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Michelle Papio
SOUTH BEND — Michele Papio, 52, residing in South Bend, passed away at 5 a.m. Saturday,
Feb. 7, 2009 in her home.
She was born Jan. 12, 1957 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of the late Charles L. and Maxine
(Golden) Papio. She graduated from Sylvania High School, Toledo.
Michele was employed as environmental services supervisor at St. Joseph Regional Medical
Center, Plymouth and formerly worked at Holy Cross Care & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend.
She loved working on things with her hands. She had a tremendous love for animals, especially
dogs and cats.
She is survived by her two sisters, Carla Papio and Tina Papio both of Toledo, and her brother,
Joe Papio also of Toledo. She is also survived by other family members, Jeaniece Bumgardner
and Connie Bumgardner of South Bend and their family.
Through a domestic fight that ended in tragedy, the Papio and Bumgardner families will come
together to remember Michele’s life.
Family and friends may visit at First Brethren Church, 4909 South Ironwood Drive, South Bend,
from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Services celebrating Michele’s life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday
at the Church.
Contributions in memory of Michele may be offered to South Bend Animal Care & Control, 105
South Olive St., South Bend, IN 46619
Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dennis M. “Skeeter” Peffley
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Dennis M. “Skeeter” Peffley, 62, of the Fairbanks, Alaska area, formerly
of Plymouth, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at home.
He is survived by his stepmother, Pauline Peffley of Plymouth; sisters: Bobbie (Dwayne)
Zeider of Elkhart, Doris (Roger) Stutsman of Elkhart, Sally Smith of Plymouth and Mary Ann
(Marvin) Miller of Plymouth; and brother, Burton A. Johnson of Elkhart.
Elmer M. Beachy
NAPPANEE — Elmer M. Beachy, 89, of Nappanee, died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at
Elkhart General Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Beachy; daughters: Rosanna (John Henry) Borkholder of
Nappanee, Loretta (Noah) Herschberger of Kokomo and Rachel (Edward) Otto of Kokomo; 11
grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; brothers: Daniel (Ada) Beachy of Millersburg, Perry
(Ruby) Beachy of Goshen and Mahlon (Clara) Beachy of Utica, Ohio; and sister-in-law, Edna
Beachy of Utica, Ohio.
Visitation was after 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9 and is all day Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the Lyle Borkholder
residence, 9457 W. 1050 N. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the
Ray Kemp residence, 9699 W. 1050 N. Burial will be at Graber cemetery.
Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, assisted the family with arrangements
Betty Bordner
BLOOMINGTON — Betty Bordner joined the other angels on Feb. 8, 2009 at the age of 90. She
was born to Lloyd Byron and Amee Washington Eherenman on Jan. 27, 1919 in Bourbon.
She was preceded in death in October, 2007 by her husband of 67 years, Wilbur Amaza Bordner
to whom she married
on Aug. 4, 1940 in Plymouth.
She is survived by three children and their spouses: Bruce (Darla) Bordner of Wakarusa, Mauri
(Marie) of Columbia City and Amee (Peter) Yoder of Bloomington. She is also survived by six
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Betty graduated from Plymouth High School and Indiana University (R.S. and M.S.) and was a
stay-at-home mother before she became an English teacher. Born of musicians, teachers and
golfers, her loves were music, gardening, reading, bridge and golf.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Plymouth and St. Mark’s United
Methodist Church in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, gifts would be welcome at either church or
Bloomington Hospital Hospice or the Monroe County Public Library. A memorial service will be
held in the spring in Plymouth. Allen Funeral Home of Bloomington is handling the arrangements.
Michael E. Cowger
ROCHESTER — Michael E. Cowger, 58, of Rochester, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at 6:05 a.m.
at his residence following a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 26, 1950 in rural Star City to
Wilbur “Bud” and Donna (DePoy) Cowger. On June 14, 1969 in Argos, he married
Darlene K. Davis.
He lived most of his life in the Marshall and Fulton County area. He worked as a production
worker at RBC Precision Products in Bremen.
Michael was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed working in his yard and garden
during the summer months. He was a member of the National Rifleman’s Association and
Northern Indiana Hunting Club. He attended Argos United Methodist Church, Argos. He was a
graduate of Argos High School class of 1968.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene Cowger of Rochester; daughter, Carla (Chris) Decker of
Knox; son, Leon Cowger of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren: Matt, Chris, Jarod Decker of
Knox; parents, Bud and Donna Cowger of Rochester; two brothers: Kelly Cowger and Tim
Cowger of Rochester; and four sisters: Beverly (Joe) Cooley of Talma, Dianna (Danni) Overmyer
of Tippecanoe, Twyla (Mike) Hartman of Argos and Melody (Clyde) Avery of Argos.
He was preceded in death by a son, Michael E. Cowger Jr. in 1991; four brothers: Keith Lee
Cowger, Leon “Buddy” Cowger, Bill Cowger and Terry Cowger; and niece, Donna Marie Cooley.
Friends may visit with the family Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the
Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, 208 N. Michigan St., Argos, and for one hour prior to the services
at the church.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 at the Argos United Methodist Church, 540
N. Michigan St., Argos, with Rev. Ken Walker of the Argos United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will be at Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer
Center, c/o Indiana University Foundation, Attn: Thoracic Oncology Program Fund, PO Box
660245, Indianapolis, IN 46266-0245 .
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
Joanna M. Hoke
NAPPANEE — Joanna M. Hoke, 93, of Nappanee, died at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at her home.
