Obituaries

Georgia D. Bockmann

May 23, 1936 to October 24, 2022

WINAMAC - Georgia Darlene Bockmann, 86, of Lafayette (formerly of Omaha, NE and Winamac) passed away Monday, Oct. 24, at St. Mary’s Healthcare Center in Lafayette.

She was born May 23, 1936 in Omaha to the late George J. and Lucille E. [Schwartz] Bockmann. She was a caregiver for her parents until their passing and also worked in several different restaurants.

Georgia Bockmann

She is survived by:
James H. (Pam) Bockmann, Brother
Robert R. Bockmann, Brother
Modra Bockmann, Sister-in-law
Linda S. (Chris) Schiuszi, Niece and Caregiver
Connie J. (Dave) Scott, Niece and Caregiver
Terri L. (Kyron) Schultz, Great-Niece and Caregiver
Numerous Other Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Beverly J. Crissinger Krasner Albright, Sister
John C. Bockmann II, Brother
Albert L. Crissinger, Brother-in-law
Lucille Bockmann, Sister-in-law

Ms. Bockmann was a member of the Winamac First United Methodist Church where she was active in the Susanna Wesley Circle and Kiwanis Club Meal committees. She also cataloged books and videos for the church. She enjoyed watching game shows and playing Bingo as well as doing puzzles, word searches, and arts and crafts. Most of all, she loved being with her family.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1, with Barbara Kleinofen officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Healthcare Center or Winamac First United Methodist Church.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Ronald R. Shrader

August 11, 1942 to October 18, 2022

ROCHESTER - Ronald R. Shrader, 80, of Rochester passed away at 7:48 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Hickory Creek of Rochester, surrounded by his family.

He was born Aug. 11, 1942, in Winamac to Ralph and Pearl Hott Shrader. Growing up he shared his childhood with a sister, Dolores and a brother Donald. He graduated from Winamac High School with the Class of 1960. He continued his education at Purdue with an agriculture short course. He served four years in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1967. He married Judy Roberts on Nov. 24, 1962. She passed away Sept. 20, 2000. On Sept. 17, 2005, Ron and Carol Watrous Shriver married. They have shared the past 17 years making memories with their blended family. She survives.

Ronald Shrader

Also surviving are children Shelly Daugherty and husband Robert of Rochester, Lisa Mutchler and husband Austin of Warsaw, Jennifer Stuckey and husband Trent of Auburn, Troy Shriver and wife Julie of Fulton, Teresa Harsh and husband Mike of Kewanna; grandchildren Taylor Daugherty, Lauren Adley and husband Ty, Jared Mutchler and wife Bri, Madi Mutchler, Lexy Stuckey, Bayley Stuckey, Ally Stuckey, Grant Stuckey, Alicen Harsh,  Adelyn Harsh, Annie Harsh, Blake Oberg, Dakota and Alana Hayden; great-grandson Emmett Mutchler; sister Dolores Smeltzer of Winamac, two sisters-in-law Jeannie Shrader of Winamac and Kay Harris of Andrews; and many nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, and brother Donald Shrader. 

As a young man, Mr. Shrader worked with his father operating the family farm. He continued this legacy as a self-employed farmer for most of his life. Planting and harvesting acres of corn and soybeans kept him busy. He also raised a fine herd of hogs on the homestead. With a strong work ethic, he also worked at Plymouth Tube in Winamac for 15 years. He was a county committee member of the Indiana Farm Service Agency for 28 years and a member of the Kewanna Lions Club.  As a collector of antique John Deere and Farmall -International H tractors, he developed a love of restoration as well.

Mr. Shrader's family wishes to thank the Hickory Creek Team for their professionalism, excellent care and compassion while caring for him. 

A celebration of the life of Ronald Shrader will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th St., Rochester. Pastor Brian Sewell will officiate. Friends may visit with the family from 3 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21 and an hour prior to services on Saturday. Interment will be at Bruce Lake Cemetery near Kewanna. Military honors will be conducted by the Fulton County Veterans Honor Guard and the U.S. Army Honors Team. 

Memorials may be made to Whippoorwill Community Church, 4795 N. 200 W. Rochester, IN 46975 or Webb’s Family Pharmacy, 724 Main St., Rochester, IN 46975 to assist others with pharmacy cost or Kindred Hospice 1476 West 18th Street, Rochester.

Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilfh.com

Jack Shannon

November 9, 1937 to October 15, 2022

WINAMAC - Jack Shannon, 84 of Winamac, passed away at 3:06 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac.

He was born Nov. 9, 1937 in Crete, IL to the late Harold Thomas and Iris Fern Kersey Shannon. He married Gloria Fisher on April 10, 1957 in Knox. She died on Feb. 25, 2001. He married Brenda Prater Bailey on March 23, 2002 in Suwanee, GA. She survives.

Jack Shannon

He is also survived by:
Debra (Larry) Wappel, San Pierre, Daughter
Douglas (Larinda) Shannon, Knox, Son
Dale (Vickie) Shannon, Knox, Son
Paula (Dan) Thurber, Greer, SC, Daughter
Anthony (Claudette) Bailey, North Judson, Son
Grandchildren: Larry (Katrina) Wappel Jr., Eric (Laura) Wappel, Brandon Shannon, Abby Shannon, Brittany (Brenden) Owens, Bryan Shannon, Doug (Jess) Cady, Amanda (Matt) Lawerance, Shanoa Murphy, Adam Bailey, and Wyatt (Marlaina) Bailey.
Joan Ryder, Knox, Sister
15 Great-Grandchildren

Preceded in death by:
Julia Shannon, Sister
Betty McCord, Sister
Janet Willis, Sister
Judith Stinemetz, Sister
Jerry Shannon, Brother

Mr. Shannon was a lifelong farmer in Starke and Pulaski counties. He retired from Ford Motor Company in Chicago, Heights, Ill. in 1990. He was a member of the Bible Baptist Church in Knox. He loved spending winters in the Orange Villa Park in Sebring, Fla. He enjoyed tractors, watching the Dirt, Grain and Steel YouTube channel that his grandson Brandon produced. He also enjoyed going to the Florida Flywheelers, coffee time at McDonalds. He loved to watch game shows, Fox News and going to church.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. (CT) (12 noon ET) until time of services Monday, Oct. 17, at the Bible Baptist Church in Knox. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. (CT) (2 p.m. ET) Monday, at the church with Pastor James Adcock officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Zion - Franklin Twp. Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Bible Baptist Building Fund.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

John Kwiatkowski

July 15, 1938 to October 10, 2022

WINAMAC - John Kwiatkowski, 84, a lifelong farmer from Winamac, passed away at 12:10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 10, at Life Care Center in Rochester.

He was born July 15, 1938 in Winamac to the late Mateusz and Wladyslawa [Botney] Kwiatkowski. He was a 1956 graduate of Winamac High School. On April 6, 1963, he married Nancy Marie Neubieser. She passed away on March 2, 2008.

John Kwiatkowski

He is survived by:
Michael John (Angela) Kwiatkowski, Bryan, OH, Son
Amy Joyce Kwiatkowski, Kewanna, Daughter
Lisa Marie Marko, Westfield Center, OH, Daughter
Maggie Kwiatkowski, Granddaughter
Emma (Matthew) Wachtman, Granddaughter
Joshua Kwiatkowski, Grandson
Grace Kwiatkowski, Granddaughter
Ben (Amber) Wittenauer, Grandson
Elizabeth (Hassan Alajmi) Wittenauer, Granddaughter
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Ed Kwiatkowski, Brother
Joe Kwiatkowski, Brother
Lottie Dommer, Sister
Stella Jensen, Sister
Francis Schrock, Sister

Mr. Kwiatkowski was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. He was a former member of the Eastern Pulaski Community School Board and Pulaski County 4-H Fair Board. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12; and 1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home with Rev. Daniel Shine officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Zion - Franklin Twp. Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Pulaski County 4-H or Winamac Athletic Boosters.

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

Edwin J. Lynch Jr.

September 25, 1954 to October 9, 2022

ROCHESTER – Edwin James “Ed” Lynch Jr., 68, of Winamac passed away at 4:45 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 9, at his home, surrounded by his family. This followed a brave and valiant battle with cancer.

