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December 28, 2006

James Robert Henneke
James Robert Henneke, 87 of Osgood, passed away Monday, December 25, 2006 at Hospice of South Central Indiana, Columbus. He was born May 31, 1919 near Laughery Bridge in Ripley County, the son of James Henry and Augusta Brown Henneke, both deceased. He married Marcella Selke on October 10, 1942 and she preceded him in death.
Survivors include daughters Linda Kaye Lynch of Port St. Lucie, FL and Cathy Ann Randall and husband Steve of Indianapolis; sister Sara Ruth Wealti of Greensburg; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by five sisters; one brother and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Henneke was a WWII Army veteran. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Napoleon. Mr. Henneke owned and operated a filling station and auto repair in Napoleon from the 1940’s until the late 1950’s. He worked in the funeral service business including the Taylor Funeral Home in Napoleon, the Fallis Funeral Home in Osgood and in recent years Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood. Mr. Henneke also worked as a machine set-up operator from the late 1960’s-1984 at BCA of Greensburg. He was a past member of the Osgood Lions Club and the 40&8. Mr. Henneke was a championship car owner on the TQ Midget Racing circuit. He was past chief of the Napoleon Fire Department and past member of the Osgood Fire Department. Mr. Henneke was a member of the Osgood American Legion and Napoleon VFW.
Visitation will be today, Thursday, December 28 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood. Funeral services will be Friday, December 29 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Napoleon. He will lie in state at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites performed by the Osgood American Legion and the Napoleon VFW.
Memorials may be given to the Decatur County Hospice or St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Mabel Sexton
Mabel Sexton, 86, of Versailles passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2006.
Services are pending at Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.

Margaret F. Flowers Houseworth
Margaret F. Flowers Houseworth, 94, of Aurora, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2006 at the Waters of Ross Manor in Dillsboro.
Burial will be in Resthaven Cemetery in Louisville, KY, at a later date.
Filter Funeral Home in Aurora is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth L. Hooton
Elizabeth L. Hooton, 83, of Versailles passed away Friday, December 22, 2006 at the St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born at Friendship on March 2, 1923 the daughter of Wilkie and Edna Elrod Lemon. She was married to Abell Hooton on May 25, 1946 and he survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Alana Thompson and her husband Bill of Washington, Reta Gray and her husband Brad of Zionsville; grandchildren John Thompson of Washington, DC, Joel Thompson of Washington, and Jill Wade and her husband Jay of Indianapolis; great-grandchildren Sydney, Colin, and Evan Wade; one brother James W. Lemon and his wife Pat of Friendship, one sister Carolyn Harms of LaCenter, MN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Mary Chandler.
Mrs. Hooton was a 1941 graduate of Cross Plains High School. She was a member of the Versailles Baptist Church, the Versailles American Legion Auxiliary, the Do-A-Lot Home Ec Club, and the Ripley County Red Hatters. She had worked as an assistant cashier with the Friendship State Bank for 35 years.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 27 at the Versailles Baptist Church with Rev. Rand Hooton officiating. Burial was in the Benham Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or the Benham Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences available at skfuneralhome.com.

Crystal "Mookie" Sowards
Crystal "Mookie" Sowards, 24, of Versailles, passed away Monday, December 25, 2006 at University Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. She was born August 16, 1982 at Lawrenceburg, the daughter of Roger and Melinda Hyatt Sowards.
Survivors include mother Melinda Sowards of Friendship; special friend Carl Brown; brother Raymond Sowards of Friendship; maternal grandfather Gene Hyatt of Dillsboro; paternal grandmother Eleanor Sowards of Ross, OH; and uncle Michael Hyatt of Dillsboro.
She was preceded in death by father Roger Sowards; maternal grandmother Rose Hyatt; and paternal grandfather Paul Sowards.
Miss Sowards graduated in 2001 from South Ripley High School. She worked at the Friendship Bar & Grill.
Visitation will be today, Thursday, December 28 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Ulrich Filter Funeral Home in Dillsboro. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bear Creek Baptist Church in Friendship. Burial will be in the Arlington Memorial Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Memorials may be given to the family.

Robert Wickizer
Robert Wickizer, 84, of Dillsboro, passed away Thursday, December 21, 2006 at the Waters of Dillsboro Manor. He was born at Pittston, PA on February 11, 1922 the son of Herbert and Rhoda Jones Wickizer, both deceased. He married Grace Folsom and she survives.
Other survivors include daughters Roberta Luke and Brenda Thayer both of Dillsboro; son Richard of Osgood; brothers Donald of Fleetville, PA and John of Cinnaminson, NJ and sister Grace Erickson of Westland, MI; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by son-in-law James Thayer, two sisters and four brothers.
Mr. Wickizer was a molder and supervisor at Stedman Foundry in Aurora, retiring in 1976. He performed maintenance at Dillsboro Manor and retired from there in 1987. He was a former South Dearborn Schools board member and a former trustee of Caesar Creek Township.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 27 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Farmer’s Retreat. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the St. John’s Lutheran Church New Hymnal Fund or the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery Fund.
Ulrich Funeral Home in Dillsboro was in charge of arrangements.

