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Helen Grace (Behmer) Hess
MUNCIE -- Helen Grace Behmer Hess, age 92, formerly of Argos, passed away Nov. 7, 2010 at
10 a.m. at Westminster Village Nursing Home, Muncie.
She was born on the Behmer homestead in Union Township near Culver, on Sept. 4, 1918, the
fifth of seven children to Harold Eugene and Jessie Alice (Grove) Behmer. She and Gerald, her
husband, were lifelong residents of Marshall County until age and health concerns found them
reluctantly leaving the area to join their daughter in Pennsylvania in 2001 and then making
another move to Muncie, during 2007.
She graduated from Culver High School in 1936 then attended Ball State Teachers College,
completing a two-year program to teach elementary school in 1938. Helen received her
bachelor’s degree in education in 1942. She later earned her master’s degree in 1968 from St.
Mary’s College, Notre Dame.
She taught for a total of 32 years in the LaPaz, Plymouth and Argos School districts in Marshall
County. Helen had the distinction of being the first “married
female teacher” in the Plymouth
Schools. She was proud to have mentored 10 student teachers throughout her career.
Helen was a member of the Argos United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School
and VBS, and was active in the women’s ministries. A member of the Home Demonstration Club
in Marshall County, she and Gerald were avid supporters of the Argos Community Schools and
attended numerous sporting events and activities.
She shared her passion for reading, learning, stamp collecting, genealogy, antiquing, sewing and
travel with her friends and family.
She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Gerald M. Hess; a son, Thomas Gerald (wife
Kuniko) of Columbus, Ohio; a daughter, Nancy Sue Bruce (husband Kenneth) of Albany, Ind.;
three grandchildren: Susan Watkins (husband Brian) of South Vienna, Ohio, Wesley Scott Bruce
of South Vienna, Ohio and Tamiko Hess of Columbus, Ohio; four great-grandchildren: Charlee
Sue and Isaac Bruce and Noah and Sarah Grace Watkins; three sisters: Lenore Schaefer of
Grand Rapids, Mich., Betty Gene Wagoner of Albuquerque, N.M. and Julia Ruth Ward of
Sacramento, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, John Richard Behmer; and two sisters,
Frances Schaefer and Margaret Baker.
Friends may visit with the family Wednesday Nov. 10, 2010 at the Argos United Methodist
Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the church.
Burial will be at the Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation may be made to the Helen G. and Gerald M.
Hess Scholarship fund at the Marshall County Community Foundation, P.O. Box #176,
Plymouth, IN, 46563.
Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos, is assisting the family with arrangements.
David E. Marlatt
WINAMAC -- David E. Marlatt, 57, Winamac, formerly of Plymouth, died at 1 a.m. Nov. 7, 2010
at Hickory Creek.
He is survived by his father, Jerry Marlatt of Indiana; daughter, Rebekka Trepanier of Lewiston,
Maine; brother, Matt (Rosemary) Kovacs of North Judson; sister, Beverly (Jean) Michaud of
Lewiston, Maine; and a granddaughter.
Visitation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. (CST) Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Heritage Baptist Church,
Knox.
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pulaski County Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.
Odom Funeral Home, Culver, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Madge Elinor Smith
BREMEN -- Madge Elinor Smith, 87, of Bremen, passed away Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
surrounded by her loving family at the Bremen Health Care Center.
Madge was the daughter of Welcome and Bernice (Berg) Huff, born June 23, 1923. She married
Richard E. Smith Sept. 23, 1945, who survives.
Also surviving are two daughters: Linda (Dennis) Burch of Mentone and Pamela (Don) Orr of
Noblesville; five grandchildren: Dawn (Shawn) Campbell of Bremen, Deanna (Scott) Greene and
Deb Burch of Fort Wayne, David (Kara) Orr of Piedmont, S.C. and Daniel (Celina) Orr of Dallas,
Texas.
She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Abby and Zach Campbell, Aaron, Isaac and Ellie
Greene and Caleb Orr. Brother Clark Huff, and sister-in-law Hilda Myers also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Madge lived most of her life on the family farm south east of Bremen. Madge’s giving spirit,
gentle nature and organization were evident in all that she did. She graduated as Valedictorian of
Bremen High School in 1941 and from Purdue University in 1944 with a bachelor’s degree in
Food and Nutrition.
She was a member of Bremen (formerly Salem) United Methodist Church from the time she was
a child. She taught Sunday School, served as Children’s Sunday School superintendent, and
was a leader in United Methodist Women. She served as a 4-H leader in German Township for
14 years, worked as a substitute teacher in Bremen schools, and also worked as a dietitian at
Community Hospital of Bremen and some surrounding nursing homes. She served in the Army
during WWII as a dietitian in a hospital.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Bremen United Methodist
Church and will be officiated by Pastor Kevin Miller.
Burial will follow at the Bremen cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen and
one hour before the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bremen United Methodist Church.
Bruce K. Tillman
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bruce K. Tillman, 49, Warsaw, died at 9:16 p.m. Nov. 7, 2010 at St. Vincent
Hospital, Indianapolis.
He is survived by his wife Charlene; daughters, Stephanie (Glenn) Dutton of Warsaw and Leslie
McDougall of Fort Wayne; a son, Bruce Tillman Jr. of Warsaw; two grandsons; his father, Robert
Tillman of Claypool; sisters, Janet Wright and Cheryl (Roger) James, all of Claypool; brothers,
Larry Tillman of Fort Wayne, Lanny Tillman of Rochester and Ira Craig Tillman of Plymouth; and
several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel,
Warsaw.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the funeral chapel.
Burial will follow at Oakwood cemetery, Warsaw.
Memorial contributions may be made to the McHattan-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident
Court, Warsaw, IN, 46580.
