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| In Memoriam |
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September 23 to November 22
Michael France
Friend of the University
Michael Melvin France, 78, of Fort Wayne, died on Nov. 11. Michael was born in Fort Wayne on April 18, 1946. After high school, Michael worked for many years at International Harvester and was drafted by the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge, he returned to his previous work until he retired.
On March 19, 1966, he married Sharon Elaine Castle. He later worked at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
He is survived by his loving son Edward (Tammy) France and daughter Jeannie (Todd) Miller; grandchildren Michaela (Marquis) Hutchins, Alexis (Conner Sines) France, Michaelle (Justin Smethers) DiMaggio-Potter, Gabrielle (Josh Brown) DiMaggio-Potter, Gabriel (Kalli Williams) Potter and Jason Potter; great-grandchildren Nalaya Files, Dwight and Daliyah Coleman and Carter Potter. Michael was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Edna (Kump) France, wife Sharon, and sisters Teresa France and Mary Graft. Access the obituary.
Margaret Griffin
Friend of the University
Margaret Louise Grimm Griffin, 82, of Rochester Hills, Michigan, died Oct. 14, following a decade of struggling with primary progressive aphasia. She was born in Evansville on Feb. 26, 1942. On Sept. 5, 1960, she married Larry William Griffin.
She enjoyed a lifelong career in nursing, and in 1985, the family moved to Fort Wayne where she was employed as a visiting nurse for Allen County. She became an instructor at Lutheran College of Health Professions and retired as director of the associate degree nursing program at the University of Saint Francis where she was heavily involved in accreditation activity.
Margaret is survived by her loving husband and best friend Larry William Griffin; son John William Griffin (Pamala); daughter Jennifer Leigh Gregorio (Timothy); and grandchildren William Arthur Griffin, John Russell “Jack” Griffin, Lauren Marie Gregorio, Alexander Nicholas Gregorio and Eric Christian Gregorio. Access the obituary.
Kathryn Minnick
Friend of the University
Kathryn E. Minnick, 94, of Fort Wayne, died on Oct. 30. She was born on Dec. 8, 1929, and was the daughter of the late Robert and Josephine (Stein) Glasper.
Kathryn attended Central Catholic High School and graduated in 1947. She married Gerald Aloysius Minnick on July 31, 1948. Kathryn held many clerical assistant positions, eventually retiring in 1992 from Saint Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) after more than 25 years of service.
Surviving are daughters Mary (Bradley) Glass, Margaret (Carl) Kleber and Maureen (William) Yankowiak; son Michael (Sandra) Minnick; 14 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Gerald Aloysius; brothers Robert, William and John; and sisters Clementine, Connie and Mary. Access the obituary.
Nancy Bruder ’53
Nancy Rose Bruder, 93, of Columbia City, died on Oct. 29. Born in Fort Wayne on April 1, 1931, she was the only child of the late Charles Wycoff Glessner and Cecelia Philomena (Stein) Glessner. Growing up in Fort Wayne, she graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1949. Continuing her education, she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). On Oct. 9, 1954, she married Stephen F. Bruder. They made their home in New Haven and raised six children. She worked as a laboratory technician for 42 years at Saint Joseph Hospital in downtown Fort Wayne.
Surviving is her beloved husband Steve; children Elayne (Peter) Davis-Johnson of Fort Wayne, Sarah (Michael) Clendenen of New Haven, Linda (Christopher) Taylor of Chesapeake, Virginia, Judie (Stephen) Edmiston of New Haven, Stephen (Diane) Bruder of New Haven and David (Sallye) Bruder of Columbia City; grandchildren David (Tish) Clendenen, Brian (Crystal) Clendenen, Tyler (Emma) Clendenen, Jason (Katie) Clendenen, Celia (Bret) Mobley, Victor (Cailin) Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Anita Taylor and Eric (Cammi) Edmiston; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law Jeffrey Davis. Access the obituary.
David Walker ’63
David Dean Walker, 87, of Fort Wayne, died on Oct. 7. He was born in Fort Wayne on Oct. 4, 1937, a son of the late Gilbert and Eleanora Walker.
David graduated from North Side High School in 1955 where he was active in band and sports. He started his secondary education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and a master’s degree in 1967 from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). He continued his education at Ball State University.
He is survived by his wife D. Jean Walker; sons Michael (Jeanne) Mueller, Barry (Debra) Walker, Mark (Deana) Mueller and Scott Mueller; daughter Susan Molinski; 16 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Chris Walker. Access the obituary.
Ann Markle ’67
Ann Pearl Markle, 93, of Wolcottville, died Oct. 9 at Lutheran Life Village in Kendallville.
She was born Nov. 29, 1930, in Sidney, Ohio, to Murray and Pearl (Smithers) Ferguson.
She received an undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, a master’s degree from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and a doctorate degree from Arizona State University. Ann was an elementary teacher in the East Noble School Corporation and retired as principal in Safford, Arizona.
Surviving are sons Thomas J. Markle of Fort Wayne and David Neil Markle of Japan; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister Barbara Lorton of Solomons, Maryland.
