Obituaries

James Owen Winters

December 17, 1938 to September 6, 2022

WINAMAC – Word has been received of the death of James Owen “Jim” Winters, 83, of Ontario, Calif. Who passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

 He was born Dec. 17, 1938 in Knox, to the late Owen and Geraldine [Hatfield] Winters. He was raised on a farm north of Monterey. He was salutatorian of the 1956 class of Monterey High School. He married Lubertha “Bertha” Hunt on Oct. 19, 1996 in Pomona, Calif. She survives.

Jim Winters

He is also survived by:
James O. (Tina) Winters Jr., Surprise, AZ, Son
1 Granddaughter: Jacqueline
Shirley (Mont) Hoover, Winamac, Sister
Dick (Sue) Winters, Royal Center, Brother
Jerry Winters, Winamac, Sister-in-law
Nancy Winters, Winamac, Sister-in-law
Many Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Debra Winters, Daughter
Jack Winters, Brother
Wayne Winters, Brother
Kathryn Wikert, Sister

Mr. Winters was a glassworker for Libby Glass, Inc. in City of Industry, Calif. for 28 years. He became the union president and steward of American Flint Glassworkers Union during the last five years of his career. He was past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Ontario. He loved spending time with family and the many friends he had made at the Eagles. Jim and Bertha loved sailing on the Pacific Ocean. He was also a licensed private pilot, enjoyed woodworking, and was an avid reader. He helped raise several of Bertha’s nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held in Ontario, Calif. at a later date. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, at Riverside Memorial Cemetery in Monterey. Burial will be at the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fraternal Order Eagles.

Local arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

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

Betty L. Gould

October 24, 1936 to October 4, 2022

ROYAL CENTER - Betty Lou Gould, 85, of Star City passed away peacefully at 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Pulaski Healthcare Center in Winamac, surrounded by family.

Betty Gould

Born Oct. 24, 1936 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of the late William and Pearl (Tryon) Kreutzberger. She married James Gould, formerly of Spencer, Iowa. He passed away January 2007. She later married Jim Hauser of Winamac who also preceded her in death.

Survivors include her children, Mary Mays of Winamac, Cheryl (Ricky) Schultz of Star City, James (Karla) Gould of Star City and John (Kim) Gould of Star City; grandchildren, Jason (Kianna) Brown, Jessica Brown, Ashley (John) Dively, Brooke (Dave) Browning, Chelsea (Clint) Maxwell, Matthew (Brittany) Gould, Kelsie (Brett) Zellers, Kassie (Russ) Gould, Amber (Bradley) Gould, Holly Gould, and Austin Gould; step-grandchildren, Aaron (Sam) Heims and Zach (Brianna) Schmicker; and 21 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by brother, Billy Kruetzberger, sister, Mary Amick, grandson, Jerad Mays and step-grandson, Cody Heims.

Mrs. Gould, together with husband James Gould, owned and operated Moyer Grain Company in Star City for over 25 years. She enjoyed wintering in Florida, taking care of her dogs and spending time with family.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 9, at Rans Funeral Homes & Crematory, Harrison Chapel, Royal Center. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 10, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Star City West Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and/or the Pulaski County Animal Shelter.

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

Sara Despot

August 3, 1980 to October 1, 2022

ROYAL CENTER - Sara Allison Despot, 42, of Winamac passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at 1:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at home.

Sara Despot

Born on Aug. 3, 1980 in Beech Grove, she was the daughter of Thomas A. Despot and Cynthia E. Shipley. She was a 1999 Winamac Community High School graduate where she also was a proud marching band member.

Survivors include her parents, Thomas (Rebecca) Despot of Monterey and Cynthia (Kevin) Mongan of Greenwood; brother, Jake (Amber) Despot of Star City; sister, Abigail Mongan of Greenwood; grandfather, Robert (Jan) Shipley of Greenwood; and step-sister, Jessica Norris of North Judson.  She is also survived by numerous, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Barbara Shipley, and John and Shirley Despot.

Ms. Despot was a former certified nursing assistant at Otterbein Franklin Senior Life Community. She enjoyed taking care of her house plants, photography and crafts.

The funeral service will be at 2  p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, at Rans Funeral Homes & Crematory, Harrison Chapel, Royal Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Burial will be at Franklin Twp. Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and/or Riley Children’s Hospital.

Sara’s online guestbook is available and condolences can be shared with the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.

Teresa A. Ortman

June 22, 1953 to September 27, 2022

ROCHESTER - Teresa A. Ortman 69, Winamac, formerly of Rochester, passed away at 8:36 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27, at her residence.

