Obituaries

Charles E. DeLorenzo

September 18, 1928 to June 3, 2014

WINAMAC - Charles Edward "Red" DeLorenzo, 85, Winamac, passed away at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 3, at his residence. 

He was born Sept. 18, 1928, in Collier, PA, to the late James Sr. and Elizabeth Waser DeLorenzo. He married Donna M. Degner on Oct. 25, 1950, in Washington, D.C. She passed away March 8, 2008.

Survivors include:

Mary (Paul) Campbell, Muncie, Daughter
Teresa DeLorenzo, Houston, TX, Daughter
Toni McGill, Houston, TX, Daughter
Bette (Randy) Dusenbury, Houston, TX, Daughter
Michael (Maria) DeLorenzo, Stafford, VA, Son
Brian (Pat) DeLorenzo, Winamac, Son
David (Penny) DeLorenzo, Winamac, Son
11 Grandchildren
13 Great Grandchildren
James DeLorenzo Jr., Louisville, KY, Brother

He was preceded in death by:
Geraldine Swaney, Sister

Mr. DeLorenzo was a member of the VFW Post #1728, Winamac, American Legion Post #92, North Judson, and Amvets Post #91 and Redmen Lodge #588, both of Monticello. He retired from Eaton Corporation in Winamac where he had worked as the foreman in the shipping and receiving area. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. He played baseball in the former Merchant's League in Winamac as a young man.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m.,  Friday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday (June 7), at the funeral home with Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Military honors will follow the funeral service..

Memorial donations may be given to VFW Post #1728 Scholarship Fund or American Legion Post #71 Scholarship Fund.

John B. Riggs

August 13 1917 to May 16, 2014

GALVESTON - John Bryon (JB) Riggs, a World War II veteran who taught at area high schools for more than 35 years, died Friday, May 16, at Northwoods Village, Kokomo. He was 96.

He was born in Johnson County on Aug. 13, 1917 to the late Charles and Meta (Saltwell) Riggs. He married Sara Martha Miner, his wife of nearly 63 years, in Windfall on June 17, 1951. She survives.

Also surviving are his children Susan (Rick) Rust, Kokomo; Tom (Marsha), Galveston; and Bob (Misty), Alabaster, Alabama; and a niece and several nephews.

He was preceded in death by siblings Naomi Ruth Budd and Homer, Helen, and Marie Riggs.

Mrs. Riggs grew up in Francesville and graduated from high school in 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Purdue University. He started teaching vocational agriculture and farming practices at Galveston High School in 1941. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Army Air Corps at the rank of tech sergeant as a weather forecaster stationed in North Africa and Italy. He returned to teaching at Galveston High School in 1946 and started teaching at Kokomo High School in 1957. He retired in 1981 from Haworth High School, where he had taught biology and related sciences. At Haworth, he started the outdoor science lab.

Mr. Riggs was an active member of the Galveston United Methodist church, where he taught the Willing Workers Sunday School class for more than 50 years. He was a charter member of the Galveston Lions Club, a member of the Galveston American Legion, and a member of the Howard County Retired Teachers. For more than 30 years he was a 4-H club leader in Cass County.

In 1958 the family bought a 1939 International school bus and converted it into a motor-home. “Alice in Wonderland” took JB and Sara (with family) to every state capital, except Hawaii, and every provincial capital of capital of Canada – more than 250,000 miles.

The family would like to thank the many former students who have stayed in touch with Mr. Riggs over the years. The family would also like to thank the wonderful people at Reflections of Wellington for their care of Mr. Riggs for the last two and one-half years.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday; and one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday (May 20) at the Galveston United Methodist Church. Pastor Roy Ice will officiate. Burial services will be held a Galveston Cemetery following the funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Galveston United Methodist Church memorial fund, PO Box 639, Galveston, Indiana 46932.

Murray Weaver Funeral Home in Galveston assisted the family with arrangements.  

Elizabet J. Hartley

September 20, 1944 to May 18, 2014

RENSSELAER - Elizabeth Jo Hartley, 69, of Winamac, passed away Sunday, May 18.

She was born Sept. 20, 1944 to James and Agnes (Bradford) Hall in Monon. She married Nelson G. Hartley on April 13, 1966, in Rensselaer. He survives.

Also surviving are her children, Ruth Wicks of Indianapolis, Daymond Hartley and Krista (Henry) Epps both of Winama and her eight grandchildren; a brother, William (Anita) Hall of Lafayette and sister, Judy (Marshall) Poor.

She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Ellen Wicks.

Mrs. Hartley graduated from Rensselaer High School, class of 1962. She briefly worked at Schumacher’s in Rensselear, and later found joy in being a homemaker. She was a member of Grace Baptist church of Monon. She liked to crotchet and sew, and she enjoyed reading her romance novels. She was an avid bell collector.

