PORTER COUNTY INDIANA OBITS
Vergil Lee Leighty Portage, IN
Vergil Lee Leighty, age 89, of Portage, IN, passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007. He was born on June 28, 1917, in Piggot, Arkansas, the son of Henry Lee and Floy (Webb) Leighty. Vergil was married to Betty Ruth Sweet on August 28, 1945 in Washington, IN. Vergil proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He also served his country by serving in the Civil Conservation Corp in Utah after the depression.Vergil was employed as a water treater and stillman for Standard Oil Company. Vergil was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather who was a member of the union, he liked to hunt and was a great handyman. Vergil is survived by his loving family, his wife Betty Leighty, Portage, son James (Niang) Leighty, daughter Kathy Leighty, Mesa, AZ, grandchildren: Jim (Jennifer) Leighty, Kenosha, WI, Christopher (Julie) Leighty, Portland, OR, Bon (Tricia) Petretta, Portage, Melinda (Ollie) South, South Haven, Amanda (Chris) McCuen, Portage, great-grandchildren: Cameron Leighty, Jacob Petretta, Christopher Petretta, Josh Petretta, Noah Petretta, Samuel Petretta, Courtney South, Ollie South and Jason Mann and other loving family and dear friends. Vergil was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Bryce, Bill and Roy and sister Opel. Visitation for Vergil Leighty will be held from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 5, 2007 at Rees Funeral Home - Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Ave, Portage. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Portage. Memorials in Vergil's memory may be made to the donor's choice.
For further information, please call Rees Funeral Home
Date of Obit: 29 May 1967
Obituary MAHNS, MRS. GRACE -Portage- Services for Mrs. Grace E. Mahns, 74, 2166 Crisman road, who died Saturday at Little Company of Mary Health Facilities, San Pierre, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hope Lutheran church.
The Rev. S.L. Klopfer will officiate with burial in McCool cemetery. Friends may call at Olson, Reiser and Frum Portage chapel after 7 p.m. today. Friends may also call at the church after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday until time of services. A life-long resident of Portage township, Mrs. Mahns was a retired cook in the Portage School system. She was a member of Hope Lutheran church and the Ladies Aid of the church. Surviving are one son, Lon Mahns of Portage; four grandchildren; one step-brother, Harvey Linburg of Portage; and one brother-in-law, Edward Mahns also of Portage.
Newspaper Name: Vidette-Messenger
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
Date of Obit: 03 Mar 1970
Obituary: MAHNS, EDWARD WILLIAM of Portage-- Edward William Mahns, 66, Englewood, Florida formerly of Portage, died Monday in Florida. He was a retired inspector at mill 91, U.S. Steel, Gary, where he had been employed for 45 years. He was a member of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 783, Gary, and Hope Lutheran church. Surviving are the widow, Luellla M.; a son, Wayne of Portage; a daughter, Mrs. Albet Pazera, Portage; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Olson, Reiser and Frum Portage chapel with the Rev. S.L. Klopfer officiating. Burial will be in McCool cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Friday.
Newspaper Name: Vidette-Messenger
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
Date of Obit: 29 May 1967
Obituary: TUCKER SERVICES
Services for Bert F. Tucker, 78, RFD 2, who died Friday at Porter Memorial hospital, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at We_more Funeral home. the Rev. John M. Washler, Assembly of God church, will officiate with burial in Graceland cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. today and after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Newspaper Name: Vidette- Messenger
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
Date of Obit: 06 Nov 1954
Obituary: MAHNS, F. M. C.Crisman, Nov. 6 - Frederick Martin Christian Mahns, 84, Crisman area resident for 50 years, died Friday morning in Doctors' hospital, Michigan City, after a seven-week illness. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Hope Lutheran church, Crisman.
Born Feb. 23, 1870, in Macklenburg, Germany, he was the son of Johann and Friederica Mahns. He married Augusta Griger of Furnessville on Feb. 2, 1890, in Hammond. She deid in 1952 and a son, Rudolph, also preceded him in death.
