Obituaries

Donald Fisher

October 13, 1926 to July 24, 2014

ROYAL CENTER - Donald “Ed” Fisher, 87, of Star City passed away at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 24, at Hickory Creek of Winamac.

Born Oct. 13, 1926 in LaPorte, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Mary (Hall) Fisher.  On April 18, 1950 he married Olive R. Shidler.  She preceded him in death on Aug. 25, 2008.

Survivors include his children, Pamela S. Olson (Swede) of Valparaiso, Jane A. Scheffer (Harvey) of Winamac and Donald E. Fisher, Jr. (Janet) of Winamac, step son, Jerry Mays (Peggy) of Winamac, sisters, Kathryn Moore (Leroy) of  Iowa, Yvonna Nacke of Swayzee, Barbara Fisher of Logansport and Madaline Sommers of Thornhope, 12 grandchildren, many great grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by brothers, Charles, James, and George Fisher and brothers-in-law, Richard Sommers and Al Nacke and sisters-in-law, Darlene and Evelyn Fisher.

Mr. Fisher was a 1945 Star City High School graduate. He was also a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He owned and operated Fisher’s Soft Water Service in Star City for over 50 years. He was a member of Star City United Methodist Church and he enjoyed his family and making people laugh.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, at Harrison-Metzger-Rans Funeral Home, Royal Center Chapel. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday (July 28), at the funeral home with Pastor Ruth Waite officiating. Burial with military rites will be performed at Star City West Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski County Senior Center.

Karen Stepp

October 24, 1946 to July 29, 2014

MEDARYVILLE - Karen Stepp, 67, of Wheatfield, passed away at 7:52 p.m., Tuesday, July 29, at Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso.

She was born on Oct. 24, 1946 in Lebanon, OH to the late Ernest Aaron and Ethel Howard Stepp.

Survivors include:
Karolyn Fyda, Wheatfield, Twin Sister
Pamela Nabors, Rensselaer, Sister
Ernest Anthony (Christine) Stepp, Royal Palm Beach, FL, Brother
David (Sandra) Stepp, Terre Haute, Brother
Several Aunts, Uncles, Nieces and Nephews

Ms. Stepp graduated from Wheatfield High School in 1966. She had worked at Schumacher's in Rensselaer for many years. She was a member of Teabery Hill Estates Church and the Ladies Club. She was very devoted to the church. She enjoyed knitting and going for drives. She was an amateur photographer and took great pride in her work. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, at Teaberry Hill Estates Church in Medaryville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday (Aug. 2), at the church with Rev. Elmer Conley officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, North Judson.

Memorial donations may be made to Teaberry Hill Estates Church. 

Ethel Stepp

January 2, 1926 to July 28, 2014

MEDARYVILLE - Ethel Stepp, 88, of Wheatfield, died at 5:42 p.m., Monday, July 28, at VNA Hospice Center, Valparaiso.

She was born Jan. 2, 1926, in Lynch, KY to the late Rev. Chalmer and Magnolia Keith Howard. On April 3, 1946, she married Ernest Aaron Stepp in Winamac.. He passed away April 18, 2012.

Survivors include:

Karen Stepp, Wheatfield, Daughter
Karolyn Fyda, Wheatfield, Daughter
Pamela Nabors, Rensselaer, Daughter
Ernest Anthony (Christine) Stepp, Royal Palm Beach, FL, Son
David (Sandra) Stepp, Terre Haute, Son
9 Grandchildren
15 Great Grandchildren
4 Great-Great Grandchildren
Juanita (Don) Chappel, Springboro, OH, Sister
Burl (Mary) Howard, Springboro, OH, Brother
Buford (Evelyn) Howard, Somerset, KY, Brother
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Helen (Charles) Delph, Sister
Bobby (Juanita) Howard, Brother
Earl Stephens, Brother-in-law

Mrs. Stepp and her husband were founding members of the Teaberry Hill Estate Church in Medaryville. She was an active member of the Ladies Club. She was a very devoted Christian woman. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, and cooking. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, at Teaberry Hill Estates Church, Medaryville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday  (Aug, 2), at church, with Rev. Elmer Conley officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, North Judson.

Memorial donations may be given to Teaberry Hill Estates Church. 

Theresa J. Von Tobel

May 11, 1916 to July 23, 2014

FRANCESVILLE - Theresa J. Von Tobel, 98, of Francesville, passed away at 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, July 23. She had been living at Avalon Springs Health Campus in Valparaiso since January. Prior to that, she had resided at Parkview Haven Retirement Home in Francesville. 

She was born May 11, 1916 in Eureka, IL to the late Chris and Barbara Pelsy Wuethrich. She married Paul J. Von Tobel II on Feb. 6, 1937 in Francesville. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 1999. 

Survivors include: 

Bonita J. (Duane) Swing, Vero Beach, FL, Daughter 
Paul J. (Candace) Von Tobel III, Valparaiso, Son 
Twyla Mae (Chad) Bigony, Jasper, GA, Daughter 
John Mark (Lorraine) Von Tobel, Valparaiso, Son 
Grandchildren: Rick (Linda) Swing, Scott (Amy) Swing, Kelly (Kirby) Carswell, Michele (Lisandro) Montenegro, Paul J. (Jenni) Von Tobel IV, Peter (Heather) Von Tobel, Christina (Ron) Vane, Cindy (Chris) McDaniel, Kayla Von Tobel and Kara Von Tobel. 
19 Great Grandchildren 
Glendoris (Lester) Huber, Francesville, Sister 
Genevieve (Edward) Shambach, Elgin, IL, Sister 
Willis (Marjean) Wuethrich, Las Vegas, NV Brother 
Robert (Phyllis) Wuethrich, Francesville, Brother 
Chris Lee (Ruth) Wuethrich, Francesville, Brother 
Barbara Wuethrich, Francesville, Sister-in-law 
Nola Wuethrich, Francesville, Sister-in-law 
Rita Von Tobel, West Lafayette, Sister-in-law 
Many Nieces and Nephews 