Eileen Turner
Eileen Turner, 90, of Versailles, passed away Sunday, December 24, 2006 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. She was born at Portsmouth, Ohio on June 15, 1916 the daughter of Charles and Margaret Coyle Rollins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Bruce Turner, her brother Harry Rollins, and her sister Louise Barry.
Mrs. Turner was retired from US Shoe in Osgood.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. Visitation will be Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until time of services at the nursing home. Burial will be Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the McKendree Cemetery near Portsmouth, Ohio.
The Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles is in charge of arrangements.

Elmer Joseph Grossman
Elmer Joseph Grossman, 78, of Sunman passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at Hospitality Hall, Batesville.
Visitation will be Friday, December 29 from 5-8:00 p.m. at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Little Memory Cemetery in Sunman.

Kenneth McClure
Kenneth McClure, 94, of Milan passed away Sunday, December 24, 2006 at the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg. He was born at Mishawaka on April 27, 1912 the son of Thomas and Naomi Beemer McClure. He was married to Josephine Jones on February 19, 1983 and she survives.
Mr. McClure was an Army Air Force veteran of WWII. He served as a Gunnery Instructor and received the Good Conduct Medal and the Air Medal. He was a former advertising salesman and during the 1950’s worked as a journalist with the Washington Post where he had the opportunity to write about many congressmen and also had cause to meet Presidents Truman and Nixon. He attended St. Pius Catholic Church.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, December 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Ripley Crossing in Milan with Father Frank Eckstein officiating. Visitation will be today from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at Ripley Crossing. Burial will be in the Veterans Cemetery in Madison.
The Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles is in charge of arrangements.

Henry Herd
Henry Herd, 85, of New Pennington, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2006 at the St. Andrews Health Campus in Batesville.
Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville was in charge of arrangements.

Ray Edward Kirtley
Ray Edward Kirtley, 75, of Las Vegas, NV, formerly of Versailles, died Wednesday, December 20, 2006 in Las Vegas.

December 21, 2006

James Vernon Ledger, Sr.
James Vernon Ledger, Sr., 76, of Milan, died Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. He was born August 22, 1930 in Cincinnati the son of James W. Ledger and Thelma Margaret Hughes Ledger, both deceased. He married Mary Katherine Williams on January 13, 1952 in Clovis, NM and she survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Mary Thelma Conley of Maysville, KY, Kathy Bowling of Milan, Judy Sturm of Ross, OH; two sons, James Ledger, Jr. of Milan and Ronald Ledger of Milan; ten grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Mr. Ledger was a retired truck driver from Batesville Casket Company after 22 years of service. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean conflict as a Staff Sargent. He was also a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Sunman and a former member of the Teamsters Union Local #135.
Visitation will be held today, Thursday, December 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Sunman.
Funeral services will follow visitation at 1 p.m. at the church with Pastor Duane Loos officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Paul Cemetery in Sunman with military graveside services conducted by the Milan American Legion Post #239.
Memorials may go to St. Paul Church or Sunman Rescue 20. Cook Funeral Home, Sunman, is in charge of the arrangements.

Carolyn Wetherill
Carolyn Wetherill, 58, of Cross Plains, passed away Monday, December 18, 2006 at her residence. She was born at Quonset Point, Rhode Island on May 14, 1949 the daughter of Stephen and Edith Stone Gordy. She was married to Robert Wetherill on June 4, 1970 and he survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Chad Wetherill and wife Vanessa of Fort Hood, Texas, Brett Wetherill and fiancée Deborah Schultz of Ft. Carson, Colorado; one daughter, Amanda Wetherill at home; her mother, Mrs. Edith Gordy of Dalton, Georgia; one brother, Steve Gordy of Fairfax, Virginia; and one sister, Nancy Hyatt of Dalton, Georgia.
Mrs. Wetherill was a homemaker and a member of the Heritage Christian Bible Chapel in Cincinnati.
Visitation will be Friday, December 22, 10 a.m. until time of services at Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.
Funeral services will follow visitation at the funeral home at 11 a.m. with Pastor James Holt officiating.
Burial will be in the Indiana Veterans Cemetery in Madison. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

December 14, 2006

Betty M. Huelson
Betty M. Huelson, 80, of Versailles passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. She was born near Butlerville on July 28, 1926 the daughter of John and Ethel Roane Huelson.
Survivors include one brother, Fred Huelson and his wife Audrey of Clarksville, one sister Mary Asche and her hus-band Ted of Hagerstown along with several nieces and neph-ews.
She was a 1944 graduate of Holton High School and had worked for the Ripley County Extension Service for 51 years. She attended the Versailles Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7:00 p.m.
Memorials may be given to the Holton Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences available at skfuneral-home.com.