She was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters. Access the obituary.
Janice Reifsnider ’68
Janice B. Reifsnider died on Oct. 15. She was born to Hilbert and Emma Kain on July 13, 1928, in Muncie, where she grew up and attended college. She married the love of her life, John Reifsnider, in 1948. They enjoyed 45 years together and had three sons: Randy, Brian and Scott. As retirees, they loved golfing and traveling together. Her husband died in 1993.
Janice received a bachelor’s degree in art and physical education from Ball State University and a master’s degree in art from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis). She taught art for nearly 30 years in the East Allen County Schools and, in retirement, continued to teach classes in painting, pottery and tapestry to adults and children.
She was preceded in death by her husband John; brother Robert Kain; parents; and son Scott. She is survived by sons Randy (Alla) of Prospect, Kentucky and Brian (Janie) of Greenville; brother Dr. Jay D. Kain of Pinckney, Michigan; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Access the obituary.
Mary Eherenman ’71
Mary Christie Eherenman, 93, died on Oct. 10 at her residence in Warsaw. She graduated from the University of Michigan School of Education in 1953 and from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) in 1971 with a master’s degree in education. She was an elementary school teacher for 32 years and retired in 1992.
Mary was born on July 2, 1931, in Muskegon, Michigan, a daughter of Dr. R. Wilson and Viola C. (Casper) Christie. She was united in marriage to Philip W. Eherenman in 1954. They were married for 52 years before his death in 2006.
Survivors include children Phil (Sandy) Eherenman, Christie (Dave) Sears, MaryAnn (Jesse) Frandsen and Bob (Missy) Eherenman; and seven grandchildren. Access the obituary.
Ronald Fetter ’85
Ronald Joseph Fetter, 75, of Fort Wayne, died Oct. 26. He was born on Feb. 6, 1949, in Garrett, the son of the late Floyd and Marjorie Fetter.
He proudly served four years in the United States Navy. In addition, while working full time, he earned degrees from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and the University of Saint Francis.
He is survived by his wife Betty Fetter of Fort Wayne; children Matthew (Cindy) Fetter and Jessica (Eric) Buss, both of Auburn; siblings Connie (Ron) Dicke, Bill (Star) Fetter, John (Anne) Fetter, Anita Tullis and Tina (Tom) Drzewiecki; and eight grandchildren. Access the obituary.
Ruby Brower ’87
Ruby Ann Brower, 78, from Loon Lake near Columbia City, died on Nov. 5. Growing up in the Shipshewana area, she was the daughter of Payson and Hazel (Kauffman) Hostetler. She graduated from Bethany High School, Goshen, and furthered her studies at International Business College and St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
She is survived by her daughter Paula (Brooks) Langeloh of Columbia City; grandson Chase (Sheri) Langeloh, of Greensboro, North Carolina; grandson Hunter Langeloh of Columbia City; and great-granddaughters Zoey and Norah Langeloh of Greensboro. She also leaves behind siblings Lila (Keith) Fox of Goshen and Lowell (Carolyn) Hostetler of LaGrange.
Ruby was blessed to find love twice in her life, having been married to both Stephan Bohn and Timothy Brower, who have preceded her in death. She was also predeceased by her brothers Dennis and Danny Hostetler and her parents Payson and Hazel Hostetler. Access the obituary.
Cynthia Wesolowski ’93
Cynthia “Cindy” R. Wesolowski, 80, of Indianapolis, died on Nov. 12. Cindy earned a master's degree in education from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and devoted many years to teaching. She taught at St. Charles Catholic School in Fort Wayne and Carlin Park Elementary in Angola.
Cindy will be lovingly remembered by her husband Ron; children Brian (Tracey) Wesolowski, Lisa (Eric) Schilthuis and Laura Wesolowski; grandchildren Drew Wesolowski, Hunter (Brayden) Faulk, Kennedy Wesolowski, Gabrielle Wesolowski, Brooke Wesolowski, Alyssa (Connor) Zehr, Sydney (Caleb) Koster and Elijah Schilthuis; and great-grandchild Wyatt Zehr. She is also dearly remembered by her sister-in-law Carolyn West and many nieces and nephews. Access the obituary.
Anna Reimer ’94
Anna Marie Reimer, 53, of Warsaw, died Nov. 10. She was born on Jan. 14, 1971, in Columbia City, the daughter of Larry P. and Sandra K. (Bevington, Carter) Eakright. She attended Thorncreek School and graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1989. She continued her education at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. On Sept. 2, 1996, she married Todd LaMar Reimer.
Surviving are her husband Todd; twin daughters Dorian (Saurabh) Singh of Warsaw and Tessah R. Reimer of Warsaw; granddaughter Ajooni Singh; father Larry Carter of Columbia City; brothers Christopher (Roxsann) Carter of Tri-Lakes, Patrick (Amy) Carter of Churubusco and Mike (Cindy) Carter of Lebanon, Pennsylvania; and step-brother Mike Eakright of Indianapolis. She was preceded in death by her mother Sandra Eakright and brother Mark Carter. Access the obit.
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