Obituaries

Floyd D. Kistler

November 21, 1934 to June 16, 2023

WINAMAC - Floyd Dean “Pap” Kistler, 88, of Valparaiso (formerly of Lowell), passed away Friday, June 16, at Aviva of Valparaiso.

He was born Nov. 21, 1934 in Winamac, to the late Floyd Elroy and Letha Marie [Stewart] Kistler. He grew up on a dairy farm and attended Fairview School. He graduated from Star City High School in 1952 where he was a Yell Leader. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Dean Kistler

He is survived by:
Numerous Nieces and Nephews (and their families)

Preceded in death by:
Garnet Emma Rearick, Sister
Lee Grant Kistler, Brother
Esther Denelia Hayes, Sister
Grace Thelma Straw, Sister
Thale Mae Feltis, Sister
Lura Elnora Feltis, Sister
Helen Marie Brown, Sister
Doris Baggerley, Sister
Kenneth Keith Kistler, Brother
Janetta Jane Grice, Sister
2 Nephews and 2 Nieces

Mr. Kistler served four years at Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi where he received laboratory technician training. He made many lifelong friends during his time in the service. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Indiana. He continued his military service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until 1963. He founded the Crown Point Clinical Laboratory which he operated for nearly 40 years. He was truly a pioneer in his industry. He made his home in Lowell where he became an active member of Indian Trail Grange #2361. He served as the president of Indiana Grange for over a decade. He cherished the relationships he made while active in the Grange.

A man with diverse hobbies and interests, Mr. Kistler enjoyed music of all kinds. He could play any song on the piano “by ear” and had a beautiful singing voice. He was fascinated with the old west. He enjoyed numerous trips to Wyoming, especially attending the Cody Rodeo. He loved the outdoors, especially vegetable gardening and bird watching. He canned his own vegetables for numerous years. He was a talented cook and baker. He valued trips to Turkey Run State Park (with anyone who would go with him).He was very kind and generous. He was always committed to his family who lovingly called him “Pap.” He had a big heart and held on to all that mattered most to him. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Aviva and Dunes Hospice for their tender and passionate care of Uncle Pap.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, June 23, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. (Friday), at the funeral home with Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac. The American Legion and VFW will conduct military graveside services.

Memorial donations may be made to Indian Trail Grange or Dunes Hospice.

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

Donna M. St. Clair

May 14, 1929 to June 14, 2023

WINAMAC - Donna M. St. Clair, 94, of Winamac, passed away Wednesday, June 14, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

She was born May 14, 1929 in South Bend to the late Charles and Nellie St. Clair Hoffman. On Sept. 21, 1946 she married Ralph J. Meyer. He died Aug. 5, 1992. In 1996 she married Devon St. Clair who died May 16, 2001.

Donna St. Clair

She is survived by:
David (Holly) Meyer, Monon, Son
Charles (Bonnie) Meyer, Brookston, Son
Kathy Meyer, Winamac, Daughter-in-law
8 Grandchildren
16 Great-grandchildren
Alice (Devon) Fritz, Fowler, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Thomas Meyer, Son
Robert Meyer, Son
Keith Hoffman, Step-brother
Jim Hoffman, Step-Brother
Robert Hoffman, Brother
Harold Hoffman, Half-Brother

Mrs. Meyer/St. Clair was a farm wife and helped Ralph raise livestock including milk cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. She helped with driving the tractor, and doing chores while cooking, cleaning, gardening, canning and running to town for parts and supplies. She raised four well-behaved kids and “kept them from killing each other.” The kids grew up to be fine adults. The family moved from farm to farm during their early farming years. Some of the homes had indoor plumbing and some did not. Some had oil stoves for heat and some had only wood heat. Life was hard in the early years but they worked as a team and made it through. She enjoyed playing euchre and fishing. She also enjoyed square dancing. She belonged to different organizations through St. Peters Catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church and home-ec club. In later years she took up painting and enjoyed painting saw blades. Following the death of her first husband, she married Mr. St Clair and lived near Fletchers Lake. After his death, she moved to Winamac where she lived alone but had a great neighborhood to reach out to for help if needed.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, June 19, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. (Monday), at the funeral home with Rev. Daniel Shine officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph West Cemetery in Pulaski.

Memorial donations may be made to The Pulaski Christmas Lights Fund or the Good Samaritan Shop in Winamac

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

Phyllis M. Kochel

April 23, 1948 to June 12, 2023

WINAMAC - Phyllis M. Kochel, 75, of Logansport, passed away at 5:25 p.m., Monday, June 12, at McKinney Place in Logansport.

She was born April 23, 1948 in Linton, IN to the late Ernest F. and Thelma M. [Carroll] Nolting. Phyllis grew up in Winamac and graduated from Winamac High School in 1966. On May 17, 1968, she married Ronald J. Kochel in Logansport. He preceded her in death.

Phyllis Kochel

She is survived by:
Jerry (Joyce) Nolting, Newberry, SC, Brother
Doris (Tony) Griffith, Cromwell, Sister
Fred (Jill) Nolting, Noblesville, Brother
Donna (Les) Wallace, Star City, Sister-in-law
Several Nieces and Nephews and their families

Preceded in death by:
Ernest F. Nolting, Half-Brother
Patricia Stewert, Half-Sister

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, June 16, at the Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac with Pastor Larry Zehring officiating. Burial will follow at the cemetery..

