Search Archived Marriage Records
Margaret B. Zwecker
CULVER -- Margaret B. Zwecker, 99, of Culver, died June 19, 2010 at Miller's Merry Manor in
Culver, one month short of her 100th birthday.
Margaret “Peg” was born to Grant Bushee and Mabel Hamilton July 22, 1910 in Buda, Ill. She
was married
Nov. 20, 1944 to William R. Zwecker. He preceded her in death.
Peg was a journalist with numerous honors. She served as food and home furnishings editor of
the Chicago Times from 1937 to 1941, fashion and beauty editor, author of “Fashionably
Speaking” newspaper column, and fashion and beauty editor of the Chicago Sun-Times from
1945 to 1949. In 1950 she became fashion and beauty editor of the Chicago Daily News.
She initiated the Chicago Daily News Fashion award in 1962 as well as doing TV fashion
specials for WFLD. She was the fashion editor of Omnibus magazine in 1963 and the former
writer of "Peg Says" column. In 1970 she was coordinator and commentator of the Chicago Look
Fashion Show for Mayor’s Com. Econ. And Cultural Development. She was also fashion
correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor and lecturer on culture and history of fashion.
Peg was a member of the University of Illinois Foundation committee for the restoration of Jane
Addams Hull Mansion in 1963. Her other memberships included the Women’s Division of West
Suburban Hospital, Honorary Director of Children’s Aid of LaRabida, women’s auxiliary of Robert
E. Wood Boys Club, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Historical Society Guild who acquired
Great Lady Collection president’s wives’ gowns for permanent collection of Costume Gallery in
1963, Fashion Group of Chicago, Chi Omega, Women’s National Press (Washington), and
Chicago Press. She was also an Episcopalian by faith.
Her awards include: Ann. Editors award national Fur Information and Fashion Council in 1961,
Golden Slipper award from the Natl. Shoe Inst. In 1963, 67, Am. Newspaper award Hadassah,
1964, 1st FRANY award for outstanding coverage N.Y. fashions given by the mayor of New York
in 1967, Ann. Stick-O-Type award for general excellence in fashion and fall fashion secretary of
Chicago newspaper Guild in 1965, 1st men’s award from national Footwear Institute in 1966,
Special Achievement award from American Institute of Men’s and Boy’s Wear, Inc. in 1965, and
the International Gold Mantilla award - French Government, 1969. She was inducted into the
Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame in 1005.
Margaret is survived by her son, William R. Zwecker of Chicago, Ill.; daughter, Janet Stannard
Kline of Culver; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by
three brothers and two sisters.
A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held Saturday, July 24, at 1 p.m. EDT in the Culver
Memorial Chapel at Culver Academies.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent to Culver Miller’s Merry Manor in
memory of Margaret Zwecker. This fund will be available to assist the nurses at the nursing
home that showered Margaret with undying love and care. Donations are to be sent to Culver
Miller’s Merry Manor, 730 School Street, Culver, IN, 46511.
The Odom Funeral Home, Culver, is in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Alice Whelan
NAPPANEE -- Ruby Alice Whelan, 87, of Nappanee, died Sunday, June 20, 2010 at her residence.
She is survived by her husband, Henry "Hank” Whelan of Nappanee; son, Larry (Helen) Whelan
of Nappanee; daughters, Judy (Melvin) Myers of Nappanee and Mary Ann (Dennis) Taylor of
Wakarusa; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place Tuesday, June 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder
Funeral Home, Nappanee. Rosary is at 8 p.m.
Prayers and eulogy will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 23 at the funeral home, with funeral
services Wednesday, June 23 at 11 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Bremen.
Burial will take place at South Union cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Nappanee Open Door or
St. Dominic Catholic Church.
Lucy Mae Bowling
BREMEN -- Lucy Mae Bowling, 90, of Bremen, went to be with the Lord Monday, June 21, 2010
at the Bremen Health Care Center.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919 in London, Ky. to James and Elizabeth (Hibbard) Garland. Lucy
married
Clayton D. Bowling Dec. 24, 1935 in Kentucky. He preceded her in death in 1992.
They brought their children to Bremen in 1955. Lucy retired from TV Time Popcorn in 1982. She
was a devoted Christian and a member of the United Baptist Church who spent her free time
loving her family unconditionally.
She never met a stranger that she didn’t like. She loved to cook and no one went hungry. If the
world’s problems could be solved with food, there would be none. Country music was a favorite
and she enjoyed sharing her rose garden. Lucy was a beautiful lady. All that knew her were very
blessed and she will be greatly missed by all.