Teresa Ortman

She was born June 22, 1953 in Rochester, the daughter of John Max and Marian (Smith) Miller. She graduated from Rochester High School in 1971 and continued her studies at Indiana University School of Nursing. On Sept. 8, 1990 at the First Baptist Church in Rochester, she married Donald E. Ortman, and he survives.

Also surviving are step-children, Sherry (Charles) Creasy, Star City, and Kenton S. Ortman, Winamac; step-grandchildren, Kyle D. Ortman, Winamac, and Khloe L. Ortman, Winamac; sisters, Cindy Dunkerley, Worthington, Ind., and Lisa Jane (Steve) Sperry, Avon, Ind. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Mrs. Ortman worked as a registered nurse for many years, having worked in hospitals in Kokomo and Rochester, and nursing homes in Winamac, and Logansport before retiring from Chase Center, Logansport. She had been a member of the Retired Nurses Association. She enjoyed gardening and flowers, loved her dogs and spending time with her grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday Oct. 1, at Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester. Friends may visit from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday and one hour prior to service Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Plainview Cemetery, Macy, Ind.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski Animal Center or Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com

Joan M. Biedron

November 17, 1936 to September 25, 2022

WINAMAC - Joan Marie Biedron, 85, of Winamac (formerly of Beardstown), passed away Sunday, Sept. 25, at Pulaski Health Care Center in Winamac.

She was born Nov. 17, 1936 in Chicago, to the late Joseph and Anna [Stefaniak] Biedron. In 1950, she earned an eighth-grade diploma from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Chicago. That same year, she and her family moved from Chicago to Beardstown.

Joan Biedron

She is survived by:
Colleen Good, Winamac, Sister
Jeff (Shirley) Good, Winamac, Nephew
Hunter Good, Great-Nephew
Caleb Good, Great-Nephew 
Lera (Jackson) Jewell, Great-Niece

Preceded in death by:
Ralph Good, Brother-in-law
Michael Good, Nephew

Ms. Biedron was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. She retired from Dr. Kaminski’s dental office in Winamac where she worked as a receptionist for over 40 years. She enjoyed flower gardening and raising tropical/saltwater fish. She was an avid Cubs fan and attended many Cubs games. Most notably, she and her sister attended the first night game at Wrigley Field. Most of all, she loved her family very much and will be sadly missed.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. A memorial mass will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 30, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac with Rev. Daniel Shine officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

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

Madge Gutwein

August 17, 1937 to September 21, 2022

FRANCESVILLE - Madge Gutwein, 85, of Francesville, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac, surrounded by family.

She was born Aug. 17, 1937 in Magoffin County, Ky. to the late Bob Arnett and Wava Banks Arnett Davis. The family moved to Indiana in 1947. Madge attended and graduated from Wheatfield High School in 1956. That year she married Luther Allen and they had three children together. On April 3, 1976, she married Robert Gutwein. He survives.

Madge Gutwein

She is also survived by:
Donnie (Kay) Allen, Son, Francesville
Marsha (Jim) Minkert, Daughter, Monticello
Kim (Blake) Wuethrich, Daughter, Noblesville
Kristy (Cary) Hoffman, Daughter, DeMotte
14 Grandchildren – Wes, Luke (Abby) and Jordan (Elizabeth) Allen, Jeremy (Alexis) Minkert, Brooke(Jonas) Burgett, McKinsey Minkert, Tiara (Bill) Fairchild, Blair (Ryan) O’Reilly, Shawna (Cory) Reed, Nicolle (Danny) Legere, Dan (Holly) Nannega, Sean Nannega, Mandy Hoffman, and Sara (Josh) Garcia.
25 Great-Grandchildren
Helen Fay (Allyn) Onken, Sister, Francesville
Marvin (Lola) Arnett, Brother, Wheatfield
Orben Ritchie, Brother-In-Law, Wheatfield
Freeda Arnett, Sister-In-Law, Medaryville
Many nieces and nephews

Preceded in death by:
Kile Davis, Step-Father
Craig Allen, Son
Miles W. Allen, Great-Grandson
Elsie Ritchie, Sister
Tom Arnett, Brother

Mrs. Gutwein was a faithful Christian woman with a servant’s heart. She was a member of First Christian Church in Francesville. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and canning and was well known for her delicious pies. She spent much of her time golfing and vacationing with her husband and friends. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who loved her family dearly. She especially loved spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Madge is now resting in the arms of Jesus, her Lord and Savior.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, at the First Christian Church in Francesville. Visitation will also be from 1 to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sep. 24, at the church. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the church with Pastor James Ketchen officiating. Burial will be at Roseland Cemetery in Francesville.

Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church of Francesville.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.