January 26, 2010

Arthur J. Gartenman
Arthur J. Gartenman, 89, of Batesville, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2010, at Margaret Mary Hospital. He was born on March 25, 1920, in Ripley County, the son of Mary (Nee: Krieger) and George Gartenman. He married Rita Tebbe at St. Louis Church in Batesville on June 6, 1945, and she preceded him in death.
Survivors include one daughter, Donna Feller of Batesville; son, Dan Gartenman of Batesville; nine grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers- Alvin and Eugene Gartenman.
Mr. Gartenman was a farmer and for 40 years was a sales representative for Watkins Products. He was a member of St. Louis Church.
Visitation is being held today, Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A private family rosary service will be held. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at St. Louis Church with Rev. Rob Hankee officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to St. Louis School or Phi Beta Psi Cancer Research. Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville is in charge of arrangements.

Della V. Carter
Della V. Carter, 91, of Dillsboro, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010 at Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. She was born in Monroe, Tennessee, on January 8, 1919.
Survivors include three sons, James Clark of Cincinnati, OH, John (Faye) Mulholland of Owensboro, KY, and Ron Mulholland of Florida; three daughters, Bernadine Jenkins of Georgia, Charlene Mulholland and Carol (Wayne) French, both of Dillsboro; one brother, Lloyd Scott of Franklin, OH; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters and one son, Fred Gerhardt.
Ms. Carter was employed for several years at GW Plastics Corp in Vermont. She also resided in Cincinnati for several years before moving to Dillsboro.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 28 at 11 a.m. at Hope Baptist Church in Dillsboro, with Pastor Tom Holt officiating. Burial will be in the New Craven Cemetery. Friends may meet her family at Hope Baptist Church on Thursday, from 9-11 a.m. Memorials may be given to the family. Arrangements are being handled by Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.

Melvin Harland Hinshaw, Sr.
Melvin Harland Hinshaw, Sr., 83, of North Vernon, formerly of Indian Lakes, passed away Thursday, January 21, 2010. Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, at 2 p.m. at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville, with Chaplain Walter Glover officiating. Burial will be in St John (Huntersville) Cemetery with military graveside rites. Memorials may be given to the Decatur Co. Hospice. Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth I. Vogel
Ruth I. Vogel, 92, of Versailles passed away Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg. She was born near Dillsboro on February 1, 1917 the daughter of Louis and Minnie Warner Willman. She was married to Roscoe Vogel on May 19, 1934 and he preceded her in death on April 13, 2003.
Survivors include one son Gerald (Joyce) Vogel of Versailles; one daughter Janice (Richard) Sedam of Carmel; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; her twin sister Ruby Miller and her sister Georgena Cole both of Anderson. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother John, and sisters Esther Rahe, Sylvia Schmaltz, Ida Lee McKim, and Joyce Ann Willman.
Mrs. Vogel was a former employee of GM in Flint, Michigan and also had worked at Vines Poultry in Osgood. She and her husband had owned and operated the J & R Truck Stop near Elrod.
Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, at 11 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Bruce Fitzsimmons of the Washington Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery at Dewberry. Memorials may be given to the Friendship Fire Department in care of the funeral home.

Janet F. (Schwieterman) Bonta
Janet F. (Schwieterman) Bonta, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010. She was the daughter of the late William Earl and Gertrude Meehan Schwieterman. She married Thomas L. Bonta and he preceded her in death.
Survivors include chil-dren, Jeffrey (Devona) Bonta, Gwen (Michael) Ewing, Dean (Sharon) Bonta; siblings, Earl and Stanley Schwieterman and Carol Horstmann; 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by parents, husband, son- Bradley Bonta; and sister- Margaret Kotzbauer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 29 at St. Margaret Mary Church North College Hill at 11 a.m. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Memorials may be given to the Clovernook Center for the Blind (700 Hamilton Avenue, Cincin-nati, Ohio 45239). Schaefer-Busby-Danner Funeral Home, Cincinnati, OH, is in charge of arrangements.

Elmine "Red" Johnson
Elmine "Red" Johnson, 76, of Tampa, Florida passed away Saturday, January 16, 2010 at his home following a long illness. He was born on February 20, 1933 in Hindman, KY, the son of the late Melvin and Ellen Johnson.
Survivors include his wife, Marie; son, Terry; daughter, Debbie; stepdaughters, Nancy and Tammy; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Johnson had machine shops in Tampa and was an avid musician.
Services will be private at his request. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the LifePath Hospice, 12973 N. Telecom Pkwy., Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33637.

