Obituaries

Brenda G. Christensen

March 23, 1939 to May 17, 2011

WINAMAC - Brenda Gail Christensen, 72, of Winamac, passed away at 12:09 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born March 23, 1939, in Springfield, OH, to the late Joseph and Ruth McDaniel Trace. She married Dale E. Christensen on Sept.  6, 1958, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He died Sept. 11, 2010.

Survivors include:

Carin L. (Ed) Vittorio, Noblesville, Daughter & son-in-law
Tracy A. Mackintosh, Aurora, IL, Daughter
David D. Christensen, Logansport, Son
Steven P.(Kris) Christensen, Fairmount, Son & daughter-in-law
11 Grandchildren
Jodie Holder, Lecanto, FL, Sister
Thomas Trace, Mount Vernon, OH, Brother
J. Trace, Los Angeles, CA, Brother

Mrs. Christensen graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, OH in 1957. She was homecoming queen in 1956. That same year that she traveled to Culver, IN for the first time. She later owned a lake home in Culver. She attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she met her husband. She was a homemaker in Palatine, IL where she raised her four children and was actively involved with community youth sports and the PTO.

She and her husband relocated to Winamac in 1980. She was actively involved in the parent advisory committee at Eastern Pulaski Schools. She was a former president of the Iris Elm Garden Club. She was a member of the DAR. She had served as president of the Colonial Dames Chapter 17. An avid seamstress and quilter throughout her life, she was a member of the Suzanna Circle Quilters Club.

Friends may call after 11 a.m., Friday, at First Christian Church, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., (Friday, May 20), at the church, with Pastor Rick Abbott and Pastor Denny Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Culver Masonic Cemetery, Culver.

Memorial donations may be given to the Culver Methodist Church or the First Christian Church.

Clifford Woodard Jr.

August 23, 1952 to May 14, 2011

MEDARYVILLE - Clifford J. Woodard Jr., 58, Medaryville, passed away at 5:20 a.m.,Saturday, May 14, at St. Anthony Medical Center, Crown Point.

He was born Aug. 23, 1952, in Gary, to the late Clifford J. and Christine Allen Woodard.

Survivors include:
Russell Keith (Leila) Woodard, Medaryville, Son
Rashell Annette (Donald) Boozer, Medaryville, Daughter
Jeremiah Dale Woodard, Medaryville, Son
Michele Lynn (Jeremy) Lucas, Medaryville, Daughter
Matthew Kenneth Ryan Howard, Medaryville, Grandson
Justice Rayne Boozer, Medaryville, Grandaughter
Renia Darlene Brust, Medaryville, IGranddaughter
Rowan Kaya Woodard, Medaryville, Granddaughter
Kaila Nicole Brust, Medaryville, Granddaughter
Debra Lynn Ellis, Medaryville, Granddaughter
Gabriel Andrew Smith, Mayville, MI, Grandson
Aberum Samuel Lucas, Medaryville, Grandson
Hunter Aaron Lucas, Medaryville, Grandson
Elizabeth (Neil) Jeffrey, Wabash, Sister
Charolette Stoner, Medaryville, Sister
Vivian Mitchell, Medaryville, Sister
Cleatious (Beverly) Woodard, Medaryville, Brother

Preceded in death by:
Kenneth Woodard, Brother

Mr. Woodard was a lifelong resident of Medaryville. He worked for LTV and US Steel for 35 years. He was currently employed at Talbert Manufacturing in Rensselaer. He was a member of the White Post Township Fire Department for 20 years, and was a member of the Medaryville American Legion.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Medaryville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday (May 18), at the funeral home with Rev. Tom Dewlen officiating. Burial will be in White Post Cemetery, Medaryville.

Barbara Sommers

December 9, 1929 to May 12, 2011

KEWANNA - Barbara E. Sommers, 81, of Grass Creek passed away at 3:55 p.m., Thursday, May 12,  at Miller’s Merry Manor, Logansport.

Born on Dec. 9, 1929 in Francesville, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth (Irven) Rhinehart. On July 18, 1948 she married Arnold Sommers who preceded her in death on July 28, 2000.

Survivors include her children, Rodney E. Sommers and his wife Debra, and Brenda K. Wiese and her husband Michael, all of Grass Creek; brother, James Rhinehart of Wilmington, Ohio; sisters, Olive Bell Kilander of Chesterton, Donna Weltzin of Jefferson, Wis. and Alma Hubeny and her husband Robert of Kewanna. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Brian Wiese & wife, Glenda, Greg Wiese & wife, Cynthia, Heather Henderson & husband, Bret, Brooke Rentschler & husband, Patrick, Heidi Prince & husband, Rusty and Heath Sommers & fiancé, Ashlee and great grandchildren, Bailey Wiese, Ally Wiese, Chloe, Shea and Corbin Prince, Byron and Emily Rentschler and Tanner Henderson.

She was also preceded in death by son, Danny Sommers, sisters, Miriam Blackburn, Laura Owens and Eldora Cook and brothers, Owen Rhinehart, Morley Rhinehart and Irven Rhinehart.