She is survived by daughter, Edna Martin of Bremen; two sons, Roy (Karen) Bowling of
Plymouth, and Charles Bowling of Warsaw; a daughter-in-law, Mary (Danny) Bowling of Bremen;
21 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clayton; five sons: Cliff, Earnest, Clayton, Jr., Danny
and Koly; two young daughters, Wanda Faye and Mammie Rose; two brothers, Luther and
James Garland; and two sisters, Mammie Moren and Ruby Hammons.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 24 at the Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen,
and will be officiated by Pastor Matt Elliott.
Burial will follow at the Bremen cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
The Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements.
Richard J. Skiles
PLYMOUTH -- Richard J. “Rick” Skiles, 68, 222 Parkview Drive, Plymouth passed away at 4:13
p.m. Monday, June 21, 2010, in the Pilgrim Manor Care Center, Plymouth.
A former resident of Walkerton, Rick has resided in Plymouth since 1976.
He was born April 28, 1942 in Ft. Wayne, the son of Russell S. and Lela G. (Clay) Skiles. Raised
in Tyner, he played basketball and baseball in his youth and graduated with the Tyner High Class
of 1961.
Rick’s appreciation for sports continued as a father, serving as a director and coach for many
years in the Walkerton and Plymouth Little League programs. In 1990, he accepted a position on
the custodial staff of Plymouth High School and for the next 14 years, with great pride, he was
the man behind the scenes preparing the gyms for game night play and later returning them to
order. Rick never missed the chance at every home game to hold the door and high five every
player as they entered the court.
After his retirement and in declining health, Rick would make Pilgrim Manor his home. There, he
thoroughly enjoyed joking with and teasing the staff as he would his own family. Their care for
him made it possible to continue attending home games in his Plymouth attire, positioned to see
his team enter the gym. His supportive spirit will always remain within “The Rock.”
For many years, Rick was an active member of the Marshall County Blueberry Festival Board.
He loved his family members who include a son, Scott and wife Kim Skiles and a daughter,
Brenda Skiles, all of Bloomington; three grandchildren: Scott, Sean and Shelby; and one sister,
Sharon Cole of Plymouth.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 26, in the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
A tribute service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, in the Plymouth Wesleyan Church
11203 S. Michigan St., led by Pastor Oliver Dongell.
Burial will follow in New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests an expression of sympathy in the form of a memorial gift to
the Plymouth High School Athletic Department, 1 Big Red Drive, Plymouth, IN, 46563, which
Rick himself so faithfully supported.
Joanne Price VanDerWeele
DONALDSON -- Joanne Price VanDerWeele, a resident of the Maria Center in Donaldson, died
at the Catherine Kasper Life Center at 2:50 p.m. Monday, June 21, 2010.
Born in Fulton County, Ind. June 1, 1923, she was the fourth of eight children of Ernest M. and
Susie Keeler Miller. After graduating from Rochester High School in 1941 and marrying Roy
Price, she worked in the war effort while her husband served in the Army Air Corps in World War II.
In 1950 Joanne and Roy moved to Culver where they raised their two daughters. Joanne was
active in the community including serving on the library board, as a PTA officer and volunteer, as
a Brownie Scout leader, and as a Republican Party precinct vice-committeewoman. Many of her
daughters’ friends still refer to her as their “second mother.”
After both daughters were in school, she began her long career in county government, first
working as the Marshall County Deputy Recorder for Lloyd Beatty. In 1966, at the urging of Bill
Gee and Dr. Otis Bowen, she ran for county clerk and became the first woman ever elected as a
Marshall County officeholder.
She subsequently served in county government for 42 years, including as county auditor and four
terms on the Marshall County Council, where she served as president for a period of time. She
was elected by county-wide vote in seven elections, more than any other court house official.
She served for many years as secretary of the Indiana Association of County Councils and was
honored as the Outstanding Councilperson of the Year for the State of Indiana in 1999.
As county clerk, Joanne literally worked seven days a week for the first two years before taking
her first day off, a long weekend excursion with her daughters to Bardstown, Ky. And Mammoth
Cave. Oftentimes she would drive from the courthouse back to Culver to fix dinner for her
younger child, still in high school, only to return to the office after dinner for several more hours.
When she first assumed office, the clerk’s office had only two full-time deputies but she was
assisted part-time for election board work by Mary Stackhouse and Mary Burkett, who
accomplished on typewriters all of the election work that is now done on computers.