January 19, 2010

William (Bill) Hershman
William (Bill) Hershman, 68, of Milan, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at his residence. He was born May 16, 1941 at Pendleton, the son of George and Mary (Cox) Hershman. He married Nancy (Kelly) Hershman on September 30, 1972 and she survives.
Other survivors include daughter, Dawn (Mike) Evans of Milan; brothers, Thomas Hershman of Cedar City, UT, Wayne Hershman of Fortville; sisters, Janet Ledbetter of Pendleton; two grandsons, Coty and Keegan; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Richard Hershman.
Mr. Hershman retired from Seagrams and was a former owner of Hershman Interiors. He attended the Milan First Baptist Church. He was a member of the Hopewell Masonic Lodge #80 F&AM, Order Eastern Star #333, former member of the Milan Rescue 30 and was on the Craven Cemetery board. He was currently the manager of concessions at Versailles State Park.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, at the Milan First Baptist Church in Milan with Pastor Harris Long officiating. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until time of services at the church. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret M. Gauck
Margaret M. Gauck, 91, of Greensburg, passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at the Hospice Inpatient Facility in Columbus. She was born March 2, 1918 in Decatur County, the daughter of Joseph and Addie (Schulte) Raver. She was married to Quirin Gauck on November 4, 1939 and he preceded her in death on July 11, 1991.
She is survived by four sons, Gerald "Jerry" (Rose) Gauck of Milan, Donald (Ruth) Gauck of Greensburg, Timothy Gauck of Greensburg, Ernest (Mary Lou) Gauck of Greensburg; one daughter, Polly (Terry) Fox of Greenfield; 15 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother Louis Raver and one grandson, Paul Gauck.
She was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Enochsburg. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella and was a 4-H leader for over 30 years.
Visitation will be from 3:30 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 19 at the Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home in Greensburg. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the St. John’s Catholic Church in Enochsburg
Internment will be held in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Enochsburg.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis at Oldenburg or to the Hospice of Decatur County or to the FEWSIC Jake Fox’s Foundation for juvenile diabetes research.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.popfuneralhome.com

Stacey Marie Shields
Stacey Marie Shields, 91, of Osgood, died Saturday, January 16, 2010 at Manderley Health Care Center, Osgood. She was born August 29, 1918 in Norwood, Ohio the daughter of Gordon and Marie Elizabeth Riley Steinberger. She married Henry Thomas Shields in July of 1939 and he preceded her in death on April 28, 1992.
Survivors include sons, Dennis Lee Shields and wife Brenda of Brookville, Gilbert Linn Shields and wife Tina of Pierceville; daughter, Beverly Lee Childers and husband Charles of Cincinnati; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son, Frank Thomas Shields; one daughter, Rose Marie Shields and one brother, Gilbert Steinberger.
Visitation will be held today, Tuesday, January 19 from 10-11 a.m. at Neal’s Funeral Home, in Osgood. Funeral services will begin immediately following visitation. Burial will be in the Crown Hill Memorial Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Memorials may be made to the Mud Pike Church in care of the funeral home.
Neal’s Funeral Home, Osgood is in charge of the arrangements. www.nealsfuneralhome.net

Earl Kennedy
Earl Kennedy, 74, of Moores Hill, died Friday, January 15, 2010. Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, January 19 at 2 p.m. at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan with Pastor Tom Crank officiating. Visitation will be at noon until the time of the funeral on Tuesday.
Memorials may be given to the Cancer Society or the Margaret Mary Community Hospital, I.C.U. clinic.
Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan is in charge of the arrangements.

Doris M. Prentice
Doris M. Prentice, 78, of Batesville, passed away Thursday, January 14, 2010. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Holy Family Church in Oldenburg with burial in the church cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Boys Town or donor’s choice in care of Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville, who was in charge of arrangements.

Joshua Gabbard
Joshua Gabbard, 24, of Dillsboro, died Sunday, January 17, 2010 very unexpectedly at Margaret Mary Community Hospital, Batesville. He was the son of Rick Gabbard and Tina Oeplepolt. He was a machinist by trade. Funeral services will be Thursday, January 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro. Visitation will be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. until the time of services. A complete obituary will be published in The Versailles Republican, January 21, 2010.

