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Geneva Burnis Christlieb
PLYMOUTH — Geneva Burnis Christlieb, 83, of Columbia City, died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Survivors include sons: A. Duane (Betty) Christlieb of Airgood, S.D., Andy Christlieb of
Jacksonville, Fla. And Jay Edward Christlieb of Hanletsburg; daughters: Barbara (Levin) Robbins
of Somerset, Ky., Phyllis Croff of Bronston, Ky. And Frances Mattern of Jacksonville, Fla.;
stepson, Bernard Christlieb of Fort Wayne; step-daughters: Virginia Lincoln of Fort Wayne and
Janice Smith of Auburn; 45 grandchildren; 112 great-grandchildren; and two great-great
grandchildren; brothers, Garland K. (Betty) Keister of Poe, Arthur Orin (Cindy) Cummins of
Columbia City; and sister, Georgia Marie (Larry) Lock of Larwill.
Visitation is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 6 at
DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.
Burial will follow at Christian Chapel cemetery, Merriam, Noble County.
Memorials may be given to the Whitley County Senior Center.
Violet Ham
PLYMOUTH — Violet Ham, 93, died at 9: 55 a.m., Thursday Feb. 28, 2008, in Pilgrim Manor, Plymouth.
She was born in Bourbon, IN on May 16, 1914 to the late Charles and Villa Fern Nellans Ferguson.
Violet attended Bourbon schools.
On June 16, 1932 she married
Robert "Bob" Ham in Plymouth; he died Sept. 4, 1973. They had
three daughters Margaret "Peggy", Carolyn and Sonia.
Together Bob and Violet owned Courtesy Cleaners from January 1951 to August 1972.
Violet was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Plymouth, and the Beta Sigma Phi for many
years and held numerous offices in the sorority.
She is survived by two of her daughters and their husbands Margaret "Peggy" (Max) Hatfield,
and Sonia (James) Kadlec all of Plymouth; 10 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, many
great-great grandchildren, four brothers: Clifford (Barbara) Ferguson, Donald (Avalee) Ferguson,
and Floyd (Carol) Ferguson all of Plymouth; Lloyd (Linda) Ferguson, New Albany; one sister:
Marjorie (Glenden) Albright, Plymouth; and three sister-in-law's Dorothy Ferguson, Argos; Lena
Ferguson, Niles, Mich.; and Lizzie Moore, Plymouth.
Violet was preceded in death by her husband, parents, daughter Carolyn Elliot, two brothers
Robert Ferguson, Melvin Ferguson; and two sisters Bernice (Walter) Ott and Donna Ferguson.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life and share memories with her family from 4 to 8 p.m. on
Tuesday, March 4, 2008, and after 7 a.m. on Wednesday March 5, at the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services for Violet will be held at 10: 30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, in the funeral home,
the Rev. James Campbell will officiate.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to the Presbyterian Church, or to the donor's choice.
Rosetta Mae (Lawrence) Simmons
ELKHART — Rosetta Mae (Lawrence) Simmons, 85, of Elkhart, died at 6: 20 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28.
She is survived by daughters: Christina M. (Rowton) Spaid and Sandra K. Simmons of Elkhart,
and Joanne P. (Rowton) Mauch of Buchanan, Mich.; sons: Gary A. Simmons of Ocala, Fla. And
Marvin D. Rowton of Littleton, Colo.; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren;
and a sister, Leola Draeger-Lawrence of Nevada.
Visitation is Sunday, March 2 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the A.M. Manuel Funeral Home, North Liberty.
Funeral services are Monday, March 3 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Eastlawn cemetery.
James A. Whiteman
PLYMOUTH — James A. Whiteman, 94, died Thursday, Feb. 28 at 3: 07 p.m. at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth.
He is survived by two sons: Jim (Nancy) Whiteman and Tom (Maxine) Whiteman, all of Plymouth; a daughter, Deborah (Roger) Emmons Sr. of LaPaz; 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren
and six great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation took place on Sunday, March 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home,
Plymouth with calling continuing Monday morning at 7 a.m.
Funeral services will take place on Monday, March 3 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Union North Ambulance Service.
Carl D. Zolman
MENTONE — Carl D. Zolman, 90, of Mentone, died at 4: 30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw.
He is survived by sons: John (Sue) Zolman of Mentone and Jerry (Connie) Zolman of Mentone;
seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is Monday, March 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. at King Memorial Home, Mentone. Funeral
services are Tuesday, March 4 at 10: 30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be at the Mentone cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Mentone EMS.
Mary Kay Cook
NAPPANEE — Mary Kay Cook, 44, formerly of Nappanee, died Friday, Feb. 29 at 9: 17 a.m. at Elkhart General Hospital.
She is survived by her husband, Tim E. Cook; parents: Walter and Doris M. Lynch of Bremen;
two daughters: Christine Marie Cook and Lisa Marie Cook, both of Nappanee; two stepdaughters:
Tammy Joe O'Dell of Wakarusa and Tera Joe Tener of Nappanee; two brothers:
(twin) Michael Ray (Carolyn) Lynch of Bremen and Greg A. (Donna) Lynch of Evansville; one
sister, Jennifer (Tom) D'Haese of Nottawa, Mich.; five grandchildren and father-in-law Bob Cook of Goshen.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 3 at the Bremen Church of God.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the Bremen Church of God.
Burial will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be made to The Benefit for Mary Cook Fund c/o Chiphone Federal Credit Union, 250 N. Miriam, Nappanee, IN 46550.
Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas George Koontz
CHICAGO — Former Marshall County resident Thomas George Koontz passed away Friday,
Feb. 29, 2008 in Rush University Hospital, Chicago.
Born on Oct. 11, 1950 in Bremen, he is the son of Donald and Betty Koontz of Plymouth.
Tom is survived by his parents; two sisters: Terri (Steve) Jackson of Thebes, Ill. And Trudy
(Tom) Stearns of Plymouth; along with three nieces, one nephew, three great nieces, three great
nephews and many close friends.
He will be remembered by his family and friends for his loving spirit. Tom enjoyed music,
horseback riding, camping, the beach, and scuba diving. He was a certified scuba instructor. He
also enjoyed traveling and had lived in Puerto Rico for 14 years. Tom was a writer and publisher
by profession.
In respect for Tom’s wishes there will be no visitation and family services will be held at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be made to the donor’s choice.
The Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, is assisting with arrangements.
Rue Dee Marker
Rue Dee Marker, of Mesa, Ariz., previously from Bremen, passed away Friday, Feb. 29, 2008, at
8: 20 a.m. at the Banner Baywood Hospital. He was 71.
He was born on June 13, 1936, to Violet Shaffer and Rudolph Marker in Wakarusa. Deedle, as
his childhood friends knew him, attended Madison Schools. He had the St. Joe County Grand
Champion 4-H Steer in 1950 and took first place in Pheasants in 1952. He also played
basketball for Madison, under his father, and was on the 1953 County Championship team.
Rue Dee graduated with a B.A. in physical education from Indiana University in 1959. He was a
member of the Lamda Chi Alpha Fraternity there. After graduation, he taught math and coached
basketball at Ligonier Schools. That is where he met his wife, Judy Wade. They were married
on
Dec. 16, 1961, in Wakarusa. They later moved to Bremen where he taught math while earning
his master's degree in elementary education and administration at Ball State University.
In 1967, Rue was appointed the Middle School Principal at Bremen. During his 13 years as
principal, he also negotiated teacher salaries, was the treasurer for the Board of Directors of IN
Association of Elementary Principals, wrote and administered several OSHIA programs, was the
President of the Bremen Parks Board of Directors, President of the Town Board, and served as
Commissioner of Police.
In 1974, Rue Dee and Judy opened Ju-Dee-Kay's Hummel Figurines. They traveled to Germany
to obtain the figurines and import them. They became the world's largest dealer of Hummels.
Rue was also known as one of the leading experts on Hummels and was a consultant for the
manufacturer, the Goebel Company. He organized several international conventions, advised
many researchers and authors and was fortunate to own and sell many rare and one of a kind pieces.
In 1983, he retired from Bremen Public Schools and moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., with his wife.
There, they opened The Sideboard, a specialty china and crystal store. As much as they loved
Arizona, Bremen was always home to them and they moved back in 1991.
While retired, Rue Dee still instructed Driver Training Classes and taught G.E.D. at night. He
loved young people and was the happiest when he was helping others. One of his most
memorable committees was the United Way of Marshall County, where he served from 1993-
1999, serving as Chairman in 1995-1996. In 1999, he was appointed to the Christmas in April
Board of Marshall County.
Mr. Marker also served as the head of the accounting department at Bremtown Kitchens for a
short time. Then, in 1998, he was appointed Clerk-Treasurer for the Town of Bremen. He
enjoyed his position until 2000. Shortly after the passing of his wife, he moved back to Arizona
where he continued to deal in Hummel figurines and collectibles.
