Obituaries

Betty Lou Feig

November 20, 1940 to April 20, 2015

MONTEREY - Betty (Thompson) Feig, 74, died Monday April 20, 2015 in Elk City, Okla., in a motorhome fire which also claimed the life of her beloved dog Taffy.

Betty was born Nov. 20, 1940 to the late Nellie and Fred Thompson of Monterey, She was a twin to James and the youngest of six children. She and her husband Ken were married March 13, 1960 and enjoyed 55 years as each other's best friend and soulmate. He survives.

Mrs. Feig and her husband enjoyed playing games and doing jigsaw puzzles, traveling and spending time with their family. She loved to bake and enjoyed sharing her food with loved ones, church family and friends. They raised two children Dorothy (Tom) Chambers and Tim (Fabiola) Feig. She loved their six beautiful grandchildren, Challis (Adam) Woods, Jared (Beth) Chambers, Nikita Feig, Kelsey Chambers, Cheyenne Feig and Diego Feig. They also assisted in raising Betty's neices Rebecca Budzinski and Colleen Danti.

Mrs. Feig was a Seventh Day Adventist. She was very active in her church and taught sabbath school for young children for many years. She made the sabbath a special day of worship and rest for her family. She loved all babies and children and was very proud of her four great-grandchildren Oliver, Lacey, Quinn and Jolee.  

She is also survived by siblings Kathryn (Bob) Macklin, Robert (Violet) Thompson, and James (Jeanne) Thompson. In addition, she is survived by brothers-in-law Robert (Pam) Feig and James (Judy) Feig. She kept in close contact with her extended family and friends by phone and letters - seeing and talking to them was a priority. She will be missed by many cousins, neices, nephews and friends.  She made friends whereever she went - "she never met a stranger."  

She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws, and her brother Clarence Thompson. 

A memorial to celebrate her life and honor the love and kindness she showed to so many will be held at Knox SDA Church in Monterey (U.S. 35 and CR 800S) at 12 noon CT, Sunday, May 10. A lunch will follow.  

Carl L. Hammack

December 26, 1948 to April 29, 2015

FRANCESVILLE - Carl L. Hammack, 66, of Algonquin, IL passed away from cancer on Wednesday, April 29, at his home.

He was born on Dec. 26, 1948 in Salem, to the late John and Alice Mizner Hammack. He married Rita Logan on Oct. 21, 1972 in Francesville, and they settled in Algonquin. She survives.

Also surviving are:

Sarah (Keith) White, Daughter
John (Jennifer) Hammack, Son
Collin White, Grandson
Jim Hammack, Brother
Theresa Logan, Mother-in-law
Many Nieces, Nephews and Cousins

Preceded in death by: 
4 Brothers
1 Sister

At the age of 18, Mr. Hammack was called to duty by the US Army and fought for his country in Vietnam. He owned and operated RSJ Enterprises, a commercial painting company, until retiring. He was a member of the American Legion, the Forty and Eight, and Painters Union Local #194. He enjoyed motorcycles and playing euchre. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be after 10 a.m., until the time of services on Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will follow at 12 Noon EDT (Tuesday, May 5), at the funeral home. Burial will be at Roseland Cemetery, Francesville. The American Legion will conduct military graveside services.

Dorothy D. Haring Strasser

March 22, 1922 to April 28, 2015

WINAMAC - Dorothy D. Haring Strasser, 93, of Winamac, died at 9:56 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, at Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac.

She was born March 22, 1922 to George and Dora Haring, Francesville. She had seven brothers and sisters. One brother, Mike Haring of Georgia, survives.

She met her husband, Richard “Barney” Strasser while visiting his sister in Winamac. They were married in 1940. They had three daughters. Beverly (Larry) Miller, Star City, grandchildren Jeffrey Miller, Winamac, David (Sherree) LaPorte, Paul, Winamac. Larry thought of the Strassers like his mom and dad, and they felt he was the son they never had. Sondra Strasser, St. Marys, GA, grandchildren Colleen Craig, Albion, Brant Frain, St. Marys, GA, Dorrie (Mike) O’Donnell, Winamac. Kay Strasser, Sebastopol, CA, Grandchildren Craig (Traci) Herrin, San Jose, CA, Averi (Scott) Leonard, Sebastopol,CA.

Mrs. Strasser also had 13 great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren.

Mrs. Strasser enjoyed working at the school for many years as a school lunch lady. She started painting in her 40s and especially enjoyed painting flowers and barns. She made quilts for each of her grandchildren and even finished a quilt that her mother had started. She enjoyed playing cards and marbles with her family up into her 90s. She called Pulaski Health Care Center her home for the past few years and loved it there. She especially enjoyed the people who cared for her.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, June 12, at the First United Methodist Church, Winamac. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service. 

Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Winamac or to Pulaski Animal Center. 

