Search Archived Marriage Records
Ralph O. Pletcher
EDWARDSBURG, Mich. — Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher, 85, of Edwardsburg, Mich., died at 10:15
a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at his son’s home.
He is survived by his children: Ronald (Sharon) Pletcher and Darlene (Paul) Ferry, both of
Edwardsburg, Mich., Philip Pletcher of Grand Rapids, Mich., Pam (Jerry) Lingle of Niles, Mich.;
16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Naomi Crow of Plymouth; brothers: Gene
Pletcher and Russell Pletcher, both of South Bend and Willard Pletcher of Argos.
Visitation was held Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Coulter’s Chapel Church of
God, Niles, Mich.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the
Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, Mich., where military rites will be provided by the American Legion
Post #51.
Memorials may be made to Children’s International Lifeline, 16106 Brookwood Dr., Buchanan,
MI 49107 or to Hospice at Home.
Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Patricia L. Reed
BOURBON — Patricia L. Reed, 69, of 200 Florence St., #15, Bourbon, died at 10:10 a.m. on
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at Community Hospital of Bremen.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Brian) Brown of Plymouth and her brother, Ron Barber
of Kentucky.
No visitation or services will be held.
Memorial contributions be made to her family to help with the cost of a burial marker.
Van Gilder Funeral Home, Plymouth, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Raymond R. Niksch
PORTAGE — Raymond R. Niksch, 79, of Portage, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14 surrounded by
his loving family. Ray was born Nov. 5, 1927 to Herman and Anna (Graf) Niksch. Ray had been
a longtime resident of Portage and Wheeler and resided in Plymouth from 1989 to 1999. He had
been a lifelong farmer and a retired carpenter with 40 years of service. Ray also was a member
of Carpenter local 1005. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and had served
as a deacon and usher. Ray was a charter member and past member of the couples club. Ray
was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War. He was a wonderful happy spirit and
will be greatly missed by his family and friends. “You bet.” He has left this life to spend eternity
with our heavenly father.
Memorial contributions are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hobart.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Nancy; five children: James (Rebecca) Niksch of
Allenhurst, Ga., Julie (Maurice) Gipson of Indianapolis, Robert Niksch of Valparaiso, Ellen
(Roger) France of Valparaiso and Laurie (John) Walsdorf of Hobart; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren;
and one sister, Rhoda (Earl) Benzer of Hobart.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Roxie Blackman and Ruth Glova; two brothers: Robert
Niksch and Ralph Niksch; and his parents, Herman and Anna Niksch.
The funeral service will be Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old
Ridge Rd., Hobart with Rev. Gary S. Nagy officiating. Burial will be at Graceland cemetery.
Visitation is Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart. (219) 942-2109.
Michael T., Sr. Raffin
PLYMOUTH — Michael T. Raffin Sr., 58, of Plymouth, died on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Saint Joseph
Regional Medical Center, Plymouth.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Raffin of Plymouth; daughters: Gina Marie Raffin of
Clearwater, Fla. and Angela Lyn Raffin of Plymouth; son, Michael T. Raffin Jr. of Plymouth; one
grandson; and a brother, Thomas G. Raffin of Minnesota.
Visitation is Friday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Michael Catholic Church, Plymouth.
Funeral services are Friday, Jan. 19 at noon at the church.
Burial will be at the St. Michael cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials may be made to St. Michael School.
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert Allen Curtis
CULVER — Robert (Bob) Allen Curtis, 68, of 225 Lakeview St., Culver passed away on Jan. 15
at 8 p.m. at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was born on Feb. 25, 1938 in Plymouth to Maurice and Carrie (Kring) Curtis. He was a
lifetime resident of the area. He married
Nancy Hott-Smith on Jan. 11, 1979.
Bob graduated from Culver High School in 1956. He was a volunteer fireman in Culver for 20
year. Bob was a bricklayer and owned and operated his own trucking company. He drove for 43
years and retired from Frick Services. He was a 50-year member of the Maxinkuckee Odd
Fellows Lodge.
