Obituaries

Dorothy A. Kline

February 4, 1933 to June 6, 2022

WINAMAC - Dorothy A. “Dottie” Kline, 89, of Winamac, passed away Monday, June 6, at her home.

She was born Feb. 4, 1933 in Hinsdale, IL to the late John and Lillian Jane Oldfield Vedok. On Feb. 23, 1951, she married Lloyd H. Kline in Winamac. He passed away Jan. 13, 2009.

Dottie Kline

She is survived by:
Terry Lloyd (Kimberly) Kline, Winamac, Son
Timothy Lee (Kimberly Russell) Kline, Winamac, Son
Brandi (Nick) Silver, Granddaughter
Danielle (Michael) Alexander, Granddaughter
Justin (Lauren) Kline, Grandson
7 Great-Grandchildren: Chevie, Lylah, Karsynn, Brenya, Lindy, Brooks, and Charlotte
Elizabeth J. Thompson, Winamac, Sister
Mary A. (David) Thill, Janesville, WI, Sister
Stephen (Sue) Vedok, Lombard, IL, Brother
Many Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Catherine A. Liddicoatt, Sister
John Vedok Jr., Brother
Lorraine Lockridge, Step-Sister
Violet Faber, Step-Sister
Michael Vedok Sr., Step-Brother
Anna Koekenberg, Step-Sister
Joseph Vedok, Step-Brother
Gail Lynn Peark, Niece
Michael Vedok Jr., Nephew

Mrs. Kline was a member of the Winamac First United Methodist Church. She was a former member of Tippecanoe Twirlers and a local Extension Homemakers club. she enjoyed painting (oil on canvas) and camping. She loved her family dearly.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 25, at Winamac Cemetery in Winamac with Barbara Kleinofen officiating. Burial will follow at the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Swinging Bridge Project.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.

Raymond F. Cooley

January 26, 1943 to June 5, 2022

FRANCESVILLE - Raymond F. “Ray” Cooley, 79, a lifelong resident of Francesville, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Parkview Haven Retirement Home in Francesville.

He was born Jan. 26, 1943 in Francesville to Floyd M. and Jeannette M. LaRose Cooley. Both of his parents passed away in 1991. He attended Francesville Grade School and graduated from Francesville High School in 1961. He attended Purdue University for two years and obtained an associate’s degree in technical engineering and drafting.

Raymond Cooley

He is survived by a sister, Karen Cooley Bollhoefer of Francesville. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Rita Lynn.

Mr. Cooley began his nearly 30-year career at Monon Trailer working in the fabrication plant producing parts for the company’s flatbed line. He was quickly promoted to day shift supervisor over fabrication. In the 1970s, he was promoted to fabrication manager and was responsible for all three shifts, until he retired in May 1991. He continued in this field when he started working for Ezra Welding & Metal Fabrication where they made parts for Model T automobiles and Ertyl Toys before beginning their own line of toy truck and construction items. Ray excelled in making metal fabricated toys and was known to design and build many of his own pieces. Never one to sit idle, he worked for various Francesville businesses over the years, including farming, plumbing-and-heating, and electrical and construction work. Most recently he worked for Clear Decision Filtration, where it was jokingly said he worked “part-time, seven days a week.” One his more visible hobbies was in the area of building and owning modified midget and mini sprint race cars. He was the Eastern vice president of NMMA from 1977-1984. He was a championship car owner with NMMA in 1995, and also AMSA Sprint Division with Mike Neher as his driver for over 30 years.

Mr. Cooley was a member of the Francesville Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years and was instrumental in the design and construction of the kitchen when it was built. He was very loyal to the town of Francesville, organizing the parade for the town festival for 50 years. He retired in 2019. He recently received the Milestone Chevron Award for 25 years of service in the Lions Club International. He was also a member of Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club, the Lafayette Corvette Club and the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Club.

A private graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in North Judson, in honor of Mr. Cooley’s wish because he always said, “I don’t want the fire trucks blocking the streets because of me.” Private burial follow at the cemetery.

In lieu of food, flowers, and gifts, please make memorial donations to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.  

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

Katherine L. Brown

March 1, 1938 to June 5, 2022

KEWANNA - Katherine “Kay” L. Brown, 84, of Kewanna passed away at 6:19 a.m., Sunday, June 5, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, surrounded by her loving family.

Born March 1, 1938 in Pulaski County, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Mary K. Wiesjahn Williamson. She was a 1956 Kewanna High School graduate. On Feb. 15, 1958 she married Jerry L. Brown. He preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 2019.

Kay Brown

Survivors include her daughters, Susan (Michael) McKinney of Rochester and Angela (Tom) Smith of Rochester; sons, Mark (Mick) Brown of Kewanna, Michael (Lynn) Brown of Kewanna and Kerry (Karen) Brown of Connersville; brother, John Williamson; sisters, Karen Kruger, Carol Fernandez and Rita Williamson; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Peters and Vivian Hathaway.  She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She is also preceded in death by granddaughter, Abby Smith, great-grandson, Connor McBride and sisters-in-law, Jean McKinzie, Shirley Brown, and brothers-in-law Elmer Peters, Larry Kruger, Robert Hathaway and Fred Brown.

Mrs. Brown was a dedicated homemaker and farmwife. She enjoyed playing the organ, working in her flower beds, and reading. She started her working career out of high school at the Bendix Corporation in South Bend as a secretary. Later in life she worked as a bank teller at Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rochester. She also worked in the offices of Eastern Pulaski Schools and Winamac Coil Spring.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 9, at Rans Funeral Home & Crematory, Metzger Chapel, Kewanna. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 10, at the funeral home. Pastor Tim Billups will officiate. Burial will be at Citizens IOOF Cemetery, Kewanna.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations may be made to the Kewanna Public Library or Kewanna Citizens IOOF Cemetery.  

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

Harold G. Harper

December 3, 1933 to June 2, 2022

WINAMAC - Harold G. Harper, 88, of Chesterfield, SC (formerly of Star City and Longville, MN) passed away Thursday, June 2, at the Rehabilitation Center of Cheraw in Cheraw, SC.

He was born Dec. 3, 1933 in Star City to the late George A. and Dowana E. McFarland Harper. He was a 1951 graduate of Star City High School. On March 1, 1953, he married Donna G. Barker in Winamac. She passed away Dec. 17, 2014.

Harold Harper

He is survived by:
Terri (Murray) Garbett, Cape Coral, FL, Daughter
Toni (Ken) Sausman, Longville, MN, Daughter
Traci (Bob) Hardel, Kouts, Daughter
Rich (Kathy O’Neal) Harper, LaBelle, FL, Son
13 Grandchildren
12 Great-Grandchildren
Phyllis (Wayne) Crist, Winamac, Sister
Darl (Alma Jean) Harper, Logansport, Brother
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Guy Harper, Brother

Mr. Harper was a member of the Star City United Methodist Church, Star City Volunteer Fire Department, and Star City Lions Club. He served on the Pulaski County Ambulance Board and Pulaski Developmental Services Board. He retired as a supervisor from Kains Motor Service in Logansport. He served as the water quality chairman of Wabedo, Little Boy, Inguadona, Cooper, and Rice Lakes Association. He was on the steering committee for both the Tri-County Leech Lake Water Shed Project and the Mid Boy River Project. He loved his family very much and will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, June 10, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m., Friday, at the funeral home with Rev. David Sommers officiating. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery (McKinley Addition) in Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Star City United Methodist Church.

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

Margaret V. A. Young Proud

May 6, 1968 to May 28, 2022

FRANCESVILLE - Margaret Victoria  Ann “Vykee” (Young) Proud, 54, of Francesville, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May, 28, at Franciscan Health Hospital in Lafayette.

She was born May 6, 1968 in Hammond, to Gary Edward Daniel Sr. and Margaret Louise McMahan Young.  On Oct. 10, 1998, she married Michael Proud. He survives.

Vykee Proud

She is also survived by her mother Margaret Young, her children Christian Proud and Thomas (Tina Curtis) Proud and her grandson Michael Andrew Allen Proud. Also surviving are siblings Gary Young (Martha Boyd), Maralee Lockridge (Dan Sellers) and Gordon (Jenny) Young, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

She is predeceased by her father, her sister Gaythee Lumapas, her step-father Ollie Lockridge, her sister-in-law Tammi Young and brother-in-law Jeff Lockridge.

Mrs. Proud’s family will remember her sense of honesty and sarcasm. Being a great storyteller, she always had an anecdote or a joke to fit any occasion. She had a laser focus that could cut to the heart of a topic. This helped her in her work as a nurse, a profession she loved for over 30 years. Her sense of humor and determination allowed her to act as a home health nurse for much of her career. She was a fiercely devoted mother and wife. Her family was paramount to her. She loved her family, riding in her Jeep with the music up and thrifting with her niece Julia. She was devoted to her friends and will be sorely missed by her dogs. In 2018, Vykee’s life was forever changed after she was hit by an intoxicated driver. She survived the accident, although she was not able to continue working as a nurse. Even though she was in pain, she made time for her grandson, reading to him for countless hours, acted as a caretaker to her mother, and made time for her friends and family.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski Animal Center.

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

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

Marissa Woodke Peterson

November 25, 1981 to May 28, 2022

MONTICELLO - Marissa Woodke Peterson, 40, Star City, passed away at 10:35 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at her home, surrounded by all her family.

She was born Nov. 25, 1981, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital, Winamac, the daughter of Marvin and Marcy Sekema Woodke. She lived in Star City all her life and was a 2000 graduate of Winamac Community High School. She received her RN degree from Ancilla College. She married Charlie Peterson on June 13, 2009. He survives. 

Marissa Woodke

Survivors also include:
Haley (husband Trent) Elliott of Kokomo, Daughter
Finley Elliott, at home, of Kokomo, Granddaughter
Hunter (companion Ali) Peterson of Winamac, Step-Son
Marcy (husband Jeff) LaCosse of Monticello, Mother 
Marvin Woodke of Monterey, Father
Mandy (husband Adam) Bennett of Winamac, Sister
Marla (companion Wes) Rausch of Indianapolis, Sister
Chuck and Deb Peterson of Monterey, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law
Amy O'Neil and daughters of Arizona, Sister-in-law
Dave (companion Kim) Crissinger of Star City, Former Step-father
Several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Friends

Preceded in Death:
Kenny and Martha Sekema , Maternal Grandparents
Gail Gretencort, Aunt

Mrs. Peterson had recently worked at EPIC Healthcare. She loved and enjoyed spending time around the pool and going shopping (never leaving the family under stocked!). She loved and enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her family and especially her granddaughter, Finley.

Visitation will be from 12 noon to 2 p.m., Thursday, June 2, at the Miller - Roscka Funeral Home of Monticello. A celebration service for family and close friends will follow at 2 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home. Pastor Heath Hiatt, Church of The Heartland of Winamac, will officiate. Burial will be at Winamac Cemetery of Winamac.

Memorials may be given to the family. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home of can be mailed to the Miller - Roscka Funeral Home, 6368 E. US 23, Monticello, Indiana, 47960.

Arrangements by: Miller - Roscka Funeral Home, Monticello.