All Obituaries

Mary Maxcine (Wolf) Spicher, 94, of Elkhart passed away May 19, 2020 at Greenleaf Health Campus in Elkhart. M. Maxcine was born February 11, 1926 in Wolcottville, Indiana to the late Russell and Opal (Denman) Wolf. Maxcine married Russell A. Spicher on June 17, 1944. He passed away November 8, 1997. Robert Mehl and Maxcine took their vows August 16, 2000. He passed away June 16, 2016. Surviving Maxcine are daughters, Penny (James) L. Delp and Ann M. Grillo, and sister, Doris Knepper, eight...

Mary Ellen Shamory, 92, of Elkhart died May 14, 2020 at her residence. Born October 2, 1927 in Elkhart to Kessler and Cecilia (Power) Shamory. She is survived by a sister, Catherine Summers and three nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Robert Summer. Ms. Shamory was born in raised in Elkhart, graduating from Elkhart High School in 1945. She moved to the Chicago area in 1953 where she attended Chicago Conservatory of Music and was a member of the North...

Frank Lucchese, 80, of Elkhart, died unexpectedly on Monday, May 11, 2020 in Elkhart. He was born May 14, 1939 in Elkhart to the late Frank “Cheech” and Marie Grace (Turzo) Lucchese.  Also preceding him in death are a brother, Leonard and a brother-in-law, Michael Dibley. On April 28, 1962 Frank married Kay Kemble at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.  She survives along with two daughters: Laura Lucchese of Huntersville, NC; Gina (Scott) Duehmig of Vandalia, MI; two...

Bettie Joan “Susie” Walters, 74, of Elkhart, passed away at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020 at East Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Susie was born May 14, 1945 in Charleston, IL to the late Granvil and Betty L. (Catron) Walters.  She was also preceded in death by a brother, Garry Walters. She is survived by two sisters: Linda Black of Elkhart and Deborah (Mick) Baker of Niles, MI; one brother, Mike (C.D.) Walters of Bristol and numerous nieces and nephews who...

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Dee, who departed this world May 7, 2020. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt and great friend. Dorothy G. Ashbaugh, 69, of Elkhart passed at home surrounded by family after an admirable battle with leukemia.    No matter how sick she became, Dee was determined to not stop fighting, just as she lived all other battles in her life. Dee stayed strong and was always looking for the F-U-N...

Mary Lou (Niblock) Stackhouse of Elkhart passed away peacefully on April 30, 2020, at the Greenleaf Health Campus. She was 92.    Mary Lou was born on May 12, 1927, in Elkhart to the late William and Frances (Norcross) Niblock. Her husband of 67 years, Robert Allen Stackhouse, preceded her in death. Her sister, Frances Gray; brother, Robert Niblock; and step-sister, Marian Lauver also preceded her in death.  She is survived by her three loving daughters, Frances Ruth Bolte...

Trent Thomas McDowell, 53, of Howe, Indiana, formerly of Elkhart, died April 20, 2020 in Howe. Trent was born January 13, 1967 in Elkhart to Trudy (Duthie) and the late Thomas McDowell. On December 4, 1999 he married his true love, Shannon Metz. Besides his father, he is preceded in death by a sister, Tonda McDowell Obregon; a niece, Miranda Obregon; and father-in-law, Mike Trapp. Left to cherish Trent are his mother, Trudy McDowell; wife, Shannon McDowell; daughters, Abigail McDowell of...

Mother Juanita (Andrews) Smith, 88, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Sprenger Healthcare in Mishawaka. Mother Smith was born in Blytheville, Arkansas on September 24, 1931 to the union of Howard and Madie Alfie (Blackburn) Andrews. She attended school and completed her education in Arkansas. She moved to Elkhart, Indiana to help her sister with her children and stayed to make it her home. She married Onnie Leroy Smith April 27, 1957 in Elkhart and was a...

Jeanne Eikenberry was born on August 22, 1927 in Elwood, Indiana. Jeanne, as she was known, was the third of four children and the youngest daughter of Myrta (Gustin) and James Brillhart. In 1945 she graduated from Elwood High School among the top of her class.   In 1957, Jeanne married the love of her life, James L. Eikenberry. They lived for a time in Muncie and Fort Wayne – finally settling for 40 years on Gordon Street in Elkhart. Jeanne and Jim were members of Trinity...

Clara E. (Gongwer) Myers, 98, went home to be with the Lord on April 15,2020 at her home. She was born in Elkhart November 24, 1921 to Vernon and Joye (Swarm) Gongwer. She married the Rev. Harold R. Myers on December 31, 1938, and he precedes her in death September 3, 2002. They were married 63 years. Clara is survived by three children, Larry Myers of Columbus, Ohio, Ronnie Myers of Elkhart, and Nancy (Bert) van Eyk of Elkhart; three grandchildren, Aaron (Kristy) van Eyk of Goshen,...