He retired in 1937 after 50 years service as a New York Central reailroad telegrapher. He was a member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
Surviving are two sons, Clarence of Lima, Ohio and Edward of Crisman; a daughter, Mrs. Walter Kimmel of Gary; seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
The Rev. F. L. Klopfer will officiate at services Monday, and burial will be in McCool cemetery. Friends may call at Flynn-Johnson Funeral home from Sunday noon until Monday noon and at the Hope Lutheran church from noon until services at 2 p.m. Monday.
Newspaper Name: Vidette-Messenger
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
From the Vidette Messenger on 08 Aug. 1941
Death Takes Henry Mahns of Garyton
Henry Charles Mahns, age 66 years, a resident of Garyton for the last 20 years, died Thursday morning at his home following a lingering illness. He had been employed as a switchman for the E.J. & E. railroad for 20 years. Surviving are his widow, Theresa; four daughters, Mrs. Richard Eunis of Garyton, and Dorothy, Marilyn and Lois at home, and four sons, Walter, Robert and Edwin at home and Raymond of Calumet City, Ill. The body will lie in state at the home in Garyton until Monday morning when it will be removed to the Anderson funeral home in Gary, where memorial services will be held Monday at 2 p m. with Rev. Carl H. Grabemann, pastor of the Hope Evangelical Lutheran church, Crisman, officiating. Burial will be in McCool Cemetery.
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
From the Vidette Messenger on 24 Aug. 1942
Rita Fern Mahns, 11-day-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mahns of Crisman, died Tuesday at Porter Memorial hospital, Valparaiso, where she was born Besides the parents, one sister and one brother survive Private services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the McCool cemetery with Rev. C. H. Grabermann officiating Flynn undertakers were in charge.
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
From the Vidette Messenger page 4 on June 25, 1951
Mrs. F. Mahns Succumbs In Her Home in Crisman
CHESTERTON, June 25- Mrs. Augusta Johanna Mahns, 81, wife of Frederick Mahns, a resident of Crisman for 61 years, died at 12:30 p.m. at her home in that place. She had been in ill health for the last 11 years. The decedent was born in Furnessville, Porter county, in 1869, daughter of Louis and Paulina (Martin) Grieger. She was united in marriage to Mahns in 1890 in Hammond. Surviving are the husband; two sons, Clarence Mahns, Lafayette and Edward Mahns, Crisman; two daughters, Miss Grace Mahns, Crisman, and Mrs. Jennie Kimmel, Gary; three brothers, Edward Grieger, New Buffalo, Mich.; Henry Grieger, Furnessville and William Grieger, Michigan City, and one sister, Mrs. Delin Nicholson, Fusnessville. A son, Dr. R.A. Mahns of Gary preceded her in death. She was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church, Crisman, where the services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. S.L. Klopler officiating. Burial will be in McCool cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday afternoon and evening and Wednesday until 11 a.m. at the Flynn-Johnson funeral home, after which the body will be taken to the church where it will lie in state from noon until 2 p.m. time of the services.
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
From the Vidette Messenger 06 Nov 1954
F. M. C. Mahns
CRISMAN, Nov 6 - Frederick Martin Christian Mahns, 84, Crisman area resident for 50 years, died Friday morning in Doctors' hospital, Michigan City, after a seven - week illness. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Hope Lutheran church, Crisman. Born Feb. 23, 1870 in Macklenburg, Germany, he was the son of Johann and Friederica Mahns. He married Augusta Griger of Furnessville on Feb 2, 1890 in Hammond. She died in 1952 and a son, Rudolph, also preceded him in death. He retired in 1937 after 50 years service as a New York Central railroad telegrapher. He was a member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Surviving are two sons, Clarence of Lima, Ohio and Edward of Crisman; a daughter, Mrs. Walter Kimmel of Gary; seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. The Rev. F.L. Klopfer will officiate at services Monday, and burial will be in McCool Cemetery. Friends may call at Flynn-Johnson Funeral home from Sunday noon until Monday noon and at the Hope Lutheran church from noon until services at 2 p.m. Monday.