Bob (Robbie) was blessed with five children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In addition to his wife, Nancy, Bob is survived by his five children: Charles Curtis, Scott (Amy)
Curtis and their sons Vance and Cameron Curtis, Shan (Doug) Farmer, Rory (Stephanie) Smith
and their children Rhiannon, Jacob, Alex, Taylor, Jeb, and Maggie and great-grandchild -
Mackenzie, Ryan (Jackie) Smith and children: Kristi, Keaton, and Kortney, one sister, Jean
(Dave) Sisk, sister-in-law, Lois Curtis, niece, Amanda Curtis, nephews: Seth Curtis and Stuart
Dennie; one aunt and several cousins. Extended family included Kent and Dawn Dickey-Thomas
and children Jamie and Jenna Thomas, and Jeff and Shelli Dickey and children - Kylie, Kassie,
and Karlie.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Maurice and Carrie Curtis and a brother, Warren Curtis
Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.
at the Bonine-Odom Funeral Home in Culver with an Oddfellows memorial service at 8 p.m. and
from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday at the church. Rev. Bryan Siefert and Alfie Salary will officiate services
at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan 19, 2007 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 511 School St.,
Culver. Interment will follow at Culver Masonic cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given
to the Culver-Union Township Fire Dept., Maxinkuckee Odd Fellows Lodge, or the Southern
Care Hospice, 310 West McKinley, 340, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Bonine-Odom Funeral Home, Culver, is in charge of arrangements.
Emma E. Dittrick
PLYMOUTH — Erma E. Dittrick, 93, of 635 Oak Hill Ave., Plymouth, passed away on Monday,
Jan. 15, 2007, at 6:45 p.m. at Miller's Merry Manor in Plymouth.
Erma was born on May 9, 1913, in Union County, Ky., to George Wesley and Cynthia Elisa
(Watson) Eads. On Dec. 26, 1929, Erma and Otis Dittrick were united in marriage. They lived
most of their lives in the Marshall County area. Erma spent many hours as a den mother for the
Cub Scouts, for her boys. She enjoyed ladies bowling, playing cards with her friends and
belonging to the Old La Porte Road Homemakers Club. Erma was past Senior Regent and a 50-
year member of the Plymouth Women of the Moose Lodge #1355. She had been employed at
Bosworth’s, and retired from Dave and Ray's Supermarket as a deli clerk.
Erma was a beloved and devoted wife to her husband, Otis. She was a loving and devoted
mother to her sons, Daniel Dittrick of Plymouth and Dennis Dittrick of Indianapolis, who both
survive. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. Erma was preceded in death by her
loving husband Otis, four sisters, and five brothers.
Funeral services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Van Gilder Funeral Home, 300 West
Madison St., Plymouth with the Rev. Robert Schultz officiating. Burial will be in New Oak Hill
cemetery, Plymouth.
A time of visiting and sharing memories of Erma with her family, will be on Thursday, from 4 to 7
p.m. at the Van Gilder Funeral Home.
The family requests that memorial contributions, in Erma's name, be made to the Marshall
County Cancer Society, Post Office Box 895, Plymouth, IN 46563, or to the Alzheimer’s
Association, Post Office Box 4204, South Bend, IN 46601.
Lois L. Osburn
AKRON — Lois L. Osburn, 74, of 9355 South 1000 West, Akron, died at 9:45 a.m. on Monday,
Jan. 15 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. She was born in Marshall County
on Feb. 25, 1932 to Carl and Hilda (Johnston) Blackburn. On Nov. 15, 1953 in Mentone, she
married
Robert A. Osburn, who survives.
She had worked at several area factories including Ristance in Mentone and Chamberlain
Products in Akron. She attended the Gospel Hill Pentecostal Church in Silver Lake.
She is survived by her husband, Robert A. Osburn of Akron; two daughters: Sharon (Eddie)
Sexton of Mentone and Carol Reed of Akron; sister, Juanita Scott of Bourbon; and a brother,
Richard (Judy) Blackburn of Pierceton.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother.
Visitation is Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 2 to 8 p.m. at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St.,
Mentone.
Funeral services are Thursday, Jan. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Gospel Hill Pentecostal, 303 S.
Jefferson St., Silver Lake, with Rev. Frank Whitaker officiating.
Burial will be at Harrison Center cemetery, Etna Green.
Memorials may be made to Gospel Hill Pentecostal Church, the American Cancer Society or the
National Kidney Foundation.
Donald Wayne Troxel
WILMINGTON, Ill. — Donald Wayne Troxel, 80, of Wilmington, Ill., died on Monday, Jan. 15. He
is survived by siblings: Helen Finger, Julaine Craig, Carolyn Ritchison, Richard Troxel and Merlin
Troxel.
No services were held.
Burial was in Abraham Lincoln National cemetery, Elwood, Ill.
Goodale Memorial Chapel, Lockport, Ill., was in charge of the arrangements.
