Obituaries

Mary Slabaugh, 85, of Goshen died early Saturday evening, December 16, 2006, at Greencroft Healthcare.   She was born in Mylo, North Dakota, on August 8, 1921, to Levi D. and Elizabeth (Graber) Bontrager.  She married Vernon E. Slabaugh on October 4, 1942, in Wolford, North Dakota.  He died on July 10, 2004.   A homemaker, she was a member of...

Bernard “Bernie” C. Perrin, 76, of Ligonier, died early Friday morning, August 25, 2006, at his home after a 3 month illness.   He was born April 1, 1930, in Goshen, Indiana, to the late Thomas and Lillie (Reeves) Perrin.  On September 15, 1950, in Goshen, he married Joan Smith.  She survives.   Mr. Perrin, a 1949 Goshen High School graduate,...

Anna Mary Stalter, 98, of Goshen, died Sunday, January 9, 2011, at Greencroft Healthcare. She was born October 14, 1912, in Elida, Ohio, to the late James and Bertie (Swartz) Stalter. She is survived by a sister, Miriam J. Charles of Goshen. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Stalter and Rowena Brenneman; and a brother, Fred...

Jessie Spencer, 104, of Goshen, died Thursday evening, November 9, 2006, at The Maples at Waterford Crossing.   She was born June 29, 1902, in Kosciusko County, Indiana, to Levi and Clara (Catey) Miller.  On March 9, 1925, she married Vivan Allen Spencer.  He died July 17, 1980.   Mrs. Spencer, a lifelong resident of the area, worked as a dental...

Michael Clay Riley, Jr., four months, died Tuesday afternoon, March 30, 2011, at Elkhart General Hospital.  He was born in Goshen on November 18, 2010, to Michael C. Riley, Sr., and Jessica Bowen, both of Goshen.  Michael is survived by his grandparents, Roosevelt and Wanda Riley; his great-grandmother, Maxine Bowen; a brother, Tyrell Bowen; and two sisters, Rashonda Mohammed...

Melvon J. Stahl, 88, of Goshen, died unexpectedly Sunday, August 6, 2006, at his Greencroft apartment.   He was born April 15, 1918, in Clarksville, Michigan, to John H. and Gertrude (Heffelbower) Stahl.  He married Edna Mae Birkey on October 3, 1938, in Clarksville, Michigan.  She died May 18, 1991.   Mr. Stahl owned and operated a dairy farm near Dafter,...

Sara M. Jones                                                                                         Sara M. Jones, 81, of Goshen, died late Monday evening, March 27, 2006, at Americare Living Center in Goshen.   Mrs. Jones was born July 11, 1924 in Goshen to Martin and Fannie (Schmucker) Miller. On February 28, 1942 she married Edward D. Jones. He survives.   Mrs. Jones worked at Johnson Controls for 30 years. She was...

LeVeta VanDiepenbos LeVeta VanDiepenbos, 98, of Goshen, died Saturday evening, June 24, 2006, at Greencroft Healthcare.   She was born July 8, 1907, in Elkhart County, to Norman and Evalena (Stouder) Swoveland.  On October 24, 1931, in Goshen, she married Hessel VanDiepenbos.  He died September 27, 1980.   A farm wife, Mrs. VanDiepenbos, also worked at the former Bag Factory, the...

Ralph “Fred” Fisher, 56, of Goshen, died Sunday, April 10, 2011, at his home of natural causes due to illness associated with chronic kidney disease. He was born on September 27, 1954, to Ralph Lowell and Beverly Fisher in Goshen.  He was a 1973 graduate of Fairfield High School, where he played basketball and ran cross country.  He was...

Mary C. Richcreek, 87, formerly of Goshen, died late Wednesday morning, July 12, 2006, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Syracuse, where she had been since June 7, 2006.   She was born January 17, 1919, in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, to the late Henry Dalton Heffner and Margaret Frances Wyland.  On January 25, 1941, she married Devon J. Richcreek.  He died April...

Daniel E. Kauffman, 84, who developed stewardship programs for the Mennonite Church and some of its colleges, died Tuesday.   He was the former director of development at Goshen College.  He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1995. In 1946 at the age of 23 he became business manager of Hesston College.  Then most Mennonite Churches did not have annual...

Stanley J. Hulewicz, 82, of Goshen, died Tuesday morning, July 4, 2006, at his home.  He had been in failing health the past few years.   He was born September 25, 1923, in Belarus, to Ivan and Fenia (Kiroenko) Mudrak.  He married Maria Turchyn Prokopenko on February 2, 1947, in Windsheim, Germany.  She survives.   He left Belaurs at the age...

William James Quintana                                                                                        William James Quintana, 49, of Goshen, died Sunday evening, December 9, 2007, at Goshen General Hospital. He was born in Leadville, Colorado on August 27, 1958, to Alfares and Juanita (Cruz) Quintana.  Mr. Quintana worked as a welder while living in Goshen.  Prior to that, he had worked as a miner. He is survived by his...

Henry J. Pankratz, 95, of Goshen, died late Tuesday morning, October 3, 2006, at Greencroft Healthcare.   He was born in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, on January 10, 1911, to Jacob B. and Helena (Harder) Pankratz.  He married Elsie Marie Penner on August 21, 1933, in Mountain Lake.  She survives.   A resident of Goshen since, 1992, Mr. Pankratz was a retired...

Nellie J. Slabach, 95, of Goshen, died early Friday morning, April 8, 2011 at IU Health Goshen Hospital. She was born in LaGrange County on December 15, 1915, to the late Jacob E. and Bertha (Kemp) Jones.  She married Albert J. Slabach January 1936.  He died August 25, 2981. She is survived by three daughters, Mary Ann Miller and...

Elsie Lucille Straw, 87, of Goshen, died Thursday morning, May 12, 2011, at Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen. She was born February 28, 1924 in Goshen to the late Harvey and Lydia (Hochstetler) Harshberger.  On February 1, 1946 she married Harold U. D. Straw in Goshen. He died May 11, 1993. She is survived by four sons, Phillip (Ellen) Straw and...

Violetta Mishler, 106, of LaGrange, formerly of Topeka, died Saturday afternoon, April 29, 2006, at Miller’s Merry Manor in LaGrange. She was born March 19, 1900, in Honeyville, Indiana, to Daniel V. and Fanny (Yoder) Yoder.  On June 24, 1923, in LaGrange County, she married Howard E. Mishler.  He died December 19, 1977.   Mrs. Mishler, a homemaker, was a...

Donna Welty ,78, of New Paris, died at the home of her son, Brent Welty, surrounded by her children and her dearly beloved Buttons, on Friday, April 22, 2011.   She was born November 28, 1932 in Peru, Indiana  to the late Tracy "Earl" and Keturah (Cutshal)  McClain.   She married Kenneth D. Welty on September 24, 1950.  He died January...

Judy A. Rockenbaugh, 68, of Goshen, died Sunday morning, March 20, 2011, at IU Health Goshen Hospital.  She had been ill for three months. She was born February 10, 1943 in Millersburg, to the late Floyd and Dorothy (Chiddister) Rockenbaugh. A lifetime area resident, Ms. Rockenbaugh graduated from Millersburg High School in 1961and worked as a nursing CNA at...

Payson A. Hostetler, 93, of Goshen, died late Wednesday afternoon, April 18, 2007, at The Maples.   He was born on February 4, 1914, in LaGrange, Indiana, to Amos S. and Ida (Yoder) Hostetler.  He married Hazel C. Kauffman on August 8, 1943, in LaGrange County.  She survives.   A full time farmer in LaGrange County, Mr. Hostetler was a member...