Obituaries

William R. Widner

March 24, 1954 to January 27, 2019

WINAMAC - William Robert "Bill" Widner Sr., 64, of Monterey, passed away Sunday, Jan.27, at Pulaski Memorial Hospital, Winamac.

He was born March 24, 1954 in Knox, to Robert Louis and Katherine Rigsby Widner. He graduated from North Judson-San Pierre High School in 1973 where he met his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Potempa, whom he married on June 1, 1973. She survives.

He is also survived by: 
William Robert "Bill" (Wendy) Widner Jr., Monterey, Son 
Robert Louis "Bob" (Heather) Widner, Monterey, Son 
Carrie Ann (Tony) Hreha, Valparaiso, Daughter 
Proud Papaw to Nine Grandchildren: Laine, Lucas, Landen, Lynna, Liam, Owen, Isabelle, Aubrey and Anthony. 
Katherine "Rosie" Amidei, North Judson, Mother 
Patricia (Ed) Cox, Sister 
Sheri (John) Petramala, Sister 
Donald (Jan) Amidei, Francesville, Brother 
Several Nieces and Nephews 
Chester and Peggy Potempa, San Pierre,  Father- and Mother-in-law

Preceded in death by: 
Robert Louis Widner, Father 
Al Amidei, Step Father

Mr. Widner was an avid farmer and excavator with a passion for operating heavy equipment/machinery. He founded Widner and Sons Excavating in 1981 and worked alongside his beloved twin sons, William and Robert, who will proudly carry on his legacy and good name in the community. When he was not busy working in the fields, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and sharing his love and passion for agriculture with them. He especially enjoyed taking them to farm shows, hunting, fishing and attending their sporting events. He enjoyed vacationing and visiting family in Missouri with his wife.

A private family service will be held at Frain Mortuary, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to Food Allergy Research & Education at www.foodallergy.org.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com. 

William A. Pugh

October 25, 1936 to January 30, 2019

WINAMAC - William Arthur "Bill" Pugh Jr., 82, of Fort Wayne (formerly of Winamac), passed away at 6:47 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Canterbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Fort Wayne.

He was born Oct. 25, 1936, in Charlotte, Mich., to the late William Arthur Sr. and Ruby P. Price Pugh. On June 13, 1959, he married Marie E. Archer in Charlotte. She passed away July 6, 2014. 

Survivors include: 
Kristina M. (Robert) Smith, Fort Wayne, Daughter 
Rebecca L. (Phillip) Juday, Muncie, Daughter 
Kyle A. (Colleen) Pugh, Westfield, Son 
Dana L. (Cheryl) Pugh, Chesterfield, Son 
Amanda (Marius) Storm, Netherlands, Daughter 
13 Grandchildren: Wesley (fiance: Jenna) Smith, Lucas (Rachel) Smith, Hannelore (Brent) Keller, Erin (Phillip) Parsons, Elysia Juday, Emily (Joe) Godwin, Elizabeth Juday, Devin Pugh, Shane (fiance: Ashley) Pugh, Tyler (Kaycee) Pugh, Marna Storm, Estie Storm, and Johann Storm. 
9 Great-Grandchildren: Malachi Parsons, Olivia Parsons, Theodore Smith, Tobias Smith, Finley Godwin, Olivia Pugh, Charlotte Pugh, April Pugh, and Annalise Keller. 
Barbara Reeves, Winamac, Special Friend 
Don Alexander, Winamac, Special Friend

Preceded in death by: 
Corey Allen Pugh, Son 
Wilmetta Pugh, Infant Sister 

Mr. Pugh moved to Winamac from Charlotte in 1969. He was an English teacher at Winamac Community Middle School for nearly 30 years. He was the first varsity football coach at Winamac and also was instrumental in forming the wrestling program. He was a longtime member of the Winamac First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing, camping and spending time with family. 

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac; and one hour prior to the funeral service which will be at 12 noon, Monday, Feb. 4, at the funeral home with Rev. Dave Marty officiating. Burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to First United Methodist Church, Winamac.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com. 

Claiborn M. Wamsley

March 19, 1925 to January 27, 2019

KNOX - Claiborn Marshall “Clip” Wamsley, 93, of Monterey, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27.

He was born March 19, 1925, at home, in Springersville, Ind. to the late William Ginn and Ruby May Cullins Wamsley. He was a 1943 graduate of Alquina High School and went on to serve as a signalman in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46 during World War II. He graduated from Franklin College in 1950 on the G.I. Bill and one week later started working at First National Bank of Monterey. On Dec. 19, 1947, in Franklin, Ind., he married his wife of 71 years, Alice Jane Mishler. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, George (Marian) Wamsley, John (Sherrill) Wamsley, Ellen (Brent) Lindvall, and Mark (Suzy) Wamsley, 14 grandchildren, and 28 great- grandchildren. Also sisters, Eileen (Jack) Irrgang  and Marilynn (Bob) Miller; and a sister-in-law Virginia Wamsley.

He was preceded in death by brothers Don Wamsley and Larry Wamsley (Vi), and a sister, Phyllis Lambert (Byron).

Mr. Wamsley was chairman and CEO of FNB of Monterey. He has been a member of the Monterey United Methodist Church since 1950, received the Sagamore of the Wabash, was past treasurer of Monterey Lions Club, past member of the Monterey Volunteer Fire Dept., official scorekeeper for the Monterey High School and Culver Community High School from 1962-2010, past president of the State of Indiana Community Bankers Assoc., member of the Pulaski County Sheriff Merit Board, and a trustee of the Riverside Cemetery in Monterey. He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman who loved hunting mushrooms and arrowheads.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. (CT), Friday, Feb. 1, at M.C. Smith Funeral Home, 153 E. Washington St., Knox. The funeral services will be at 11 a.m. (ET) Saturday, Feb. 2, at Monterey United Methodist Church. Burial will take place at 1 p.m. (ET), Monday, Feb. 4, at Big Cedar Cemetery, Brookville, Ind.

Bud W. Krohn Jr.

June 19, 1949 to January 24, 2019

KEWANNA - Bud William Krohn Jr., of Winamac passed away at 1:34 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24, at Danville Regional Rehabilitation Center surrounded by his family.

Born June 19, 1949 in Winamac, he was the son of the late Bud W. Sr. and Dorothy (Frasa) Krohn. He graduated from Winamac Community High School and attended Indiana State University.

Survivors include his son Joshua Krohn (Bridgette) of Lamesa, Texas;  daughter Cristy Sinclair (David) of Danville; brother Robert Krohn (Theresa) of Sheridan; sister Marilyn Newman (Greg Loehmer) of Winamac; grandchildren Kenley Krohn, Thomas Krohn, Caroline Krohn, Gavin Sinclair and Katelyn Sinclair, and beloved co-grandparent Cindra Krohn of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Ed Newman.

Mr. Krohn was a lifelong farmer of livestock and grain. He was also formerly employed at Dean Foods in Rochester, and served in the Indiana National Guard. He had a big heart for civil service. He served as a Pulaski County Commissioner, a board member of Fulton County REMC, an Eastern Pulaski Community School Board member, and Indiana State Fair Board director. He was also very active for several years with Pulaski County 4-H and was a strong supporter and advocate for all local FFA and 4-H programs. He enjoyed Purdue basketball, toy tractors, all things political, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren. He instilled his love for youth livestock and farming in his children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Harrison-Metzger-Rans Funeral Home & Crematory, Kewanna Chapel; and also one hour prior to the service on Thursday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, at the funeral home. Burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac. (Due to weather, the funeral service was moved from Wednesday to Thursday.)

Memorial donations may be made to the Indiana State Fair Celebration of Champions directly or through Community State Bank in Royal Center.

Online condolences for the family may be placed in the guestbook at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.

Marilyn G. Robertson

February 14, 1931 to January 26, 2019

WINAMAC - Marilyn Genevieve Robertson, 87, of Winamac, passed away at 8:50 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at Hickory Creek, Winamac.

