where he taught adult Sunday school and served as a deacon and trustee. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association, Boone and Crockett Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Future Farmers of America. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He held the unofficial title of “Champion Noodler.” He was an avid Indiana University basketball fan and strong supporter of North White High School athletics. He was always proud of the fact that he scored a three-pointer for the Pulaski Yellow Jackets team in the Memory Lane Basketball Tournament. He was a loving husband, brother, and uncle. Our loss is truly Heaven’s gain.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 15, at the funeral home with Pastor Ed Clark officiating. Burial will be at Tippecanoe Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Tippecanoe Christian Church, North White Athletic Department, or Guardian Angel Hospice.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Dean D. Pelsy

October 13, 1946 to January 8, 2022

FRANCESVILLE - Dean Devon Pelsy, 75 of Francesville, passed away Saturday, Jan. 8, at Franciscan Alliance Hospital in Crown Point.

He was born Oct. 13, 1946 in Francesville, and graduated from Francesville High School in 1964. He served in the Indiana National Guard. In September 2012 he married Dianna Hunter. She preceded him in death.

He is survived by three step-children: Necola Kidwell, Gary Hunter and Tonja Hunter, along with his brother Allen Pelsy, and his sister Barbara Pelsy Little.

Mr. Pelsy was a farmer in Francesville for more than 50 years.

A private graveside service will be conducted at Roselawn Cemetary in Francesville.

Darlene K. Rock Harwood

October 18, 1998 to January 7, 2022

MEDARYVILLE - Darlene Kay Rock Harwood, 23, of Medaryville, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac, IN.

Darlene Harwood

She was born Oct. 18, 1998 in Merrillville, to Paul and Judy Harwood. She was a 2017 graduate of West Central High School. She received an associate’s degree in accounting from Purdue University.

She is survived by:
Judy Harwood, Medaryville, Mother
Paul Harwood, Francesville, Father
Many Aunts, Uncles and cousins

Preceded in death by:
Kimberly J. Harwood Sister

Ms. Harwood was employed as a greeter at Wal-Mart in Monticello. She enjoyed social media and sharing time with her friends and family.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 13, Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Medaryville. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral with Rev. Rick Prater officiating. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Valparaiso. Masks will be available at the funeral home if needed.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Daniel C. Vanaman

May 8, 1952 to January 5, 2022

WINAMAC - Daniel C. “Dan” Vanaman, 69, of Winamac, passed away unexpectedly at home Wednesday, Jan. 5. 

He was born May 8, 1952 in Knox, to the late Claude E. and Mildred Sims Vanaman. He graduated from Winamac Community High School in 1970. On July 4, 1982, he married Connie L. Fritz Kistler in Winamac. She survives.

Daniel Vanaman

He is also survived by:
Dana K. (Darrin) Field, Winamac, Daughter
Daniel H. (Doug DeCleene) Vanaman, South Bend, Son
Dawn M. Vanaman, Daughter
Jeff W. (Trina) Kistler, Winamac, Step-Son
Daniel R. (Aida) Kistler, Knox, Step-Son
Brian J. (Amanda) Kistler, Winamac, Step-Son
12 Grandchildren: Dustin, Emily, Valerie, Eric, Aiden, Aaron, Breanna, Devin, Danica, Santiago, Clay, and Caleb.
5 Great-Grandchildren: Aiden, Amelia, Axel, Noah, and Beckham
Donna (Bud) Cowger, Half-Sister
Betty Good, Half-Sister
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Leon Depoy, Half-Brother
Tom Depoy, Half-Brother
Katherine Shidler, Half-Sister

Following high school graduation, Mr. Vanaman took a job with Indiana Department of Transportation that turned into a career spanning 38 years, during which time he also farmed with Darrel Gudeman for 18 years. Most recently, he was the proud owner and operator of Dan’s Mowing; a mowing and snow removal business he started in 2008. He attended the Winamac Church of the Heartland. He was a longtime member of FOE Lodge #2580 in Winamac and Pulaski County React. He served eight years on the Winamac Town Board and two years on the Winamac Cemetery Committee. He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed gardening and mowing. He also enjoyed visiting with friends and strangers. He was kind, friendly, and most of all very hardworking. He loved his family very much and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 10, at the funeral home with Pastor Heath Hiatt officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Pulaski Animal Center.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Willie A. Wilcoxon

October 13, 1946 to January 8, 2022

MEDARYVILLE - Willie A. Wilcoxon, 82, of Medaryville, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at his residence in Medaryville.

He was born Oct. 9, 1939, in Georgia to the late Loss and Vira Wilcoxon. On March 22, 1983 he married Lois J. McCoy Neely. She survives.

Willie Wilcoxon

He is survived by:
Harvey (Colleen) Wilcoxon, Son
Willie A. (Janet) Wilcoxon Jr., Son
Phillip Wilcoxon, Son
Barbara A. Tracy, Daughter
April (Mark) Berg, Daughter
Daniel G. (Barbara) Neely, Step-Son
Robert A. (Heidi)  Neely, Step-Son
James Neely, Step-Son
James Wilcoxon, Brother
Jimmie Wilcoxon, Brother
J.L. Wilcoxon, Brother

Preceded in death by:
Elizabeth Ann Wilcoxon, First Wife
Dawn Marie Neely, Step-Daughter
Donny Berg, Grandson
Lily Hovis, Great-Granddaughter
Randall Wilcoxon, Brother
Christine Wilcoxon, Sister-in-law

Mr. Wilcoxon was retired from LTV Steel where he worked for 33 years. Willie enjoyed cutting grass. He cared for the Medaryville Methodist Church for many years. Willie enjoyed fishing and watching western movies.

To honor Mr. Wilcoxon’s wishes no services will be scheduled.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville.