Obituary Listing

Jul 12, 2023

Betty Jean Murphy Rathbun, 90, formerly of Canton, Missouri, passed away Wednesday morning, July 12, 2023, at home in Bluffton, Indiana, where she had resided for the past 5 1/2 years.

Betty was born on April 18, 1933 in Springfield, Missouri, to Kenneth L. and Thelma L (Kauffman) Murphy. She was united in marriage to Paul V....

Jul 8, 2023

Marcia L. Terhune, age 91, of Bluffton, passed away Saturday morning, July 8, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community, where she had been a resident for the past three years.

Marcia was born in Monroe, MI, on Dec. 19, 1931, to Gerald and Margaret (Hagan) Wolfe.  She married Dean O. Terhune at the Epworth United Methodist Church...

Jul 5, 2023

Carolyn G. Springer, age 90, of rural Bluffton, and formerly of Waynedale, passed away Wednesday morning, July 5, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Carolyn was born in Fort Wayne on May 15, 1933, to Elmer Earl and Helen (Gocke) Reed.  She married Richard W. Hanes in Fort Wayne on Oct. 15, 1949.  He preceded her...

Jun 23, 2023

Carol M. Taylor, 82, of Fort Wayne, and formerly of Bluffton, passed away Friday morning, June 23, 2023, at her residence.

Carol was born in Andrews on Aug. 16, 1940, to Homer Edward James Garrison and Hilda Mae (Ditton) Garrison.  She married Randolph C. Taylor in Andrews on June 1, 1958.  He preceded her in death on...

Jun 22, 2023

Eric D. Haley, 51, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday evening, June 22, 2023, at his residence.

Eric was born in South Bend on Nov. 14, 1971, to Shirley and Nancy (Vanata) Haley.  His mother survives in Deltona, FL.  Eric married Kristie Elliott in New Smyrna Beach, FL, on Mar. 30, 2011; she survives.

Eric was...

Jun 14, 2023

Ola Eugene Vitatoe, 93, resident of Bluffton, Indiana since 2003 passed away June 14, 2023. Eugene was born April 5, 1930, Albany, Kentucky.

Eugene grew up working on the farm in Albany, Kentucky. Eugene plowed many fields walking behind an Old Mule and Plow all day long. Different times before the break of day light Eugene would...

Jun 13, 2023

Karen J. Kaehr, 83, of rural Decatur, passed away Tuesday morning, June 13, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community.

Karen was born in Berne on Dec. 5, 1939, to Ellison and Elfrieda (Habegger) Neuenschwander.  She married Richard Kaehr in Adams County on Sept. 11, 1960.  He preceded her in death on Dec. 26, 2021.

A...

May 23, 2023

Wayne A. Hull, age 76, of Ossian, passed away Tuesday morning, May 23, 2023, at Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

Wayne was born in Fort Wayne on Oct. 30, 1946, to L. Harrison and Evelyn (Beck) Hull.  His father survives in Fort Wayne.  Wayne married Shirley A. VonGunten in Fort Wayne on Jan. 21, 1967; she...

May 17, 2023

Charles R. "Charlie" Uptgraft, 84, passed away Wednesday morning, May 17, 2023, at River Terrace Estates in Bluffton.

Charlie was born on July 31, 1938, in Bluffton, IN. to William W. and Elizabeth (Lash) Uptgraft, both parents preceded him in death. He married Dolores D. "Dee" (Smethurst) in Bluffton on January 19, 1963, she survives...

May 16, 2023

Patricia "Pat" R. Barger Mitchel, 88, formerly of Decatur, passed away Tuesday morning, May 16, 2023, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton, where she had been a resident the last 4 ½ years.

Pat was born on April 12, 1935, in Decatur, IN, to Harold V. and Sara Jane (Kaehr) Barger.  On November 21, 1953, she...

May 14, 2023

Tavis J. Beavans, 38, passed away Sunday evening, May 14, 2023, in Bluffton, IN.

Tavis was born on April 19, 1985, in Huntington, IN. to Steve (Sherry) Beavans of Huntington, IN. and Donna K (Bell) Beavans of Bluffton. He graduated from Huntington North High School in 2003, and attended I.U. University in Bloomington, IN. Tavis...

May 12, 2023

Michael "Mike" R. Young, 68, of rural Zanesville, passed away Friday afternoon, May 12, 2023, at his residence.

Mike was born on Dec. 23, 1954, to Ralph and Beula Young. He married Jackie Perry in Angola on June 10, 1994; she survives.

Mike graduated from Angola High School and later received his...

May 12, 2023

Rosemary Hegerfeld, 81, of Roanoke, passed away Friday evening, May 12, 2023, at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Rosemary was born in Bluffton on May 8, 1942, to Henry and Ada (Heyerly) Gerber. She married Edwin E. Hegerfeld in Bluffton on Jan. 28, 1968. He preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 2008.

May 11, 2023

Jean Ann "Shorty" Lawhorn, 66, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 11, 2023, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

Jean was born in Huntington on Apr. 8, 1957, to Richard and Treva (Morris) Douglas.  Her mother survives in Ossian.

May 8, 2023

Patricia Ann "Pat" West, 83, of Bluffton, passed away Monday afternoon, May 8, 2023, at River Terrace Retirement Community.

Pat was born in Bluffton on Jan. 30, 1940, to Jay E. and Ada D. (Jones) Barton. Both parents preceded her in death.

Pat graduated from Bluffton High School in 1958 and was...

May 7, 2023

Willard G. "Will" Seals, 76, of Bluffton, passed away Sunday morning, May 7, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Will was born in Sneedville, TN, on June 30, 1946, to Willard G. and Ruby (Parks) Seals. He married Kathleen Meyer on April 1, 1967, in Decatur, IN. She survives.

In addition...

Apr 24, 2023

Freda M. Lamott, 96, of Fort Wayne, and formerly a long-time resident of Wells County, passed away Monday morning, Apr. 24, 2023, at Parkview Randallia Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Freda was born in Adams County on Feb. 23, 1927, to Calvin M. and Leah (Steffen) Rauch. She married Charles E. Lamott in Montpelier on Jan....

Apr 17, 2023

Damon B. Marquart, 19, formally of Bluffton, passed away Monday evening, April 17, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne.

Damon was born in Ft. Wayne on November 12, 2003. He is survived by his parents, Diana M. Marquart (John Miller) of Bluffton and Dustin B. (Sarah) Johnson of Ft. Wayne, IN.

...

Apr 13, 2023

Rex "Doug" Riesen, age 73, of Vera Cruz, passed away Thursday evening, Apr. 13, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Doug was born in Decatur on Oct. 19, 1949, to Rex and Doris (Richards) Riesen of Keystone.  Both parents preceded him in death.  He married Lora Jane Clanin in Bluffton on Sept. 16, 1972.  She preceded...

Apr 11, 2023

Oscar Claire Busch, age 92, of Bluffton, Indiana, shuffled off this mortal coil early in the morning (his favorite time of day) of April 11, 2023.

He was born August 25, 1930, in McClure, Ohio.  He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Oscar & Neva (Creager) Busch; his brothers, Bob, Wylie, and Victor; and sisters...