Along with fellow election board members George Davis and George Miles, she initiated the use
of voting machines, which replaced paper ballots. While she served as county clerk, Marshall
County established a second court and then a third, and the clerk’s office added one more
deputy each time they added a court.
In 1970, following her younger daughter’s high school graduation, she moved from Culver to
Plymouth, where she remained until December, 2008, when she moved to the Maria Center. As
county auditor she helped pioneer the county’s switch from typewriters -- for taxes and payrolls
— to computers for the first time.
Roy Price died in 1967 and in 1973 she married
Gene VanDerWeele, a widower from Argos.
Gene died of cancer in 1990, but during their marriage they spent a summer in Alaska, a voyage
among giant whales in Mexico, trips to France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and many
shorter adventures to nearly all 50 states in their motor home. Additionally they loved to fish, hunt
for mushrooms, cross-county ski, bird watch, work in their woodworking shop, and play cards.
After Gene’s death, she began playing bridge with several groups. More than the challenge of
game itself, she loved the companionship of the many friends she made through the game.
She was an elder of the Plymouth Presbyterian Church and a 50-year-plus member, and past
Worthy Matron, of Eastern Star. Unquestionably the biggest thrill of her life occurred in 2004
while visiting her granddaughter Margaret, then a Notre Dame undergraduate studying in Rome.
Following a large Wednesday audience, she was blessed by The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II,
an occasion that was memorialized in photographs taken by an official Vatican photographer and
which she cherished the rest of her life.
Since retiring from the county council and several boards of directors at the end of 2008 and
moving to the Maria Center, she has enjoyed catching up on her reading. She played games
every night after dinner with some of the numerous friends she has made at the Maria Center.
As recently as June 9, she enjoyed playing bridge at the senior center in Plymouth and was
cheerful and upbeat in a phone conversation just minutes before her death. She was thankful for
her many blessing during her time with family and friends and welcomed His promise of
everlasting life.
Joanne is survived by daughters, Judy Price Reynolds of Culver and her children Margaret and
John, and by Janelle (William) Kauffman of Shortsville, N.Y. and their children Alex and Claire.
She is also survived by stepdaughter Kay (Larry) Davis, Culver, and their children Angela and
Christopher, and stepson Kenn (Cheryl) VanDerWeele, Leo, Ind. And their children Brad and
Jeff. Also surviving are numerous great-grandchildren; her brother, Ralph W. (Betty) Miller,
Texarkana, Texas; and a sister, Mildred M. (Ned) Bemenderfer, South Bend.
Joanne was preceded in death by husbands, Roy and Gene; two brothers, Ernest F. Miller Jr.
and Richard M. Miller; and three sisters: Norma Donovan, Martha Thompson, and Carole Paulik.
Visitation with Joanne’s family will be in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan
St., Plymouth, Friday, June 25, from 4 to 8 p.m., with an Eastern Star service at 7:30 p.m.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 26, with calling one hour prior to services in the
Ancilla Domini Chapel, Donaldson. The Rev. Paul Nye will officiate.
Burial will be in the Culver Masonic cemetery, Culver.
Memorial gifts in Joanne’s name may be made to the Heminger House at P.O. Box #4,
Plymouth, IN, 46563 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Joe D. Hoff
ARGOS -- Joe D.Hoff, 9259 E. 12B Road, Argos, died of natural causes at his residence at
11:40 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
J.D. was 77 years old. He was born in Plymouth Nov. 4, 1932, the son of Carson W. and
Marjorie Gurthet Hoff. He attended Inwood School. Sept. 16, 1965, in Bourbon, J.D. and Jennifer
were married
.
He retired from the State Highway Dept. in 1995, after 28 years of service. Prior to working for
the state, he ran a milk route in Marshall County and also helped his father farm.
J.D. enjoyed his animals.
He is survived by his wife Jennifer, his son and two daughters. Jim and Angie Hoff live in Argos
as does his daughter Liz and her husband Jeff Shireman. Daughter Susan and Richard Kuskye
live in Plymouth.
A grandson, Tim Hoff, Argos, and grandchildren Carson and Addison Shireman, live in Argos
while Cibryon and Alestiny Kuskye live in Plymouth. A great grandson, Logan Hoff, lives in
Washington.
Friends will be welcomed by J.D.’s family from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services, officiated by Tom Padberg will follow visitation at 6 p.m. in the funeral home.
Burial will be in Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
Memorial gifts in J.D.’s memory made be made to the Marshall County Humane Society P.O.
Box #22 Plymouth, IN, 46563.
