All Obituaries

Erika Adamovsky, 88, of South Bend passed away Friday, July 23, 2021 at StoryPoint Granger.  She was born August 9, 1932 in Bytom, Germany to Joseph and Anna Klappauf.  On November 23, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan, she married the love of her life, Adolf Adamovsky, who preceded her in death on June 27, 2019. Surviving are two daughters, Doris (Patrick) Portolese and Heidi Adamovsky; two grandchildren, Ashley (Erik) Portolese-Miller and Gina (Dawson Brown) Portolese; two...

Kenneth “Ken” R. Lemanski, 63, residing in South Bend, Indiana passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Portage Manor.  Ken was born on April 22, 1958, in South Bend, Indiana to Ronald Lemanski Sr. and Elizabeth (Forray) Lemanski. Ken had an enjoyment for collecting items that started in his youth where he would make insect collections specifically butterflies and would enter them in the county fair.  As he grew older Ken would spend his time collecting coins and...

Loren John Vander Werf, 86, of Elkhart, IN., went to be with his Lord and Savior at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Wakarusa. Loren was born on November 22, 1934 in Grand Rapids, MI., to John and Dorothy (Hoeksma) Vander Werf. Loren married Janice Riemersma on June 28, 1957 in Holland, MI. He was a loving and dedicated husband to Jan for 64 years. Janice survives along with their children, Brenda (Robert) O’Grady of Maryville, TN, Bruce...

James Edward Berta, of Empire MI, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2021, at the age of 83, after a fall. He was born in South Bend, IN on June 26, 1937 to Julius and Irene Berta, both of whom preceded him in death. A graduate of St. Joseph High School, Class of 1955, Jim went on to serve in the Navy from 1956-1958, stationed in San Francisco. He had a long career at Wheelabrator Technologies. He was an expert craftsman, building clocks, Shaker style boxes, and furniture. Jim is...

Justin Phillip Bidlack, age 44 of Mishawaka, passed away tragically in an automobile accident on July 21, 2021.  Justin was born June 24,1977 in South Bend. Justin was a graduate of Mishawaka High School, Class of 1996.  He made his living in sales.  He was great with electronics and loved watching movies.  Justin was a loving father and cared deeply for his family. Justin is survived by his parents, Janette and James Penzewik of Mishawaka; his sons, Cade and Liam;...

William G. Stewart, 89 years old, peacefully passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at his residence in Elkhart. He was born June 1, 1932 in McComas, WV to the late Sylvester Lee and Clois Cherry (Accord) Stewart. In 1952, William married Pauline Mash – they were married for 47 years before her passing in 1999. In 2001 at Calvary Baptist Church in South Bend, William married Anna May Guthrie, who survives. William and Anna just celebrated their 20th wedding...

Betty Jeanne Tacy passed peacefully on July 20, 2021, surrounded by family. Betty was born in Niles, Michigan to Donald H. Winter Sr. and Phyllis A. Winter on September 2, 1965. Betty earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s in forensic science. She was employed by Sacred Heart and was active in the AIDS community and did work with the AIDS Ministries. She was passionately involved in her sobriety for several years and worked tirelessly in service of others with...

Paul R. Elkins, 80, loving Father, Grandfather and U.S. Marine, passed away at 7:07am Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Memorial Hospital. Paul was born on April 21, 1941, in Bloomingdale, IN to the late Samuel C. and Gladys (Farmer) Elkins. Paul was the 11th of 14 children.  All but one sister has passed away. Paul is survived by his wife, Joyce (Stull); sons, David R. (Margaret) Elkins of Bloomington, IN, and Kevin (Amy) Elkins of Edwardsburg, MI; daughter Roberta (Alan) Giebler of...

Lucille Rose (Peffley) Eder, 88, passed away at 3:05pm on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Wellbrooke. Rose born on January 15, 1933, in Ladoga, IN to the late Clyde and Helen Peffley. Rose was also preceded in death by her husband, Paul Eder; her significant other, Calvin Ream; son, Jeffery Eder; and daughters, Paula (Eder) Williams and Linda (Eder) Warner.  Rose was the youngest of 12 children and they have all passed away. Rose is survived by her grandchildren, Don Williams and Teresa...

Josephine Marie (Serge) Germano was born in Reggio-Calabria, Italy on October 1, 1922. She immigrated to Mishawaka, IN in 1926 from Pennsylvania with her father and mother, Frank Serge and Mary (DeMarco) Serge. Preceded by her parents, and her sisters and brothers, Frances (Serge) Catanzarite, Rose Serge, Joseph Serge and Patrick Serge. She is survived by a sister, Annette (Serge) Kubasik of South Bend, IN. She was a lifelong member of Saint Monica’s Parish and resident of Mishawaka,...