The family will receive friends at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer on Friday, from 3 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Saturday (May 24), at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Mark Pilger officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens, Rensselaer,.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Ernest R. Heims

February 18, 1929 to May 18, 2014

WINAMAC - Ernest "Ernie" R. Heims, 75, of Winamac, died at 10 p.m., Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Hickory Creek, Winamac.

He was born Feb. 18, 1939, in Beardstown, to the late Merlyn and Blanche Clark Heims. He married Winnifred "Winnie" M. Landis on June 15, 1963 in Plumsteadville, PA. She survives. 

Also surviving are: 

Mark (Marjan) Heims, Mechanicsville, VA, Son & daughter-in-law 
Sharon (Mike) Pedigo, Elgin, IL, Daughter & son-in-law 
Grandchildren: Sandra Heims, Serena Heims, Scarlet Heims, and Jordan Pedigo 
Richard (Wanda) Heims, Menifee, CA, Brother 
Donald (Patty) Heims, Winamac, Brother 
Larry (Paula) Heims, North Judson, Brother 
Several Nieces and nephews 

Preceded in death by: 
Kenneth Heims, Brother 

Mr. Heims served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1961. He graduated from Winamac High School in 1957. He was a member of the Tippecanoe Christian Church. He served as a Deacon and a Sunday School teacher of the church. He was employed as a truck driver for North Express Co, Galbreath Inc. and the Lone Wolf Trucking Co.He enjoyed reading and mowing the yard. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family. He really enjoyed spending time with kids. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday (May 22), at the funeral home with George Landis and Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Tippecanoe Cemetery, Winamac. The VFW and American Legion will conduct a military graveside tribute.

Bonnie Rausch

January 4, 1929 to May 11, 2014

WINAMAC - Bonita "Bonnie" Rausch, 85, Winamac, passed away at 8:16 p.m., Sunday, May 11, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

She was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, to the late Elliott H. and Margaret A. Lenzner Brady. She married Daniel Raymond Rausch on March 30, 1948, in Pulaski, IN. He passed away May 30, 1996.

Survivors include:

Christine (Bob ) Smith, Winamac, Daughter
Judy (Butch) Fitz, Winamac, Daughter
Jeannie Neff, Winamac, Daughter
Tony Rausch, Winamac, Son
Barney (Patti-Jo) Rausch, Winamac, Son
8 Grandchildren
5 Great Grandchildren
Juan Knarr, Winamac, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Mark Rausch, Son
Virginia Koepkey, Sister
Franklin Brady, Brother
William Brady, Brother

Mrs. Raush attended Pulaski High School. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Northern Indiana Power From the Past, Tops, Cops and the Pulaski County Historical Society. She frequently served on the Franklin Twp election team. She was a frequent blood donor. 

She grew a business known as "Bonnie's Punkins" from a self-serve change bucket in the 1960s, located north of Winamac. Generations of neighboring school children enjoyed the pumpkin patch. Mrs. Rausch enjoyed feeding birds, crocheting snow flakes and afghans. She logged over 60,000 miles on her bicycle "Blue Boy." She frequently roller skated down US 35 and hiked for hours in the Tippecanoe River State Park. She also enjoyed picking flowers and berries that she used to make jams and jellies. She was known to push mow her three acres in the sweltering heat while wearing her tube top and short shorts. She pulled weeds while cursing them. She would then throw them into her eternally smoldering burn pile. Her favorite saying was "I never met a flower that I didn't love".

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, (May 14), at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, with Rev. Bert Woolson officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to Friends of the Tippecanoe River State Park.

Bobby Sallee

May 19, 1949 to May 10, 2014

WINAMAC - Bobby Sallee, 64, Monterey, passed away at 3:22 p.m., Saturday, May 10, at his residence.

He was born May 19, 1949, in Knox, to the late Elmer and Alma Rowe Sallee. 

Survivors include: 
Mary Ann Sallee, Winamac, Daughter 
Robert Sallee, Merrillville, Son 
Eliza (Glenn) Brodbelt, Bourbon, Step Daughter 
Araminta (Steve) Fites, Winamac, Step Daughter 
Anthony LaBonte, Grandson 
Isaiah Tidwell, Grandson 
Kyle Tidwell, Grandson 
Hayley Long, Step Granddaughter 
Jarvis Long, Step Grandson 
Lilly Brodbelt, Step Granddaughter 
Melissa (Chad) Warner, Step Granddaughter 
Stephanie (Tyler) Koepkey, Step Granddaughter 
Caedyn Weaver, Step Great Grandson 
Kellen Koepkey. Step Great Grandson 
Gage Long, Step Great Grandson 

Preceded in death by: 
Several Brothers and Sisters 

Mr. Sallee lived most of his life in the Knox area. He was retired from Culver Military Academy where he worked as a maintenance worker for many years. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at Frain Mortuary, The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday (May 16), at the funeral home. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery, North Judson.