Geraldine Beach Calhoun
Geraldine Beach Calhoun passed away Monday, January 18, 2010 at Margaret Mary Community Hospital, Batesville. Arrangements are pending at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan.

Alfred J. "Tom" Litmer
Alfred J. "Tom" Litmer, 81, of Enochsburg, passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 16 at St. John’s Church in Enochsburg. The family requests memorials be given to the Heritage House Hospice. Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville was in charge of arrangements.

 

January 12, 2010

Ernest Harold Holt, Sr.
Ernest Harold Holt, Sr., 67, of Versailles, passed away Monday, January 11, 2010 at his residence. He was born on March 29, 1942 in Knifley, Kentucky, the son of John Washington and Minnie Perkins Holt. He married Donna Mickel on February 12, 1960 in Shelbyville, and she survives.
Surviving with his wife are five sons, Anthony (Connie) Holt, Sr. of Franklin, John (Carol) Holt of Napoleon, Michael, Robert and Ernest Holt, Jr., all of Versailles; two daughters, Starla (Randy) Sell of Versailles and Beth (Paul) Rumsey of Holton; three brothers, Ira (Betty) Holt of Seymour, Paul (Nancy) Holt of Shelbyville, and Alvie Holt of Flint, MI; one sister, Rachel Justice of Shelbyville; 11 grandchildren, Malia Adams of Fort Campbell, KY, Kaloni, Sierra and Anthony Holt, Jr., all of Ohio, Angela and Liz Copeland of Versailles, William and Patrick Rumsey of Holton; Tyler and Amanda Holt of Franklin; and Matthew Holt of Napoleon; and two great grandchildren, Nora Holt of England and Daniel Adams of Fort Campbell, KY.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother- Lonzie Holt, and two sisters- Agnes Hall and Nora Gibson.
Mr. Holt attended school in Shelbyville and worked in the shipping and receiving department for Knauf Fiberglass in Shelbyville for 33 1/2 years, retiring in 2001. He was a member of the North Vernon Wesleyan Church.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, at the North Vernon Wesleyan Church in North Vernon with Rev. Jim Terry and Rev. Ira Holt officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until time of services on Thursday. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles. Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home in North Vernon is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be given through the funeral home to the North Vernon Wesleyan Church. The family invites you to sign the online guest book and leave a message of condolence at www.dove-sharprudicel.com.

Wilfred A. "Bill" Ringwald
Wilfred A. "Bill" Ringwald, 93, of Madison, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 9 at St. Patrick Catholic Chapel in Madison. Burial was in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in China, Indiana. Memorials may be given to the Friends of Shawe & Pope John or Prince of Peace Catholic Church, contribution cards are available at the funeral home. Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre in Madison was in charge of arrangements.

Betty Jane Peters Brunner
Betty Jane Peters Brunner, age 79, of Aurora, died Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Dearborn County Hospital. She was born July 15, 1930 in Aurora, the daughter of John and Myrtle Brown Peters. On June 15, 1956, Betty married Edmond Brunner, and he survives.
Other survivors include her sister, Evelyn Boyd, of Milan; niece, Anita Morris, of Milan; nephew, John (Glenda) Ulmansiek of Aurora; and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister- Dorothy Uhlmansiek, and a niece- Gail Turner.
Mrs. Brunner graduated from Aurora High School in 1948, and was employed at Aurora Telephone Company as a telephone operator for two years. For ten years she was a secretary at Coca-Cola. Betty was a lifetime member of Aurora United Methodist Church, and an active member of Tri-Kappa Sorority in Aurora for 25 years.
Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, January 12 at 1 p.m. at Rullman-Hunger Funeral Home in Aurora, with Pastor Damon Soper officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Aurora United Methodist Church. Arrangements are being handled by Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.

M. Alexina "Zene" Pruss
M. Alexina "Zene" Pruss, age 97, of Farmers Retreat, died Thursday, January 7, 2010 at her home. She was born on March 23, 1912 in Aurora at her family farm home to Harry Abbott and Bess Hurd Abbott. In March of 1936 she married Irvin Pruss, and he preceded her in death in 1989.
Survivors include two sons, Barry (Judy) Pruss, of Aurora, and Terry (Jill) Pruss, of Farmers Retreat; two grandchildren, Tracy Pruss Karceski, and Terry "Scotty" Pruss; two great grandchildren, Paulina Pruss and Griffin Karceski. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sisters.
Mrs. Pruss and her husband owned and operated Pruss General Store in Farmers Retreat from 1950 until 1987. She loved dancing and she was dancing at senior centers in the area until just a few months ago.
There will be a committal service in the spring at Oakdale Cemetery that will be announced later. Memorials may be given in her memory to the Friendship Fire Dept First Responders. Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro is in charge of arrangements.