Mrs. Sommers had formerly managed Deckard’s Restaurant in Logansport for 15 years and was employed at the Golden Rule Department Store in Logansport for 10 years. She also worked as secretary for her husband’s business, Sommers Electric in Grass Creek and she was a homemaker.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m, Monday, at Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home, Kewanna Chapel, and also one hour prior to the time of service on Tuesday. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday (May 17), at the funeral home with Pastor Leonard Uhrich officiating. Burial will be at Grass Creek Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association and/or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

Edna Hale

October 2, 1943 to May 12, 2011

FRANCESVILLE - Edna Mae Hale, 67, of Francesville, (formerly of Rensselaer), passed away at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 12, at Parkview Haven Retirement Home in Francesville.

She was born Oct. 2, 1943, in North Judson, to the late Lewis and Lucy Watson Watkins. She married Lewis Hale on Nov. 16, 1961 in Jackson, MI. He died in 1995.

Survivors include:
Lois (Eddie) Duff, Eastern, KY, Daughter
Nancy Mae (John) Duff, Monon, Daughter
Joyce Hale, Daughter
10 Grandchildren
Rosie Maggard, Hippo, KY, Sister
Jerry (Ruby) Watkins, KY, Brother
Terry Watkins, KY, Brother
Walter Watkins, KY, Brother
Garry Stanfier, Prestonsburg, KY, Brother
Corleen (Radie) Miller, Medaryville, Friend

Preceded in death by:
2 Infant Sons
Faye Prater, Sister

Mrs. Hale lived in Rensselaer for several years before moving to Francesville.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville.  The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Monday (May 16), at the funeral home with Dennis Gutwein officiating. Burial will be in Roseland Cemetery, Francesville.

Memorial donations may be given to the family.

Vernon D. Shepperd

February 26, 1959 to May 7, 2011

FRANCESVILLE - Vernon Douglas Shepperd, 52, Monticello, died at 10:46 a.m., Saturday, May 7, at White County Memorial Hospital, Monticello.

He was born Feb. 26, 1959, in Kenosha, Wi, to the late Vernon and Helen Gwendolyn Wilson Shepperd. He married Michele Holcomb on Jan. 6, 1981 in Crown Pointt. She survives.

Also surviving are:
Nicole Renee (Michael) Pugh, Lafayette, Daughter & son-in-law
Stefanie Michele (Michael) Brenner, Lafayette, Daughter & son-in-law
Stephen Douglas Shepperd, Monticello, Son
Sarrah (Chad)Schipper, Hobart, Daughter
Macy Pugh Grandaughter
Sophie Pugh Grandaughter
Roman Pugh, Grandson
Owen Brenner, Grandson
Eden Schipper, Grandaughter
Cloe Schipper, Granddaughter
Richard Shepperd, Knox, Brother
Kay Stenberg, Schererville, Sister
Marla Lukos, Florida, Sister

Mr. Shepperd was the owner and operator of Naturally Green Lawn Care in Monticello and surrounding areas. He had also worked for several years at Inland Steel in East Chicago. He was a member of a lawn care association.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel, Francesville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday (May 11), at the funeral home with Pastor James Ketchen officiating. Burial will be in  Buffalo Cemetery, Buffalo.

Memorial donations may be given to the family.

Lois Ann Meyer

October 6, 1929 to April 22, 2011

RENSSELAER - Lois Ann Meyer, age 81, a Rensselaer resident since 1962, passed away Friday, April 22. She had been in declining health for two months.

She was born in Winamac on Oct. 6, 1929, the daughter of the lae Albert Powers and Hazel (Zellers) Powers. Her first marriage was to Norman Cors who passed away in 1958. On June 6, 1962, in Winamac, she married Vincent C. Meyer. He passed away on Aug. 2, 1983.

Surviving are her children, Donna (Gary) Lanoue of Rensselaer, Diana (Mike) Eggiman of Carmel, David (Lynette) Cors of New London, MN, Judy Tucker of New London, MN, Barbara L. (John) Hartz of Bethesda, MD, Jeffrey C. (Heidi) Meyer of Madison, WI, Christine M. (Patrick) Sadenwater of Indianapolis, Lynn Y. Moskovitz (fiancee’ Michael Thompson) of Westfield, IN, and Mark (Kimberly) Meyer of Park Ridge, IL; 24 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Dick (Doris) Powers of Fort Madison, IA, Bob Powers of Winamac, IN and Ron (Judy) Powers of North Judson, IN.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Dave Moskovitz, four brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Meyer was raised in Winamac. She was a graduate of Winamac High School and Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing. She was employed for 35 years as a registered nurse at the Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer. She was a member of the St. Augustine Catholic Church and the Christian Women’s Sodality. She was a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and was a Fellow at St. Joseph College, both in Rensselaer.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday (April 27), at Saint Augustine Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Rensselaer.

Memorial donations may be made to Jasper County Home Healthcare & Hospice, c/o Jasper County Hosptial Foundation 1104 E. Grace St., Rensselaer, IN 47978; or to the Jasper/Newton Foundation, Lois Meyer Nursing Scholarship, P.O. Box 295, Rensselaer, IN 47978.