Obituaries

Orville P. Berns

September 11, 1913 to June 12, 2014

WINAMAC - Orville P. Berns, 100, Winamac, passed away at 7:25 p.m., Thursday, June 12, at Hickory Creek, Winamac. 

He was born Sept. 11, 1913, in Kankakee, IL, to John P. and Anna Eva Kuschel Berns. He married Wyoma E. Cook on Oct. 12, 1935, in Kankakee, IL. She passed away Aug. 20, 1995. He then married Bernice Ferguson. She died in July 2001.

Survivors include:
Carol R. Slater-Kline, Red Hill, PA, Daughter
Donna D. Coleman, Winamac, Daughter
7 Grandchildren
13 Great Grandchildren
Vernene Dexter, Gilman, IL, Sister

He was preceded in death by:
1 Grandchild
5 Brothers & Sisters

Mr. Berns was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, 50-year member Tippecanoe Chapter #96 Order of the Eastern Star, 50-year member Winamac Masonic Lodge #262 F.&A.M. He was also a life member of Scottish Rite, South Bend. He was a charter member of the Arrow Head RC&D, where he had served on the executive council, the Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District, and Pulaski County Recycling Board. He was a former member of the Winamac Rotary Club. He was also a custodian of the Berns-Meyer Nature Preserve in Pulaski. He traveled extensively as the world's foremost expert on electrolytic tin plating.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Monday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. OES services will be held at 7:30 p.m., at the funeral home. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, (June 17), at the funeral home with Dan Frain officiating. Burial will at 1 p.m., (CT) at Mound Grove Gardens of Memory, Kankakee, IL

 

Sarah J. Davis

March 30, 1957 to June 10, 2014

WINAMAC - Sarah Jane Davis, 57, of Winamac (formerly of Mulberry and Frankfort), died at 9:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 10, at Hickory Creek, Winamac.

She was born on March 30, 1957 in Lafayette, to the late Delmon D. and Faye Nichols Davis. 

She is survived by many cousins and family members of the Nichols and Davis families. 

Ms. Davis was a 1975 graduate of Clinton Central High School. She had also attended Vincennes University. She spent her days in the care of the kind people at the Pleasant View Rest Home and Hickory Creek Nursing Home in Winamac. 

A private graveside services will be held at Eagle Creek Cemetery in Westfield, where Ms. Davis will be laid to rest near her parents and family members who loved her.

Memorial donations may be given to Pleasant View Rest Home or Hickory Creek Nursing Home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary, Winamac.

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.