Obituaries

Julia A. Decker

January 2, 1949 to March 29, 2025

WINAMAC - Julia Ann Decker, 76, of Star City, passed away Saturday, March 29, at Northwest Health Porter Hospital in Valparaiso. She was surrounded by her sister, brother-in law and close friends after an unexpected battle with pneumonia and lingering health issues.

She was born Jan. 2, 1949, in Ft. Wayne, to the late Wayne and Marjorie Boze Decker. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1967, in Willis, MI. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she went to nursing school at Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1972.

Julia Decker

She is survived by:
Christine and William (Decker-Zerger) Zelmer, Battle Creek, MI, Sister and brother-in-law
Laurie and William Moore, Niece, of Woodland, AL
Shawn and Margie (Bailey) Zelmer, nephew, of Chesterfield, MI
Other great-nephew and -nieces: Jacob and Marissa Zelmer, Nicolai and Shawnah Grabill, and Kendra and Kyra Zelmer

She was proceeded in death by:
Robert Decker, Brother
Randall Decker, Brother
Great-grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

After nursing school, Ms. Decker moved close to home (in Ann Arbor) to work at the University of Michigan Hospital Respiratory ICU. She later moved to Detroit and worked in the Cass St Corridor working with TB patients. She received the “Spirit of Detroit” Award in August 1976 for her dedicated service to the people she served there. She later packed up and moved across country, pulling a small U-Haul to Pasadena, CA where she worked at LA Vina Hospital in charge of the respiratory unit. While there she found her love of pregnant mothers and babies and stayed in that field of nursing the rest of her career, gaining several awards and recognitions. She worked in OB not only in California but South Carolina and North Carolina, before settling down in Indiana. Her career became full circle when she went home to aid and help her mother who had started having health issues. She worked at Logansport Memorial as head of the OB and childbirth education. She finally retired working in OB at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. During her career she was certified as a doula, lamaz instructor, as well as a certifiied lactation consultant and teacher. She also worked at the public library in Winamac and volunteered for the Warrior Up program.

She especially loved Christmas, Easter and mostly spring and fall. She loved cooking, trying new recipes (as an extensive cookbook collection testifies to), and going out to eat with friends and family. One of her best memories was a cruise for her 50th birthday with sister Chris, as well as going to Italy with her niece and her family. A few years ago she did a memorial park trip out west and saw several national parks with dear friends, Sharon and Deb. Julia loved Jesus and attending church wherever she lived. It was a central and pivotal part of her life, and she acknowledged she was growing more and more in the Lord, the older she got.

A celebration of life will be at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 25, at the Heartland Church in Winamac. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service.

Memorial donations may be made to the funeral home to assist with final expenses.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Jacek Para

January 20, 1958 to March 29, 2025

WINAMAC - Jacek Para, 67, of Monterey, passed away Saturday, March 29.

He was born Jan. 20, 1958 in Biały Dunajec, Poland to the late Andrzej and Aniela (Gubal) Para.

A memorial gathering for Jr. Para will be from 12 noon to 4 p.m. (CT), Thursday, April 10, at Skyline Funeral Home (24800 S. Governors Hwy., Monee, IL), followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. (CT).

For information, please call 708-534-8256.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Robert M. Keller

January 9, 1945 to March 28, 2025

WINAMAC - Robert “Bob” M. Keller, 80, passed away Friday, March 28, at his residence in Monterey.

He was born Jan. 9, 1945 in Monterey at his home, Sunnyside Stock Farm, to the late Clemont V. and Marjorie Prendergast Keller Sr. Bob graduated from Monterey High School in 1963. He married Sheila Corley on Aug. 24, 1968 in Chicago. She survives.

Bob Keller

He is also survived by:
Christine (Pat) Keller Renneker, Plymouth, Daughter
Robert “Bob” (Jennifer) Keller, Winamac, Son
Mark (Stephanie) Keller, Monterey, Son
Grandchildren: Alisha (Dan) Sutton, Brent Keller, Allison Keller, Kate Renneker, Ashlee Keller, Erin Renneker, Abby Keller, Madalen Keller, and Preston Keller.
Great-grandchildren: Claude Sutton, Annabelle Sutton and Brinley Pranger.
Tom (Toni) Keller, Brother
Jim (Bertie) Keller, Brother
Jerry (Rea) Keller, Brother
Dan (Peggy) Keller, Brother
Ruth Zehner, Sister
Mary Personette, Sister
Margie (Tim) Wise, Sister
Jean Keller, Sister in Law
Colleen Keller, Sister in Law

Preceded in death by:
John Keller, Brother
Pat O’Donnell, Sister
Clement Keller Jr., Brother
Sheila Keller, Sister
Don Zehner, Brother-in-Law
Johnny O’Donell, Brother-in-Law
Gene Personette, Brother-in-Law
Jim Large, Brother-in-Law

Mr. Keller was a farmer all of his life. He served on the Monterey Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. He was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Monterey. He enjoyed searching for arrowheads, coon hunting, playing guitar, poker, watching television westerns, and training horses. He loved spending time at Bauer’s Grocery Store in Monterey and talking with customers and friends. He loved time on the farm and checking the irrigation pivots. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and showing them the importance of hard work and the love of farming.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 1, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. A Catholic funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., (Tuesday), at the funeral home with Father Anthony Rowland officiating. Burial will be at St. Anne Catholic Cemetery in Monterey.

Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital.

Friends are invited to sign the online guestbook and share memories with the family at www.frainmortuary.com.

Melissa Heidel Gainer

March 20, 1972 to March 27, 2025

WINAMAC - Melissa (Heidel) Gainer, 53, of Winamac, passed away Thursday, March 27, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born March 20, 1972 in Knox, to Jack and Donna (Redlin) Heidel. She graduated from Winamac Community High School in 1990. After high school, she married Eric Gainer of Winamac.

Melissa Gainer

She is survived by:
Kelsie Gainer, Winamac, Daughter
Morgan Gainer, Logansport, Daughter
Alexa Gainer, Cape Coral, FL, Daughter
Brooke Gainer, Hobart, Daughter
Spc. Seth Gainer, U.S. Army, Honolulu, HI, Son
Taetym Gainer, Granddaughter
Tegyn Braun, Grandson
Skarlet Ehlers, Granddaughter
Aria Gainer, Granddaughter
Donna Zellers, Winamac, Mother
Jenny Hurt, Winamac, Sister
Erin (Shane) Bonnell, Winamac, Sister
Kendra (Harlin) Manns, North Judson, Sister
Several Nieces and Nephews
Many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Preceded in death by:
Jack Heidel, Father
Henry “Bud” and June Redlin, Maternal Grandparents
Bill and Thelma Heidel, Paternal Grandparents

Mrs. Gainer was a devoted mother who proudly stayed home to raise her kids. Through the years, she had worked at Winamac Coil Spring and Standard Industrial and was most recently employed at Adkev. She was a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Logansport, and attended the First Baptist Church in Winamac. She was a shopaholic who loved purses and perfume. Most of all, she loved and adored her kids and grandkids who were her whole life.

Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. A celebration of life service will follow at 3 p.m. (Saturday), at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Winamac VFW Post #1728.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Wanda L. Wagner

October 8, 1943 to March 23, 2025

WINAMAC - Wanda Lou Wagner, 81, of Winamac, passed away Sunday, March 23, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born October 8, 1943 in Winamac, to the late Lewis and Viola (Hettinger) Grant Sr. She married Gerald Wagner in 1992. He died March 7, 2007.

Wanda Wagner

She is survived by:
Becky (Rob) Clarke, Winamac, Daughter
Edie (Rick) Hunt, Buffalo, Daughter
Tina Cress, Winamac, Daughter
Tim Floyd, Winamac, Son-in-law
Dawn Wagner, Michigan, Step-Daughter
Heather Kowalski, Michigan, Step-Daughter
13 Grandchildren
11 Great-Grandchildren and 1 on the way
Many nieces and nephews

Preceded in death by:
David Handy Sr., Son
Tammy Floyd, Daughter
1 Brother and 5 Sisters

Mrs. Wagner was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Winamac. She worked at Eaton Corporation for 30 years and at Casey’s in Winamac for 20-plus years. She enjoyed having coffee with her girls, going out to eat and spending time with her family. She was huge John Michael Montgomery fan.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 28, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 29, at the funeral home with Pastor Ryan Eaton officiating. Burial will be at Star City West Cemetery in Star City.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Frederick Richter

February 7, 1938 to March 22, 2025

WINAMAC - Frederick Richter, 87, passed away Saturday, March 22, at Hickory Creek, Winamac,

He was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Paxton, FL to the late Helmut and Edna Janette (Parker) Richter. He was a Winamac High School graduate in the class of 1956. He graduated from the Purdue University School of Engineering and was the former president of the SAE Fraternity at Purdue and stayed active in the fraternity for many years. In 1962 he married Sandra Lee Watts who passed away in 2007.

Fred Richter

He is survived by:
Frederick Scott Richter, Westfield, Son
Stephanie Lynne Claytor, Kansas City, MO, Daughter
Ryan Lee (Sylvia B.) Richter, Spring City, TN, Son
7 Grandchildren
Grace Heck, Winamac, Significant Other

Preceded in death by:
Marie Potts, Sister

Mr. Richter served as a captain in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1964. He was owner of Freddie Can Fix It in Winamac, and Monticello Tank in Monticello. He had worked at Plymouth Tube Co and Winamac Steel in Winamac. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Winamac, and was a former member of the Star City Lions Club and Kiwanis Club. He was an avid woodworker and a member of the Tippecanoe Valley Woodworker’s Club. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

A celebration of life will be from 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at the Pulaski County Public Library in Winamac. The event will begin with a Lions Club service (1 p.m.) at the library. Private burial with military honors will be at Winamac Cemetery (Southlawn Addition) in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church Winamac.

Friends are invited to sign the online guestbook and share memories with the family at www.frainmortuary.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.