Memorial donations may be made to Walton United Methodist Church or to McKinney Place. Envelopes will be available at the graveside services or contributions may be mailed to Frain Mortuary PO Box 248 Winamac, IN 46996.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Infant Colton DeVries

April 13, 2023 to May 31, 2023

ROYAL CENTER - Colton DeVries, six-weeks-old, of Medaryville passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at Pulaski Memorial Hospital.

Colton DeVries

He was born April 13, 2023 in Lafayette, the son of Heather DeVries.

Survivors include his mother, Heather DeVries (John Goodman) of Medaryville, siblings Erikeannah DeVries, Emery DeVries, Elijah Minton; grandparents, Barbara Hensley, Lori and William “Pete” Sanders; aunts and uncles, Jamie (Dustin) Lindsey, DeeDee Conley, Polly Schuh, Dennis Davis, Ashley DeVries, Erica (Jacob) Caudill, Gregory Boswell, Alexis Boswell, Darrell Boswell, and Tristen Sanders.

He was preceded in death by his uncles, Colton DeVries, Curtis DeVries; grandpa Curtis DeVries; great-grandparents, John and Polly Holbrook, Mary and Robert DeVries; cousins, Justin West, Dillon West, Amanda Schadd, Devin Holbrook and Josh West.

Visitation will be from 12 noon to 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, at Rans Funeral Homes & Crematory, Harrison Chapel, Royal Center. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Independence Cemetery in Medaryville.

An online guestbook is available and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.

Marie A. Hagerman

August 10, 1951 to May 28, 2023

WINAMAC - Marie Annette Hagerman, 71, of Winamac, passed away Sunday, May 28, in Winamac.

She was born Aug. 10, 1951 in Waynesville, GA to the late James Frederick and Vivian Clair [Reddick] Hunnicutt. On Aug. 6, 1970, she married Daniel Lane Hagerman in Brunswick, GA. He survives.

Marie Hagerman

She is also survived by:
Jody Wyant, Elkhart, Daughter
Wyatt Hagerman, Winamac, Son
1 Grandchild
2 Great-Grandchildren
Julian Carroll Hunnicutt, Jacksonville, FL Brother
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Evelyn Eloise Harrell, Sister
Joyce Faye Kelly, Sister
James Norman Hunnicutt, Brother
Charles A. Hunnicutt, Brother
Mary E. Little, Sister
Ruby King-Pope, Sister
Gerald W. Hunnicutt, Brother
Wanda LaFane Whitfield, Sister

Mrs. Hagerman was a loving and devoted homemaker as well as a true people person who enjoyed flower gardening, music, and art. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Private burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac.

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

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Dr. Gilbert Gutwein

March 22, 1934 to May 23, 2023

WEST LAFAYETTE - Dr. Gilbert Gutwein, 89, of West Lafayette, passed away Tuesday, May 23.

Dr. Gilbert Gutwein

He was born March 22, 1934 in Francesville, to the late Adam and Lydia (Albrecht) Gutwein. He grew up in a busy home with siblings Margaret Leman (deceased), Harold, Adam Jr (deceased), Erven (deceased), Adeline Frey, and Elvira Lamp. Graduating from Francesville High School he later served in the U.S. Army 1956-1958. On April 17, 1971, he married Mary Jo McKinney in Otterbein, IN, and they recently celebrated 52 years of marriage.  

Together they raised their children to work hard: Andrew (Allyson), Peter (Katie), Chip (Katrina), Heidi (deceased), Melissa Gwin (Wil), Rebecca Wilcox. Nine Grandchildren: Tyler Gutwein and Jacqueline Lyons (Will); Kayla Gutwein; Rebecca, Jessica, and Tom Gwin (Leah); Patrick and Aaron Wilcox (Ashley) and Nichole Collum (Jim); and seven Great-Grandchildren: Diana Lyons; Carl and Titus Gwin; Makayla Wilcox; Remi and Olive Wilcox; and James Collum.

Dr. Gutwein took his parents’ admonition to keep busy to heart whether in his professional life as orthopedic surgeon at Lafayette Orthopedic Clinic; learning to fly and catch a birds-eye view of God’s creation; working the Indiana State Fair Pioneer Village; crafting his many wood working pieces or completing all the Eagle Scout requirements. His dedication to his profession led him to serve the community through the AAOS, ISMA Indiana Orthopedic Society, AMA; on staff at Home Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital and chairman of Orthopedic Department of Home Hospital for 22 years. His love of traveling took him to many distant lands including: Germany, Switzerland, and Vienna; Australia and New Zealand; Russia, Mongolia, China and Tibet; and the 2004 Gutwein Family Tour to their homeland in Austria/Hungary.

Friends and family are invited to gather on Friday, May 26 at Tippecanoe Memory Garden’s chapel in West Lafayette. Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m. officiated by Dennis Gutwein.

Dr. Gutwein asked  that memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, be used to better people’s lives. Having lived with Crohn’s Disease since he was 17, he requested that donations be made to Mayo Clinic Crohn’s Research and Development and mailed to, 200 First Street SW, Rochester MN 55905.