Tammy Billingsley
Tammy Billingsley, 40, of Sunman, passed away Monday, January 4, 2010 in Sunman. Funeral services were held at the Rullman Hunger Funeral Home on Saturday, January 9. Burial was in the St. Paul’s Cemetery in Sunman. Memorials may be given to the family. Please call the office at (812) 926-1450 and they will notify the family of your donation with a card. Rullman Hunger Funeral Home in Aurora was in charge of arrangements.

January 5, 2010

Norman A. Holtegel
Norman A. Holtegel, 82, lifelong resident of Dillsboro, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2009 at Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg. He was born in Ripley County on April 4, 1927, the son of Harold Holtegel and Bessie Hallgarth Holtegel. He married Ruth Collier on January 11, 1948 and she survives.
Other survivors include one son, Bradley Holtegel of Dillsboro; three daughters, Becky (Mike) Heller of Aurora, Bonnie (Nick) Kretler of Fountaintown and Brenda Kellenberger of Urbana, Ohio; eight grandchildren; three great grandchildren; four step grandchildren; 12 step great grandchildren; one sister, Rita Roberts of Versailles.
Mr. Holtegel graduated from high school and in 1945 joined the Merchant Marines, serving until 1947. He was a partner with David Graver in the Texaco Service Station in Dillsboro for many years.
Norman served as a volunteer firefighter for several years and was a Shriner and member of the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Dillsboro American Legion Post 292, and a member and volunteer at Friendly Seniors of Dillsboro. He was a long time member of the Dillsboro United Methodist Church where he served on various committees and on the board for many years.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 4 at Dillsboro United Methodist Church with Pastor Dennis Alstott officiating. Burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery. Masonic services were held at the Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro, who was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to his church or the Oakdale Cemetery.

Charlotte A. Tolle
Charlotte A. Tolle, 86, of Dillsboro, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at the Waters of Dillsboro, Ross Manor. She was born February 24, 1923 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Frank Laake and Agusta Koester Laake. She married Ralph E. Tolle on June 27, 1942 and he preceded her in death on November 25, 2004.
Survivors include one son, Ronald E. (Pat) Tolle of Cleves, OH; three daughters, Charlene (James) Payne of North Vernon, Marietta (Larry) Metzler of Paragould, AR and Barbara Sess of Bear Branch; eight grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; one brother, Louis Laake; and one sister, Betty Morse. She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and two brothers.
Mrs. Tolle was a homemaker.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 4 at Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro with Fr. Steven Donahue officiating. Burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Activity Fund of Waters of Dillsboro, Ross Manor. Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro was in charge of arrangements.

Shirley Prewitt
Shirley Prewitt, 86, of Westport passed away Saturday, January 2, 2010 at her home. She was born at Worthington, Minnesota on May 15, 1923 the daughter of Amos and Rose Robert Rucker. She was married to Leady Lair on June 11, 1943 and he preceded her in death. She was married to Edward Prewitt on July 24, 1970 and he preceded her in death on October 7, 2009.
Survivors include three sons, Walter (Russanna) Lair of Westport, Robert Lair of North Vernon, and Paul Roane of Seymour; two daughters, Dessie Lozier of Westport and Tammy (Jeff) Reynolds of Bath, Maine; 19 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild; three sisters Irene Morris, Leola Muir, and Olive Naylor all of Montana. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her son Billy Lair, one grandson, her brothers Bert, John, and Amos Rucker, and her sisters Pearl Stevens and Rose Marie Noble.
Mrs. Prewitt was a member of the New Marion Baptist Church and the North Vernon VFW Auxiliary. She was a former employee of the Regal Rug factory in North Vernon and had worked for 15 years at the Butternut Bread store in Versailles.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 7 at 10 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Karen Reynolds of the New Marion Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in the East Hill Cemetery at Rushville. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the New Marion Baptist Church in care of the funeral home.