(Contributed by Theresa Czapla)
Mrs. Stella Hanner, 55 years old, is dead at her home in Michigan City of Cancer. Surviving are the husband Henry Hanner, four children and the following brothers and sisters: Francis Sheets of Valparaiso. Mrs. George Wallace of Los Angeles, Calif. and Mrs. Marion Breyfogle of Chicago. Funeral services will be held at Michigan City and the remains brought to Valpariso to be buried.
Mrs. Joseph Brown, 63 years old, a resident of Chesterton, died at the Christian Hospital here following an extended illness, pneumonia developing, which was the direct cause of death. Funeral services will be held in Chesterton.
Herman Domke,
A.W. Goodman was called to Chicago by the death of his brother in law. Herman Domke, who died in a Chicago hospital following an operation for gall stones.
February 14, 1923 Indianapolis Sunday Star
(News Article) Date: 1878-02-15; Paper: Indianapolis Sentinel Hon. S. L. Anthony His Death at Crown Point a Man Highly Esteemed by All
Feb 14 The Hon. S. L. Anthony of this city, died suddenly at Crown Point day before yesterday. Judge Anthony was prominent in legal and political circles in northern Indiana and was held in high esteem by all his acquaintances and neighbors. A democrat in politics, he had held many positions of honor and trust. In 1844 and 1845 be represented this (Porter) county in the popular branch of the legislature, was a member of the last constitutional convention, and from 1853 to 1857 represented the counties of Laporte, Porter and Lake in the state senate. In 1870 he was the democratic candidate in this district for congress. At the time of his death he was chief counsel for the Baltimore, Pittsburg and Chicago railroad in its affairs in this state.
Post-Tribune (IN) - December 9, 2005
Gerald W. "Dave" Urschel: Inventor, Urschel Lab founder, dies at age 89
One of the founders of what has become Urschel Laboratories Inc. died on Sunday.
Gerald W. "Dave" Urschel was 89. He died in Sarasota, Fla., according to family members. The last of the surviving brothers who founded the food processing plant with his father William, Gerald Urschel was remembered as a man who could condense a technical manual into two pages of clear-cut, step-by-step instructions. "It takes a smart man to design a simple machine; any fool can design a complicated machine," his family quoted him as saying. The Valparaiso company's history goes back to 1910, when William Urschel began his business. A company official said William's sons Gerald, Joe and Kenneth helped grow the business. The company became incorporated in 1938. Gerald was also a dedicated engineer, according to Chuck Parsons, human-resources vice president of Urschel Labs. Officially, Gerald was vice president of engineering. "Gerald and Joe were responsible for many of the patents that carried this company," Parsons said. "They were the true inventors of Urschel as we know it today." Parsons said the family adapted to a changing world of food production. World War II was a particularly defining event, Parsons said, as food-cutting on a large scale was needed to feed troops. Then came refrigeration, fast food and more -- McDonald's, grocery stores, major food brands distributed coast-to-coast -- Parsons said. Urschel Labs makes mass cutting equipment for many of the companies who supply potato chip makers, restaurants like McDonald's, or pickle giant Vlasic Food International. Fast food has caused a particular demand for more Urschel products. "We're all over that industry," Parsons said. Parsons marvelled at some of the inventions Gerald and the family came up with, still used in mostly original form, or still patented. "Their inventions withstood the test of time," Parsons said. Urschel Labs is now run by CEO Robert Urschel, Joe Urschel's son. Gerald Urschel requested no funeral or service ritual. Donations can be made in his name to The Salvation Army, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
(submitted by Ida Maack Recu)
Post-Tribune (IN), May 17, 1996
GLADYS URSCHEL DEAD AT 82