She was born Feb. 14, 1931 in Chicago, to the late Eric Oscar and Myrtle Genevieve Simonson Ohman. She was a 1949 graduate of Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA. and attended North Park College in Chicago where she sang in the choir and met her future husband, Clyde Paul Robertson. They were married in Chicago on Feb. 24, 1951. He passed away on March 24, 2000.

She is survived by:
Judy A. (Courtney) Poor, Winamac, Daughter
Susan J. Ingalls, Stafford, VA, Daughter
Grandchildren: Michael J. (Shannon) Poor, Cambridge, MA; Leslie A. (Donny) Link, Winamac; Lynda S. (Sven) Kummelt, Stafford, VA; and Steven E. Ingalls, Mannheim, Germany.
Great Grandchildren: Elias, Leila, and Abram Poor; Raymond, Olivia, and Piper Link; Eric and Selene Kummelt; and Sofia Ingalls-Petruzzi.
Nancy Mitchell Ohman, Sister-in-law
Several Nieces and Nephewshe was preceded in death by:

James E. (Marilyn) Ohman, Brother
Thomas E. (Connie) Ohman, Brother
Jeanne (Charles) Turner, Sister-in-law 

Mrs. Robertson had a beautiful singing voice, loved life, could easily laugh at herself, and had many entertaining stories about her summers at McCullom Lake in McHenry, IL with her brothers and many cousins. She loved the homemade wine her Swedish uncles made at the lake. In her lifetime, Mrs. Robertson worked at the Chesterton Tribune and the Pulaski County Journal as well as at Farm Bureau Insurance and Goble Insurance Agency. She was a member of the Winamac Presbyterian Church and was a former member of the OES Tippecanoe Chapter #96. During the last three-and-a-half years of her life she lived at Hickory Creek in Winamac, where the staff was extraordinarily kind and caring. Words cannot express the gratitude of the family. Mrs. Robertson loved her family very much and will be dearly missed.

As per Mrs. Robertson’s request, there will be no services and final disposition will be private.

Memorials may be given to the Winamac Presbyterian Church.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.

Mary L. Dilts Canada

August 29, 1921 to January 17, 2019

GALESBURG, Ill. - Mary Lenora Dilts Canada, 97, formerly of Galesburg, died Thursday, Jan. 17, at New Dawn Memory Care in Colorado Springs, Colo.

She was born Aug. 29, 1921, in Winamac, the daughter of the late Russell A. and Lenora Obright Dilts. She married Harold B. Canada on March 8, 1945, in Winamac. He preceded her in death on Dec. 1, 2005, after over 60 years of marriage.

She is survived by a son, James Harold (Marta) Canada of St. Louis; a daughter, Mary Lee (Michael) Shoback of Monument, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Earl and Carole Canada; a sister, Elizabeth Applegate; and seven brothers, John, Dick, Alan, Moses, Tom, Robert and Dan Dilts.

Mrs. Canada graduated from Winamac High School in 1939 and from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in home economics in 1944. At Purdue she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Mortar Board, and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. She managed cafeteria dining rooms at Wright Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, before her marriage. She was hostess for the Newcomer Greeting Service in Galesburg for 38 years (1961-1999) and organized the Galesburg Newcomer Club. She was past president of L.T. Stone Grade School and Churchill Junior High School P.T.A, the P.T.A. Council, and was awarded a Life Membership in P.T.A. She was past president of the GHS American Field Service, Junior Women's Club, and Dandylions. She was a member and former secretary of Bridgeway's Harrington Family Services. As a member of the Galesburg Chamber of Commerce, she served as chairman of its Education Task Force.

She was a member and past president of Chapter AN of P.E.O., a member of Sorosis, and a member of Home Economists of Knox County. For a year she hosted Adriana Kaplan, a foreign exchange student from Argentina. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on the church administrative board. She served on the board of United Methodist Women and was a member and past chairman of the Patience Circle. She served as secretary of the Galesburg Milk Fund for six years.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services, Galesburg Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Mary Runge officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Bridgeway's Harrington Family Services Foundation, the Milk Fund, or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.