Preceded in death by: 
Kurt Swing, Grandson 
David Bigony, Grandson 
David Wuethrich, Brother 
Richard Wuethrich, Brother 
Barbara Ellen Wuethrich, Sister 
Mildred Huber, Sister 
Wilma Stewart, Sister 
Velda Overmyer, Sister 
Elizabeth Shambach, Sister 

Mrs. Von Tobel and her husband had a great interest in the foreign mission field and had traveled to many different countries visiting and supporting missionary work. Her passion throughout her life both at home and abroad is best explained through her love for Christ and the promise from scripture that..."all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

Mrs. Von Tobel loved her family very much. She was very committed to her children and grandchildren. She also counted it a great privelege to have been from a large family; the eldest of 13 siblings. She was a witness for Christ, always willing to share Scripture and Bible stories with her family, friends, and neighbors. She was an avid reader and had read the entire Bible many times. Throughout her life, she was very faithful to attend church and loved hearing the Word of God preached. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Monday (July 21), at the funeral home with Pastor Robert Nienhuis officiating. Burial will be at Roseland Cemetery, Francesville.

Memorial donations may be given to Gideon's International or Liberty Bible Church. 

Stella L. Baker

March 13, 1920 to July 20, 2014

WINAMAC - Stella Lee Baker, 94, Winamac, passed away at 4:40 a.m., Sunday, July 20, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

She was born March 13, 1920, in Breathitt Co., KY, to the late Clifford and Lulu Mullins Watkins. She married John Douglas Baker on Jan. 29, 1938, in Magoffin County, KY. He passed away Oct. 7, 1990.

Survivors include:

Bill Baker, Truth or Consequences, NM, Son
Alonzo (Beverly) Baker, Seymour, TN, Son
Paul (Kathy) Baker, Knoxville, TN, Son
Brenda (Tim) Brown , Maryville, TN, Daughter
27 Grandchildren
4 Step Grandchildren
Many Great and Great-great grandchildren
James (May) Watkins, Burlington, MI, Brother
Lila Shidler, Argos, Sister
Angeline (Howard) Goble, Elizabethtown, KY, Sister
Phyllis (Jerry) Day, Elizabethtown, KY, Sister
Ellie Heyden, Salyersville, KY, Sister
Shirley (Washington) Miller, Homer, MI, Sister
Roxie (Ham) Trusty, Coldwater, MI, Sister
Alonzo Baker, Seymour, TN

Preceded in death by:
Ernest Bailey, Son
Daisey May Baker, Daughter
Jeanette Baker Bailey, Daughter
William Lincoln Baker, Grandson
Gwendolyn Baker, Granddaughter
Gregory Baker, Grandson
Harold D. Johnston, Jr., Grandson

Mrs. Baker was a member of the Eagle's Auxillary #2580 for 60 years. She and her husband originally came to Indiana to work at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Her job was to measure gun powder in detonators the size of a button. She was employed as a certified nursing assistant at Pulaski Memorial Hospital for many years. She loved to sew and quilt. She also enjoyed blue grass music. She enjoyed visiting with her friends a the local McDonald's.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a,m., Wednesday (July 23), at the funeral home with Rev. David Webb officiating. Burial will be in McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to the Pulaski Health Care Center activities fund.  

Joseph L. Kaluzny

February 25, 1922 to July 19, 2014

MEDARYVILLE - Joseph L. Kaluzny, 92, Medaryville (formerly of Chicago), passed away at 8:10 a.m., Saturday, July 19, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 25, 1922 in Chicago to the late Lawrence and Valeria Slanczewski Kaluzny. On May 25, 1946, he married Josephine M. Krupowicz in Chicago. She survives. 

Also surviving are: 
Lawrence J. (Marcia) Kaluzny, Yorkville, IL, Son 
David P. (Gwen) Kaluzny, Memphis, TN, Son 
Catherine T. McWilliams, Lexington, TN, Daughter 
Judith A. (James) Ksenak, Valparaiso, Daughter 
Joyce M. (Mark) Walus, Ft. Wayne, Daughter 
Grandchildren: Jason (Sharon) Kaluzny, Sarah (Jeff) Greene, Adam Kaluzny, Katie (Shaeffer) Steward, Jeff McWilliams, Joel McWilliams, Jason McWilliams, Brent (Nicole) Ksenak, Curtis Ksenak, Emily Walus, and Benjamin Walus. 
Great-grandchildren: Justin Kaluzny, Krysta Kaluzny, Vincent Kaluzny, Brayden Kaluzny, Sophie Greene,  Jillian Kate Steward, Brayden McWilliams, Breaun McWilliams, Bryce McWilliams, Ashley Ksenak, and Caleb Ksena. 
Several Nieces and Nephews 

Preceded in death by: 
Thomas McWilliams, Son-in-law 
Jenny McWilliams, Granddaughter 
John Kaluzny, Brother 
Margaret Krupowicz, Sister 

Mr. Kaluzny served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Medaryville and a former member of the Knights of Columbus in Chicago. He was a talented artist. He enjoyed making model airplanes and bowling. He and his wife moved to Medaryville 17 years ago and enjoyed spending time with their friends at the West Side Senior Center. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will be dearly missed. 

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville. A funeral mass will follow at 1 p.m. (Thursday, July 24), at St. Henry's Catholic Church, Medaryville, with Rev. Leroy Kinnaman officiating. The American Legion will conduct Military Honors immediately following services. Entombment will be at Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso.

Memorial donations may be given to West Side Senior Center.