Marlene C. Neulist, 86, of South Bend, IN, and formerly of St. Louis, MO, passed away Monday, July 19, 2021 at Wellbrooke of South Bend. She was born on November 24, 1934 in St. Louis, MO to the late Clyde and Vera (Smith) Fults. On September 11, 1954 in St. Louis, Marlene married George Neulist, who preceded her in death on December 12, 2012. Marlene is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Chris) Hildebrandt of Granger, IN; son, Frank Neulist of Hillsboro, MO; seven grandchildren, Melissa...

Nancy Lee Morrison, 76, passed away on July 18, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN. Nancy was born on April 17, 1945 in Arkansas to Roosevelt and Rosie Lee (Wilson) Lacy. In December 1966, Nancy was united in marriage to Mr. Bennie James Morrison, who preceded her in death. Nancy was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Left to cherish Nancy’s memories are her...

Shellie Jay Rose, 82, residing in South Bend, Indiana passed away on Sunday July 18, 2021, at Briarcliff. He was born on May 23, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska to S. Conwell Rose and Itras (Vestal) Rose.  On November 28, 1982, he was united in marriage to Kathleen Lower, who survives. Shellie was a successful business owner of Rose’s Food Equipment for 25 years. This allowed him to travel throughout the state of Indiana and Michigan. Aside from being a business owner, he was a...

Dale LeRoy Utterback, 90, of Mishawaka, IN., passed away at 2:11 a.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021, at Primrose Retirement Community. Dale was born on September 5, 1930, in Mishawaka to LeRoy and Bessie (Wombold) Utterback. On June 29, 1957, in Nappanee, IN Dale married Eleanor (Lee) J. Disher. Eleanor survives along with two daughters, Diana Utterback of Mishawaka and Laura Bugg of Panama City, FL, two grandsons, Ryan Pantaleo and Christopher (Cara) Pantaleo and one great grandson, Baylor...

Karen Marie McClure McKibbin passed away on Sunday morning, July 18, 2021 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center from complications of cancer. Born on a beautiful spring morning in 1950, she was the first born of three children to William and Ruth McClure in South Bend, IN.  While attending Adams High School in her senior year, she noticed the boy sitting next to her in homeroom and, although he was a tad goofy, he made her laugh steadily enough every morning despite some serious talks...

Arthur “Art” McGuire, 85, residing in South Bend, Indiana passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka. Art was born on September 6, 1935, in Nashville, Indiana to Alva Arthur McGuire and Ruth (McGee) McGuire. Art enjoyed yardwork, was a wonderful storyteller, loved children, and was a hard worker. He loved family time during the holidays, liked Western shows, enjoyed chocolate milkshakes, loved talking to people and loved...

Donald E. Gilpin, 91, passed away at 3:40pm on Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Tanglewood Trace. Don was born on January 18, 1930, in Mishawaka to the late Anthony and Hazel (Dunn) Gilpin. On January 7, 1950, in South Bend, Don married Rosemary A. (LaFree) and she passed away on January 14, 2016. He was also preceded in death by sister, Reva Imbro; and brother James. Don is survived by daughters, Beverly (Gary) Harman, Nancy (Mark) Richards, and Julie (Chuck) Botchuck; 6 grandchildren; 21...

Arthur "Skip" Visser, 77, of South Bend, Indiana, passed away in his home on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Skip was born on November 13, 1943 in Niles, MI to Arthur "Art" and Margaret "Peggy" (Wagoner) Visser.  Skip thoroughly enjoyed and had a lifetime hobby of communicating with others around the world via ham radio. Skip was preceded in death by his wife, Lucinda "Cindy" (Meyers) Visser, his father, Art, his mother, Peggy, and his sister, Linda...

On July 16th, 2021, Millicent "Millie" Vasiliades passed away at 5:55 PM at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, FL with beloved family.  Millicent was born in South Bend, IN on May 24, 1941 to Louis and Sophie (Skorich) Yazich. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Louis Yazich, Sr.  Millicent is survived by her husband, Dimitri Vasiliades, two daughters, Diana (Chris) Chambers and Artemis (John Mullett) Vasiliades and her...

Herbert L. Sanders, Sr., 69 years of age, passed away at his home on Friday, July 16, 2021.  He was born in South Bend on July 31, 1951 to the late Estella (Weatherspoon) and Huston Sanders, Sr.  Herbert graduated from Central High School in South Bend.  In December of 1971 he was married to Lurene Johnson and from this union they were blessed with three children.  He later met Markeyta Penn and were blessed with one child. Herb, as many affectionately called him, had a...