Rue Due is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Taylor of Wakarusa; two grandchildren: Ambria
and Maliq Taylor of Wakarusa; a niece, Elizabeth (Mike) Getz-Capron of Bremen; and a
nephew, Stephen Getz of Bremen. He also leaves behind his good friend, Theresa Durham and
loving Shih Tzu, Princess.
A memorial service is being held at the Bremen K-8 School Gymnasium, 700 W. South St.,
Bremen, on Saturday, March 15, 2008. There will be a visitation at 1 p.m., with the service
beginning at 2 p.m. There will be another hour of visitation after the service. In lieu of flowers, the
family asks that donations be made to The Rue Dee Marker Scholarship Fund at Bremen High
School. Donations can be sent to The Marshall County Community Foundation, PO Box 716,
Plymouth, IN 46563.
The Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements.
Gertrude Wildon Connolly
PLYMOUTH – Gertrude Wilson Connolly, 96, died at 9: 35 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2008 in
Miller’s Merry Manor, where she had been a resident for more than 14 years. Before coming to
Plymouth, Gertrude had been a resident of Elkhart for many years.
Born on March 25, 1911, in Providence, R.I., she was the daughter of Frank R. and Ruth May
Russell Wilson. Gertrude was a graduate of Lowell High School, Lowell, Mass.
Gertrude was a direct descendent of John and Elizabeth Baker Russell. They were a pioneer
family who settled in Woburn, Mass., circa 1643.
On July 31, 1931, Gertrude and Carlton H. Connolly were married
in Nashua, N.H. Carlton died
on July 6, 1993.
A devoted homemaker and mother, Gertrude had worked as a sales clerk at Ziesel’s Clothing
Store in Elkhart.
Gertrude had many interests including: her family, reading, sewing, researching genealogy, and
her favorite past-time was writing poems. She was also active in the Republican party in Elkhart,
and had been very active in the Civil Defense during WWII.
She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Elkhart, where she had been very
active in the activities of the church.
Gertrude is survived by two daughters: Ruth E. (Ronald) Weist of Plymouth, Janet Lawrence of
Centralia, Wash.; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, May E. Bond, a son-in-law,
Carl R. Lawrence, and granddaughter, Karen Lynn Lawrence, a sister, Dorothy Schmelzer and a
brother, Homer Wilson.
Friends are invited to share memories of Gertrude with her family from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday,
March 6, 2008, at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth,
Funeral services will be held following visitation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, in the funeral home.
Pastor Larry Ferguson will officiate.
Burial will be in Prairie Street cemetery, Elkhart.
Memorial gifts in Gertrude’s name may be given to the Salvation Army.
Connie June Gardner
BREMEN — Connie June Gardner, 65, of Bremen, died Sunday, March 2 at Community Hospital of Bremen.
She is survived by her husband, Howard "Mike" Gardner; two daughters: Carman (Rick)
Greenlee of Bourbon and Michelle (Bill) Workman of Bloomington; a son, Mick (Barbara)
Gardner of Bremen; a sister: Vickie (Kim) Finkenbiner of North Webster; two brothers: Eugene
(Linda) Eads of Nevada and Arlis Eads of Plymouth; two grandchildren and one step-grandson.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 at Mishler Funeral Home,
Bremen and at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, March 5 at 10: 30 a.m. at Pine Creek Church of
the Brethren, North Liberty with burial to follow at Morris cemetery, LaPaz.
James Joseph, II Hill
ROCHESTER — James Joseph “Jamie” Hill II, 32, of Rochester, died Sunday, March 2, at 6: 36 p.m. at his home.
He is survived by a son, Gavin Reese Hill of Silver Lake; his mother, Rita L. Hill of Rochester;
his father, James J. Hill of Rochester; four sisters: Tami Cox of Akron, Debi Shidler of
Rochester, Katina “Katryna” Powell (Scott) of Rochester and Kira (Andy) Shotts of Rochester;
two brothers: Art (Jamie) Shidler of Rochester and William “Bill” Adams of Mass.; his
companion, Brenda Wilson of Rochester; her children: Brielle Braxtin and Brilee Wilson, all of
Rochester; an uncle, Mike Hill and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 12 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Good Family Funeral
Home, Rochester and one hour prior to services Thursday.
Funeral services will take place on Thursday, March 13 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at Fulton cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Jamie’s son Gavin Reese Hill, in care of 1st Source Bank or the Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.