He was born Sept. 25, 1954 in Albuquerque, NM to Edwin James Sr. and Cecilia Mondragon Lynch. Growing up he shared his childhood with a sister and brother. Answering the call of patriotism, he joined the U. S. Air Force, following in the footsteps of his father. One of his first assignments was at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. He met the sister of his best friend while deployed and it was love for both of them at first sight. He married Terri L. Hamman at Luke Air Force Base on Oct. 14, 1978. She passed away Dec. 29, 2018.

Ed Lynch Jr.

Surviving are his wife Bonnie Lynch; two daughters, Shannon Cook and husband Micah of Winamac, Heather Grisel and husband Joell of Westfield; three sons, Kyle Lynch and wife Sue of Colorado Springs, CO, Eddie Lynch III of Winamac, Sean Lynch of Carmel; eight grandchildren, Brayden, Kamryn, Rylan, Maddox, Avery, Sofia, Carter, Ava Mae; brother Jon Lynch of California; several nephews; and Wrigley, the granddog.

Preceding him in death are his parents, and sister Rosemary Lynch.

Together, Ed and Terri shared four decades of life's adventures and were proud parents of five children. He retired after 20 years of service. Most of his service stints included surveillance on the AWACS or as an instructor. Over the years his commitments to his country provided him the ability to travel the world, traveling to more than 30 countries. While stationed overseas Ed and his family explored Europe together, exploring various European cultures and history. He retired on Nov. 1, 1996 as a Technical Sergeant. He was an American patriot, very proud of his service.

An entrepreneur after returning to the area in 1996, Ed and Terri owned and operated EJ’s Flooring, a locally owned flooring business in Winamac. A huge sports enthusiast, he owned a unique collection of sports memorabilia, including trading cards. His favorite team was the University of Southern California Trojans. He also liked the look, speed and power of muscle cars. He was an accomplished poker player, experiencing success on several occasions. As the patriarch of the Lynch family, Grandpa Ed was proud of his family and loved to brag about his kids and grandkids who adored him. He was always there courtside, at the ball fields, attending school concerts and academic competitions to cheer everyone on offering his support, spirit and enthusiasm. At home he looked forward to getting together for the holidays and special family celebrations.

With respect to Mr. Lynch’s wishes, his life celebration will be private. Military honors will be conducted by the Fulton County Veteran’s Honor Guard and the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.

Anita L. Roetker

March 11, 1931 to October 9, 2022

WINAMAC - Anita L Roetker, 91, of Lafayette, passed away peacefully at her home at 11:10 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 9, surrounded by her family.

She was born in York, Neb. March 11, 1931, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary Volzke. She attended a one-room schoolhouse through the fifth grade and attended Concordia Teacher’s College for high school, University of Nebraska for three years, and received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from University of Kansas in 1953. She married Robert Roetker on June 12, 1954 at St. Patrick’s Church in Utica, Neb. He survives.

Anita Roetker

She is also survived by her children Mary Inchauste, Jody Newton, Tom Roetker, Barbara Smith, Anne Krause, Cecilia Corcoran, David Roetker, Andy Roetker, Katherine Nicolai and two daughters-in-law, three sons-in-law, 25 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren who are carrying on her legacy of contributing to society in a loving, caring, and character-filled manner.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Marvin Volzke and grandson, Brandon Smith.

The Roetkers began their 68 years of married life in Indianapolis while Robert was a student at Indiana University and Anita started her practice in occupational therapy at Crossroad Rehabilitation center in Indianapolis. She was a lifelong member of the Occupational Therapy Association, recognized by the University of Kansas for her leadership in occupational therapy, having a daughter and granddaughter also graduating in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas. The Roetkers started their family while he was in the army, stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. After military service, they moved back to Lafayette in 1958 where Robert began a practice in general dentistry for the next 51 years, retiring in 2012.

One of Anita’s proudest accomplishments was raising nine children. She was a dedicated wife and mother as well as an astute business professional and served as the corporate secretary for a number of family businesses. She was a perfect life partner, trusting in God, in marriage, in business, in family, and in profession. She was an excellent seamstress, a gourmet cook, a family leader, and a professional healthcare provider.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11a.m., Friday, Oct. 14, at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Culver. Interment will follow at the Masonic Cemetery in Culver.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Lafayette Diocesan Foundation c/o Roetker Family Endowment or the charity of the donor’s choice in lieu of flowers.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.