Mitchell C. "Mitch" Hummell
Mitchell C. "Mitch" Hummell, 78, of Moores Hill, passed away Monday, December 11, 2006.
Visitation will be today, Thursday, December 14 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Oval W. Bolt
Oval W. Bolt, 79, of Sara-sota, Florida, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2006.
Memorial services are pend-ing at Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood.

Robert H. Knierim
Robert H. Knierim, 85, of Hamburg, passed away Monday, December 11, 2006.
Visitation will be Friday, De-cember 15 from 9-11:00 a.m. at the Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. Funeral services will immediately follow at St. Anne’s Church in Hamburg with Rev. George Nangachidveettil officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Irene Crowell Hertenstein
Irene Crowell Hertenstein, 94, of Tempe, AZ, formerly of Napoleon, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2006.

December 7, 2006

Josephine Sutherlin
Josephine Sutherlin, 94, of Versailles passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at Ripley Crossing in Milan. She was born at Ladoga in Montgomery County on November 18, 1912 the daughter of Jess and Rebecca Warner Byrd. She was married to Roscoe (Lefty) Sutherlin on February 5, 1936 and he preceded her in death on February 24, 1978.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Sutherlin of Versailles and Larry Sutherlin and his wife Sue of Versailles; one daughter Joyce Samples and her husband Jim also of Versailles; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; one brother Wayne Byrd of Lafayette and one sister Imogene Craig of Speedway.
Mrs. Sutherlin was a 1928 graduate of Ladoga High School and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Tyson United Methodist Church and the Versailles American Legion Auxiliary.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Mark Walker of the Versailles Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles. Visitation will be Friday from 5-8:00 p.m.
Memorials may be given to the Cliff Hill Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Alton Tingle
Alton Tingle, 67, of Benham, passed away Monday, December 4, 2006 at the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison. He was born at Benham on January 18, 1939 the son of Stanley and Elsie Gelvin Tingle. He was married to Bernice Monroe on November 15, 1960 and she preceded him in death on August 28, 2004.
Survivors include three stepsons, William Herman and his wife Kim Loan of Cedar Hill, TX; Robert Herman and Joanne of Trafalgar; and, Don Herman and Sue of Peoria, AZ; one brother Floyd Tingle of Benham; one sister Ruth Thornton and her husband Delza of Benham.
Mr. Tingle was a 1957 graduate of Cross Plains High School. He was a retired farmer and a collector of antique farm equipment.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, December 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Brother Dale Day and Minister Randy Thieman officiating. Burial will be in the Benham Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Memorials may be given to the Benham Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Allie Hacker
Allie Hacker, 76, of Ver-sailles, formerly of Holton passed away Tuesday, Decem-ber 5, 2006 at the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrence-burg. She was born at Man-chester, Kentucky on December 16, 1929 the daughter of Robert and Lizzie Keith Sizemore. She was married to Carlo Hacker on May 29, 1948 and he preceded her in death on July 12, 2001.
Survivors include one son Charles Hacker of Columbus; one daughter Carolyn Moreland and her husband Butch of Tipton; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; one brother Woodie Sizemore of Versailles; four sisters, Mayme Renfro of Holton, Myrtle Lainhart of Holton, Martha Scott of Virginia, and Shirley Keeton of Versailles who was her special care giver for the last four years.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, brothers Craft, Frank, Vernon and John Sizemore, sisters Vergie Baker, Esther Baker, and Jeanette Druschel.
Mrs. Hacker was a former employee of US Shoe at Osgood where she worked as a seamstress. She had also worked for Avon Products of Springdale, Ohio. She was an avid doll collector and an accomplished seamstress having made clothes for her many nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed crafts and attending auctions.
Funeral services will be held Friday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holton United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles Cole of the Dabney Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery. Visitation will be today, Thursday, December 7 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Memorials may be given to the Holton Cemetery.

Irene Crowell Hertenstein
Irene Crowell Hertenstein, 94, of Tempe, AZ, formerly of Napoleon, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2006.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, December 7 in Tempe, AZ.

Margaret R. Knecht
Margaret R. Knecht, 86 of St. Peters, passed away Saturday, December 2, 2006.
Cook Funeral Home in Sunman was in charge of arrangements.

Kenneth C. "Butch" Walke
Kenneth C. "Butch" Walke, 65, of Osgood, passed away Monday, December 4, 2006.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, December 7, at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Maurice Church in Napoleon with the Rev. Bob Hankee officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville is in charge of arrangements.