Barbara Susan (Sue) Strycker
Barbara Susan (Sue) Strycker, of Valparaiso, died Monday, May 28, 2001 at home. She was 48.
She was born February 10, 1953 in Valparaiso, the daughter of the late J. Wendell Green and Virginia Hokanson Green, who survives in Porter.
On June 25, 1999 at Porter United Methodist Church, she married Michael E. Strycker, who survives in Valparaiso.
She is also survived by a daughter, Erin St. George, of Valparaiso, two sisters, Vicky (John) Hexamer, of North Augusta, S.C. and Carol (Matt) Foldenauer, of Portage; two brothers, James (Linda) Green, of Chesterton, and John (Calla) Green, of Schenectady, N.Y.; two half-sisters, Jan (Dick) Snamiska, of Washington State and Pat (Larry) LaCroix, Ill.; nieces and nephews.
She was a member of Porter United Methodist Church. She was employed as a dental hygenist for Dr. Timothy Willis, DDS, Westville, and was a member of the Dental Hygenist Association.
Funeral Services, Pastor Edward L. Mitchell, officiating, are scheduled at 11 a.m., Saturday at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd Street, Chesterton. Interment will be at Chesterton Cemetery.
The Family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Friday at White-Love Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to the Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County, or Why Me? Association.
Bonnie Jo (nee Cauley) Shepit
A memorial service has been set for former area resident Bonnie Jo (nee Cauley) Shepit, who died March 30, 2001 at the age of 72. She was born on April 12, 1928.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2001 in the chapel at Calvary Cemetery in Portage, with Rev. Dr. Joseph Baunoch of First United Methodist Church of Portage officiating.
Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Lois Wiesemann
Lois Wiesemann of the Pines died Friday, May 11, 2001 at St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City. She was 72.
Born on Sept. 2, 1928 in Michigan City, she was the daughter of Henry Carl Wolford Sr. and Gladys M. McCormick Wolford Butts, both of whom preceded her in death. On Oct. 19, 1945 in Chesterton, she married Alfred M. Wiesemann, who died on June 16, 1994.
She is survived by sons William A. Wiesemann (wife Laurie) of Chesterton and Orrin E. Wiesemann (Randi) of Sachse, Texas; daughters Kay Peckat (husband Joey) of The Pines and Karen Robbins (Daryl) of The Pines; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers Richard Wolford (Henrietta) of Michigan City, Martin Wolford (Marian) of Michigan City, Roger Wolford (Carol) of Chesterton, and Keith Wolford (Diane) of Elon College, NC; and sister Beverly Seely (Eric) of Westville.
She was preceded in death by brothers Henry and Calvin Wolford and stepfather Elmer G. Burns.
She was a retired assembler at Sprague Devices after 25 years of service. She was also a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Root Funeral Home, 312 E. 7th St., Michigan City, with her nephew, the Rev. Rick Wolford, officiating. Visitation will be today from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Kenneth Columbus Gish
Kenneth Columbus Gish of Valparaiso died Saturday, May 12, 2001 at Porter Memorial Hospital. He was 72.
Born in Central City, Ky. on Oct. 12, 1928, he was the son of Hosie and Eula (Gossett) Gish, both of whom preceded him in death. On March 8, 1952 in Muhlenberg County, Ky., he married Louetta France, who survives in Valparaiso.
Also surviving are sons Kenneth G. Gish of Portage and Don Gish of Valparaiso, daughter Gail Katsafaros (husband George) of Buffalo, Ind.; brother Roy Gish (wife Eunice) of Lake Station; sisters Lillian Lambert of Philpot, Ky., Irma Markwell of Bremen, Ky., and Doy Davis (Ed) of Bremen, Ky.; seven grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother Emmett Gish.
He lived in Lake Station for 38 years and moved to Kentucky for 12 years before recently moving back to the area. He was a general equipment repairman at U.S. Steel for 38 years. He was in the U.S. Army and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bremen and Local 1014.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. at the Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Ave., Portage. Pastor Randy Anderson will officiate. Burial will be in Heritage Cemetery in Portage. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Portage Chapel. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Thomas J. Long
Former Chesterton resident Thomas J. Long of Valparaiso died Sunday, May 13, 2001 at 3:15 a.m. at the Mary E. Bartz Hospice Center. He was 68.
