All Obituaries

Dorlan E. Wagner, 98, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away March 21, 2021 at Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester. He was born on February 7, 1923 in Wabash County, Indiana, to the late Hobart and Thelma (Yoder) Wagner and was one of seven children. Growing up as a lifetime farmer, Dorlan knew the value of hard work, a trait that he passed on to his children. In 1941 Dorlan graduated from Jefferson Township High School in Huntington County, Indiana. In 1943 Dorlan joined...

Phyllis Eileen Purdy, 83, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away on March 29, 2021 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Auburndale, Florida. Born July 17, 1937 in North Manchester, Indiana, Phyllis was the daughter of the late Calvin Irvin and Gertrude M. (Garrison) Burkhart. Three short years after graduating from Chester High School in 1955, Phyllis married Richard Purdy on June 8, 1958. In the early 1960s she began her professional career in the Manchester Community School System. She...

Etta M. Ulrey, 107, North Manchester, Indiana passed away May 1, 2021 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center in North Manchester, Indiana. Born on June 17, 1913 in Minot, North Dakota, Etta was the daughter of the late Simon and Lucy (Wagoner) Blocher.   In the late 1930s Etta moved to North Manchester and began working for Cyclone Manufacturing in Urbana, Indiana. She retired in 1974 after thirty-one years of service. On October 3, 1941 Etta was baptized into the North Manchester Old German...

Audrey M. Martin, 98, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 1, 2021 at Peabody Healthcare Center in North Manchester, Indiana. The youngest of Elmer and Elva (Meyers) Christner’s ten children, Audrey was born on August 26, 1922 in Silver Lake, Indiana. On September 8, 1943 Audrey married the love of her life, Larry Martin. During their fifty-eight years of marriage, Audrey and Larry had two daughters, Judy and Jo Ellen. Sadly, on November 14,...

Nancy J. Tiger, 94, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away surrounded by family on April 30, 2021. One of three children, Nancy was born to the late Samuel George and Esther (Adams) McCullough on April 21, 1927 in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. She was proud of the family from whom she came and could trace her heritage back to the American Revolution, making her a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. On September 30, 1949 Nancy married the love of her life, Dennis David Tiger....

Marvin E. Blocher, 73, North Manchester, Indiana, went to be with the Lord on April 29, 2021. Born in Laketon, Indiana, on March 30, 1948, Marvin was the son of the late S. Willis and Lelia E. (Baker) Blocher. A lifelong native of the North Manchester area, Marvin spent his life farming. On January 30, 1973 Marvin married the love of his life, Taphanie “Taphie” Custer. For forty-eight years they built a beautiful family and life alongside one another. Together they worshiped and...

Kennith “Kenny” J. Michael, 88, Sidney, Indiana, passed away April 28, 2021 at his home. Born March 8, 1933 in Liberty Mills, Indiana, Kennith was the son of Robert H. and Blanche N. (McNear) Michael. After graduating from Sidney High School in 1951, Kenny married Jenine M. Ross on January 1, 1952 at the Liberty Mills Church of the Brethren in Liberty Mills, Indiana, where he was a life time member. Kenny was a great and supportive husband and father. He worked hard to provide...

Marilyn M. Shaver, 83, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away April 20, 2021 at Peabody Healthcare Center in North Manchester. One of three children, Marilyn was born June 10, 1937 in Evanston, Illinois. She was the daughter of Clarence Huston and Hazel Elanor (Dahlstrom) Shaver. After graduating from New Trier High School, Winnetka, Illinois, in 1955, Marilyn went on to further her education. She graduated from State University of Iowa with a degree in Nursing and went on to graduate...

Linda K. Utter, 71, North Manchester, Indiana, passed away April 19, 2021 at Signature Healthcare of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Born December 23, 1949 in Fulton County, Indiana, Linda was the daughter of the late Earl Devere and Evelyn (Hopkins) Bucher. After graduating from Manchester High School, Linda married Bryon T. Utter on October 2, 1970. The two were married for forty-four and half years before Bryon passed away on July 1, 2015. They built a loving life together, sharing it with their...

Billy Wayne “Uncle Bill” Howard, 72, Liberty Mills, Indiana, passed away April 16, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born in Wabash, Indiana on November 21, 1948 to Hatcher and Esther Myrtle “Shorty” (McKinley) Howard. Later, his parents divorced and each remarried. Hatcher married Mary E. (Bowers), and Esther married Virgil Everett Long. In 1970 at the age of twenty-one, Billy married Verdie Bragg on January 24th. The two were...