Jade M. Schneider

April 7, 1995 to April 17, 2015

MONON - Jade Matthew Schneider, 20, of Francesville, passed away at 1:06 (CST) a.m. Friday, April 17, in Valparaiso.

He was born April 7, 1995 in Lafayette, to Dale and Andrea (Rogers) Schneider.

Surviving with his parents are his siblings, Alyssa Schneider (Lance Nester) of Medaryville, Blake Schneider (Desire Hammond) of Knox, Alec Schneider of Francesville, Amanda Schneider of Francesville; Girlfriend Ashley Craig of Monticello; nephews and niece Brennin Schneider, Braylee Schneider, and Brynley Deteraz; Grandparents Richard Rogers (Carolyn: Deceased), Terri Johnson (John: Deceased), Evelyn and Bub Cooksey, Ken (Loretta: Deceased) Bernice Schneider. Also surviving are several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jade also leaves behind a band of brothers, and an abundance of friends. 

Also preceding him in death is grandmother, Mary Glotzbach; a cousin, Jessica Oliver; and an uncle, James Bailey III. 

Mr. Schneider attended Kouts Schools and West Central High School and was planning to attend automotive engineering school in the fall. He worked for NWI Times delivering newspapers and attended Cornerstone Community Church in Kouts. He enjoyed spending time with his nephews and niece, working on mopeds, and playing video games. He enjoyed a good joke and playing pranks on friends and family. He had a caring and giving soul, always putting others needs before his own, and his beautiful smile lit up the room and invited everyone to smile with him. His loss has caused a void in the lives of those who knew him and he will be missed tremendously, but our love for him and his memory will always remain in our hearts.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Clapper Family Funeral Home of Monon. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 24, also at the funeral home; Pastor Jayson Birky and Jessica Brozyna officiating. Private family graveside services will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Jade Matthew Schneider Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank in Rensselaer.

Share memories and online condolences at www.clapperfuneralservices.com.

Roderick A. Heise

December 8, 1980 - April 17, 2015

KNOX - Roderick Allen "Rod" Heise, age 34, of Knox, passed away Friday, April 17.

He was born Dec. 8, 1980 in Winamac to Rudolph and Norma (Martin) Heise. On Sept. 16, 2013 he married Sara Polite. She survives.

Also surviving are his parents, Rudolph "Rudy" Sr. and Norma Heise of Monterey, his brother, Rudy Heise Jr. of Monterey, sisters, Kim Fischer (Steve) of Monterey, and Crystal Benson (Nathan) of North Judson, his brother-in-law, Mark Polite of Plymouth, and sister-in-law, Joanna Vitale (CJ) of Walkerton, 10 nieces and six nephews, and his best friend, Sox.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Randolph Heise.

Mr. Heise had worked as a heavy equipment operator for Union Local 150 Operating Engineers. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., (CT), Tuesday, at M.C. Smith Funeral Home in Knox. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. (CT), Wednesday, April 22, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Bass Lake Cemetery.

Francis Galbreath

March 20, 1917 to April 22, 2015

MISHAWAKA - Francis "Frank" Galbreath, 98, passed away on Wednesday evening, April 22, in the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Devon Frye in Mishawaka. 

He was born the youngest of five children on March 20, 1917, to Ura Frain-Galbreath and John Thomas Galbreath on their farm near Winamac. On April 15, 1950, he married the former Loretta Errings in South Bend. She preceded him in death May 8, 2011, after 61 years of marriage.

He leaves behind his daughter, Donna; a son, Michael Galbreath of Oberlin, OH; three grandchildren, Janeen (Russ) Stephens, Wendy and Laura from out-of-state; great-grandchildren, Frances "Frankie" Conley (named for her great-grandpa), Clara Marie Stephens and Conor Stephens, and several great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great-grand-children.

Also preceding him in death were siblings, Albert, Gladys, Agnes and John, who leave behind some nieces and nephews in Michigan, New Hampshire and Florida.

Mr. Galbreath served in the U. S. Army during World War II in France and England form January 1943 to November 1945 in Military Railway Service and was awarded a bronze star. During his 61 years of marriage, he and his wife loved going to Saturday night dances with friends and relatives. Belonging to Elkhart Moose Lodge, F.O.E in Mishawaka and VFW Post 360, he was a retired truck driver and a member of Teamsters Local 360. He played the Tuba and French horn in Orak Band of the Shriners and German Band. He loved his music and was self-taught. In 1978 he made Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge in Osceola. He loved going to the cottage on Shavehead Lake, fishing, listening and watching his cub, playing poker and dog, Scoop. Over the last year his granddaughter, Janeen, helped be his caregiver along with Baby Clara who called her Great-Grandpa "Pee Paw." The kids also called him "Sandman" because he always had the best stories come nap time. 

There will be no services. 

Memorial donations may be made to Grace Hospice, 5838 W. Brick Road, Suite 101, South Bend, IN 46628. 

Hahn Funeral Home, Mishawaka, has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit our website at www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.