Gladys E. Urschel of Valparaiso - an artist, mother of six and wife of one of Porter County's most prominent industrialists - died suddenly Wednesday from a brain aneurysm. She was 82. Her death came as she was preparing for an exhibit of her work by the Valparaiso University Museum of Art, according to Richard Brauer, the museum's director. The exhibition is scheduled to begin June 9 at the museum's west gallery. In addition, the American Craft Museum in New York City has asked to show one of her pieces in June 1997. The retrospective was to be a high point for an artistic career not launched until Mrs. Urschel was in her late 50s. In the catalog for the show, she described her late blooming: What started as a diversion developed into the most important activity of my life. In order for my tapestries to have authenticity, it was necessary for me to do extensive reading, opening the door to ancient beliefs, philosophy, religion and the world of art. I believe that every human being has the ability to create. I spent most of my life on projects designed by others. Nothing has given me so much satisfaction as threading the loom to start a tapestry that I have designed. ''She wrote that, maybe a week ago,'' Brauer said. ''I spent two hours with her (Wednesday) afternoon and she proofed much of the catalogue copy. She was in good spirits and good health.'' Mrs. Urschel was born Dec. 5, 1913, in Michigan City, the daughter of Jesse Carl and Emma (Kaeding) Swain. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Joe Urschel, who is battling a severe illness; their six children, Dan, Elena and Bob Urschel, all of Valparaiso; Bill Urschel of Denver; Cinda Urschel of Carmel; and Janet Gersh, of Bedford, Mass.; and a sister, June Sorge, of Lafayette.
Joe Urschel is one of three sons of William Urschel, who founded Valparaiso's Urschel Laboratories. He succeeded his father as the head of the business, which has grown into a giant in the food-processing equipment industry. Gladys and Joe Urschel's son, Bob, is company president. In 1971, with her children raised, Mrs. Urschel purchased a loom to do threaded bead work, said George Sigler, the comptroller at Urschel Labs.
''She wasn't happy with the loom that she bought, so Joe said, 'I can do better than that.' '' So Joe Urschel, who has earned more than 80 patents, tried loom making. All of Gladys Urschel's subsequent work was performed on the loom he designed and built. Brauer said he was introduced to Urschel and her tapestries in the late 1980s through a mutual friend. ''I'd never seen anything like it,'' he said. ''These are tiny seed beads she looms and joins into hanging tapestry. They explore North American Indian motifs or Eastern motifs that were religious or had cosmic connotations. Though bead work is nominally a craft, what Mrs. Urschel achieved in her tapestries transcended that, Brauer said. ''A work of art comes alive when it appeals to three things: our sensibilities - to be alive to our eyes - and to touch our feelings and engage our thoughts,'' he said. ''When all that is achieved, when our whole self is involved, that's art. In my mind, she had the experience of the true artist.'' Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Road, with cremation to follow and burial of ashes at Graceland Cemetery. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to The Caring Place shelter for battered women and children or to the Valparaiso University Museum of Art. (source: Retrieved fromHighBeam Research) (submitted by Ida Maack Recu)
Adolph Booher
Valparaiso Ind , March 19 —Special Telegram. —Adolph Booher a farmer of Jackson Township, died today, aged 65. Mr Booher was Lieutenant of Company I, Seventy-Third Indiana Volunteers, and was one of those who tried to escape from Libby Prison through the tunnel. Owing to his enormous size he could not pass through, and was compelled to remain.
20 Mar 1896; Paper: Inter Ocean - Submitted by K. Torp
VALPARAISO, Ind.. March 30. - James Arvenich, a wealthy student of the northern Indiana Normal School, from St. Petersburg, Russia, died, to-day, of consumption, aged thirty-live. His remains were buried here.
The Indiana State Journal, (Indianapolis, IN) Wed., April 1, 1896; pg. 5 Contributed by Candi Horton
Martin G. WALTERS, of Valparaiso, committed suicide by swallowing Paris green.
Indiana General News Items from the Indianapolis News 12 December, 1890 Page 6 Column 5
VALPARAISO, Ind., Nov. 6. John Powers, aged eighty-four years, died this morning at Kouts. Mrs. Samuel Sigler, a resident of this city over sixty years, died at Wheeler to-day, aged eighty-three.
Date: 1899-11-08; Paper: Indiana State Journal Porter County