Born in Michigan City on Sept. 4, 1932, he was the son of John T. and Bernice (Johnson) Long, both of whom preceded him in death. On Dec. 19, 1970 in Chesterton, he married Paulette Nagroski, who survives in Valparaiso.
Also surviving are son Erik Long of Valparaiso; daughter Ingrid Long of Valparaiso; brothers Terry Long of Chesterton and Pat Long (wife Mary) of Chesterton; sister Cherie Long of Chesterton; nieces Amanda and Morgan; and nephews Scott, David and Michael.
A lifelong area resident, he was retired as a production clerk from Bethlehem Steel. He served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso and a founding member of the Duneland YMCA. He was active in many committees at his church and served for many years on the Chesterton Cemetery Board of Directors. He was a graduate of Chesterton High School and Valparaiso University.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jerry Castleman officiating. The date of the service will be announced later. Cremation will be at Heritage Crematory in Portage, with the cremated remains to be interred at Chesterton Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Mary E. Bartz Hospice Center or to Christ Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Knoefel F. Jones
Knoefel F. Jones, of Valparaiso, died Friday, May 11, 2001 at home. He was 85.
He was born April 8, 1916 in South Wanatah to Floyd and Roxie (Elliott) Jones, who preceded him in death.
On September 29, 1940 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, he married Leona Brownbridge, who survives.
He is also survived by a son, Knoefel G. (Janet) Jones of Porter; a daughter, Beth Anne (Wilford) Sievers, of Valparaiso; a sister, Armeta (Robert) Barnes, of Valparaiso; two brothers, Robert (Jean) Jones of Valparaiso and Bill (Martha) Jones, of Florida; 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by four sisters, Lillian Hill, Gladys Bolles, Mary Jones and June Brown.
He had worked at Inland Steel, was a self employed milk hauler and worked in the maintenance department of the Valparaiso Community Schools. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, and a lifetime area resident.
Funeral services, Rev. Jerry Castleman officiating, are scheduled at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, at Moeller Funeral Home, Valparaiso. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m., Monday.
Memorials may be made to VNA Hospice of Porter County.
Carole Gerber-West
Carole Gerber-West, of Valparaiso, died Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at her residence. She was 52.
She was born April 9, 1949 in Gary, the daughter of William Stewart and Mary (Masterton) Gerber, who preceded her in death.
She was married to Warner Karl West, who survives in Valparaiso.
She is also survived by two daughters, Andrean Blough (Martin) West, of Baroda, Mich., and Catherine Blough (Scott) Button, of Stewart, Fla.; three grandchildren; two sisters, Christie (Farrell) Nowland, of Valparaiso, and Catherine Gerber-Coker, of Portage; two brothers, William S. Gerber, of Portage, and Albert (Sandra) Gerber, of Valparaiso.
She was a lifelong resident and office manager employed by Dr. R. Gupta. She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, Valparaiso.
Funeral services, Pastor Duane Schmidt officiating, are scheduled at 11 a.m. Friday at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel. Interment will be at Heritage Cemetery in Portage.
Visitation is scheduled from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Thursday at Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Avenue, Portage.
Memorials may be made to the Porter County Cancer Society or to the VNA Hospice of Porter County.
Leona C. DeMass
Leona C. DeMass, of Chesterton, died Saturday, May 5, 2001, at her home. She was 93.
She was born December 19, 1907 in Chesterton, the daughter of Axel and Wilhelmina (Sandberg) Sundeen, who preceded her in death.
On September 15, 1934 in Chesterton, she married Raymond DeMass, who preceded her in death.
She was survived by a daughter, Sharon (Donald) Lee, of Chesterton, a son, David Lee DeMass, of Michigan City; five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Irene Rosetti; two brothers Raymond (Ruth) Sundeen and Carl Sundeen.
She was a lifelong resident and was a Homemaker. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Private Family Services, Rev. Michael Cobbler officiating, were conducted Wednesday. Interment was at Chesterton Cemetery.
There was no visitation. Arrangements were handled by Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home.