Donald E. Aker
PLYMOUTH -- Respected businessman and co-founder of Aker Plastics Co. Inc., Donald
Eugene Aker, known by many as GaGee, 79, a lifelong resident of Plymouth, passed away of
natural causes in his home surrounded by family at 7:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, 2010.
Don was born Jan. 10, 1931 in Plymouth to Jesse and Ruth (Markley) Aker. He graduated from
Plymouth High School in 1949. He was a 12-letter athlete and an all-state quarterback.
In 2006, he was honored by Plymouth High School and received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
July 28, 1951 he married
Mary E. Edel. They were married
59 years. Jan. 7, 1967 they founded
and built their bathtub manufacturing business, Aker Plastics Co., Inc. He worked 15 to 20 hours
per day. Daytimes were filled with sales calls and product manufacturing was done at night in
order to deliver on time as promised. Mary and often their three children worked beside him
rolling out the fiberglass and cutting the patterns.
In 1971, PIDCO invited him to return to Plymouth and build a manufacturing company in the new
industrial park. Over the next several years business grew and expanded to the east coast. In
1986, Aker Plastics Co. opened a state of the art manufacturing facility in Martinsburg, W.V.
The business continued to grow and profit, building the largest family-owned bathtub
manufacturing company in the United States. In 1994, Don retired selling the business to his
children. In 2003, Don was the proud recipient of the American Composites Manufacturers
Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Don was a member of the Church of the Brethren, a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of the
Moose, American Legion and VFW.
Don served his country during the Korean War as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corp
from 1951 to 1954. In 1951, his unit was sent to Korea, where he was a truck driver with a rocket
outfit, 12 miles north of the 38th parallel.
Don is survived by his wife, Mary E. (Edel) Aker; his sons, Mark (Ann) Aker and Gary (Eyvonne)
Aker Sr., all of Plymouth; his daughter, Jayne Aker of Plymouth; sister, Joan (Tom) Connell; 11
grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren: Lisa (Vince), Cody, Lacy, Carly, and Donny Poczik,
Stacy (Trenton), Marlynn Glaub, Gary Aker Jr., Andy (Jamie) Skyler, Alexis Aker, Lynndi
(Benjamin), Madelyn, Benjamin Jr., Lainey Rader Sr., Sara Naylor, Suzanne, Mitchell, and Mary
Evans, Emily Aker, Bryan (Katie) Kaiyan, Bradie, Lily, Ruby, Naylor, and Tony Aker, Dylan Aker
and Connor Aker.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim; and sister, Jeanette.
Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home,
1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at the Church of the Brethren, 1130 N.
Michigan St., Plymouth.
Entombment will follow in the Aker mausoleum at New Oakhill cemetery with Military Honors.
Preferred expressions of sympathy are memorial gift contributions to Don’s favored charities and
church. They are: Boys & Girls Club of Marshall County, 314 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN,
46563; Marshall Co. Center for Hospice Care, 112 S. Center St., Plymouth, IN, 46563; or
Plymouth Church of the Brethren, 1130 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN, 46563.
Dora M. Doerr
SOUTH BEND -- Dora M. Doerr, 88, of 1209 South 29th St., South Bend passed away at 6:30
a.m., Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at her home.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Fryfogle; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her
brother, Bob (Phyllis) Overmeyer; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be no visitation or funeral services. A private family burial will take place in Oak Hill
cemetery, Plymouth.
Deveda E. Martin
SEBRING, Fla. -- Deveda E. Martin, age 88, of Robin Avenue, Sebring, Fla., formerly of
Plymouth, passed away at 5:24 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at Florida Hospital in Sebring.
Deveda was born Feb. 17, 1922, in Walkerton, to Charles F. and Carrie Estelle (Anderson)
Kissinger. Sept. 16, 1939, Deveda became the bride of Edwin Dale Martin, Sr., in Tyner. Deveda
was a retired beautician, although her most important career, was being a homemaker and a
mother. Deveda and Edwin enjoyed growing vegetables on their farm.
They took their produce to the Farmers Market, in South Bend, to sell from 1940 through the
1980s. Deveda also enjoyed being a member of the Black Bridge Club.
Deveda is survived by her daughters, Sandra (Woodward) Cochran of Sebring and Janice
(Ernie) Burch of Southhaven, Miss.; her son, Edwin “Pete” Martin, Jr. and his special friend Ruth
Rinard of Argos; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and her
sisters, Helen Kline of Bristol, and Betty Johnson of Elkhart.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin, Sr.; her son, James A. Martin; three sisters;
and five brothers.
Memorials may be made to:
Center for Hospice Care, 112 S. Center St., Plymouth, IN, 46563
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY, 10605.
VISITATION: SUNDAY, NOV. 14, 2010, 3 to 6 P.M.
VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. MADISON ST., PLYMOUTH, IN, 46563
FUNERAL: MONDAY, NOV. 15, 2010, 10:30 A.M.
VAN GILDER FUNERAL HOME
THE REV. DENISE ANDERSON, OFFICIATING
BURIAL: TYNER cemetery, TYNER, INDIANA
Mildered F. Elliott
ROCHESTER -- Mildred F. Elliott, 91, of Rochester, died at 6:58 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at
Hickory Creek of Rochester.
She is survived by a daughter, Janelle (Richard “Dick”) Smith of Rochester; sons, Fred A.
(Joyce) Jones of Rochester and David Lee (Becky) Jones and of Florida; stepson, Bob Elliott of
White Pigeon, Mich.; stepdaughter, Becky Bingaman of Three Rivers, Mich.; 20 grandchildren;
18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at Good Family Funeral Home,
1200 W. 18th St. Rochester.
Funeral services will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hickory Creek of Rochester or Hope Hospice of Fulton
County.