She is survived by son, Stanley (Carol) Hoke of Indianapolis; daughters: Meredyth (Dan)
Wollmann of Nappanee and Anita (Andy) Stoner of Fort Wayne; eight grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren;
and brother, Willard (Jean) Stump of Canton, Ohio.
Visitation is Friday, Feb. 13 from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder
Funeral Home, Nappanee, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Funeral
services are Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Brethren in Christ Church. Burial will be at
Christian Union cemetery, Garrett.
Memorials may be made to the Nappanee Brethren in Christ Church or Brethren in Christ World
Missions.
Dana Lynn Rodgers
PLYMOUTH — Dana Lynn Rodgers, 47, of Plymouth, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at home.
he is survived by her mother and stepfather, Shirley (Robert) Troyer of Knox; sisters: Geniene
(Wilber) Collins of Plymouth, Colleen Joseph of Bowling Green, Ky. and Jennifer (Robert)
Cooper of Morristown; and brothers: Donald (Brenda) Rodgers of Greenfield and Herman
Rodgers of Knox.
Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Plymouth Baptist Church. A memorial
service will be held Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Eagle Creek
cemetery, Knox.
Memorials may be made to Plymouth Baptist Church.
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, is in charge of the arrangements.
Violet Irene Overmyer
ELKHART — Violet Irene Overmyer, 68, of Elkhart, died Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at
Golden Living Center, Elkhart. She had been ill since November 2008. She was born Jan. 20,
1941 in Culver to Clifford M. and Cornelia L. (Crow) Overmyer.
She grew up and lived in the Marshall County area in 1989 she moved to Knox, and lived in the
Binkley Home until she became ill in November.
She had attended Santa Anna United Methodist Church of Argos.
She is survived by sister, Mary L. (Randy) Huber of Syracuse; brother, C. Meril (Dorothy)
Overmyer of Argos; 10 nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Lenora K. Voreis.
Friends may visit with the family Friday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to1 p.m. at the Earl-Grossman
Funeral Home, 208 N. Michigan St., Argos. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb.13 at the
funeral home with Rev. Dr. Dean Fager officiating. Burial will be at Maple Grove cemetery,
Argos.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathfinders; PO Box 431, Plymouth, IN 46563
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
Joseph D. Stachelski
WARSAW — Joseph D. Stachelski, 68, of Warsaw, died Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. at home.
Funeral Services for Joseph Stachelski will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Sacred Heart
Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., Warsaw.
Burial will be at Oakwood cemetery in Warsaw.
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
Kenneth Frick
LAKEVILLE — Kenneth Frick, 84, of Lakeville, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009 in his home.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn L. (Rhoade) Frick; two daughters: Connie Kujawski of New
Carlisle and Debra Lozier of Mishawaka; son, Randy (Cindy) Frick of Lakeville; five
grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 in the Palmer Funeral HomeGuisinger
Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend. Burial will follow in Southlawn cemetery,
South Bend. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home and one hour prior to the
services Friday.
Wilma E. Rush
WAKARUSA — Wilma E. Rush, 86, of Wakarusa, formerly of Nappanee, died at 2:40 a.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Wakarusa.
She is survived by a son, Gene (Rosemary) Robinson of Nappanee; daughters: Shirley (Jim)
Crane of Punta Gorda, Fla. and Cheryl Rush of Elkhart; eight grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren;
and four great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation is Friday, Feb. 13 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home,
Nappanee, and one hour prior to the services Saturday at the church. Funeral services are
Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at First Church of God, Nappanee. Burial will be at Bremen
cemetery.
Memorials may be made to First Church of God, Alzheimer’s Association or the Center for
Hospice & Palliative Care.
Marilyn Rose Smiley
ARGOS — Marilyn Rose Smiley, 79, formerly of 316 S. Michigan St., Argos, died Wednesday,
Feb. 11, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. at Miller’s Merry Manor of Wakarusa following a short illness. She
was born Aug. 20, 1929 in Argos to Clyde “Jim” O. and Marjorie (Krouse) Moriarty. On July 25,
1947 in Paw Paw, Mich., she married
Richard Louis Smiley, who preceded her in death Nov. 5, 2006.
She had lived all of her life in the Argos community. She worked at Kroger in Plymouth from
1962 to 1985 when she retired.
She was a member of the Argos Bible Church, Argos. She and her husband were very active
with The Old Gold Club, Argos. She graduated from Tippecanoe High School with the class of 1947.
She is survived by two daughters: Diana (Terry) Ellis of Argos and Patsy (Stephen) Lucas of
Byron Center, Mich.; six grandchildren: Cheryl (Jeff) Shoup of Huntington, Tammy (Scott) Tuley
of Trafalgar, Craig (Christen) Ellis of Argos, Lona (Adam) VanLoozenoord of Grand Rapids,
Mich., Jason (Kori) Ellis of Clayton and Jody (Matt) O’Dell of New Palestine; 10 great grandchildren;
one great-great grandchild; two brothers: James P. Moriarty of Argos and Terry L.
Moriarty of Plymouth; and sister, Linda (Leonard) Fuller of Wakarusa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, John Moriarty; and sister, Shirley
Knezevich on May 7, 2008.
Friends may visit with the family Friday, Feb. 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Earl-Grossman Funeral
Home, 208 N. Michigan St., Argos. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Argos
Bible Church, 210 S. Maple Ave., Argos with Rev. Phil Platz officiating.
Burial will be at Maple Grove cemetery, Argos.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Argos Bible Church, 210 S. Maple Ave., Argos, IN
46501 or “Old Gold Club” Attn: Mr. Medich; 500 Yearick Ave., Argos, IN 46501.
Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.
