NAPPANEE — Max E. Sparks, 90, Warsaw, formerly of Leesburg, died at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at Miller’s Merry Manor nursing home, Warsaw.  He was born Feb. 15, 1927, in Union Dale, to Maynard and Dessie Haiflich Sparks. Max graduated from Etna Green High School and worked at Coppes Kitchen, Mutschler Brothers, Nappanee Wood Products, Heckaman Homes and Miles Laboratory, Elkhart. He also worked as a farmer.  Mr. Sparks was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy in Japan. He attended Mt. Tabor Church of God, Nappanee.  He married Wilma Krou on March 13, 1948, in Nappanee. She preceded him in death Oct. 3, 2007. 

NORTH MANCHESTER — Roger William Moore, 80, North Manchester, died at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 15, 2017, at his home.  He was born June 12, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio, to William and Dorothy Kemmerer Moore.

James “Jim” Leonard Newcombe, born in 1943 to John and Katherine Newcombe, died peacefully in his family home on Tippecanoe Lake this past beautiful Sunday morning. Present were his wife, Patricia Lee, and his eldest daughter, Julie Chuey (James), Westland, Mich. His youngest daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth (Eric Tant), Long Beach, Calif., had visited recently with Jim’s granddaughter, Jayne, and was present in spirit, if not in person, on the morning of his passing.

PLYMOUTH — Patricia “Pat” Anne Angel, 67, Plymouth, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom she loved, and to a grand reunion with family and friends, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. Pat was born Nov. 19, 1949, in Wabash, to Arnold and Lois Clauser Singleton. She graduated from North Manchester High School in 1968. After high school, she enlisted in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged. 

NORTH MANCHESTER — Johnny L. Wheeler, 65, North Manchester, died at 7:29 a.m. Aug. 14, 2017, in his residence. He was born Dec. 30, 1951, in Gibson County, to Lloyd and Ruby Simmons Wheeler. He married Theresa Graybill on June 10, 1977. She survives. He served in the Army as a tank driver, a jumper and a recruiter. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114W, North Manchester. Pastor J.P. Freeman will officiate. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. Calling will be from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and one hour prior to service Aug. 18 at the mortuary. ***** Memorials to American Legion Post 286, 215 E. Main St., North Manchester, IN 46962; or Legion Riders, 215 E. Main St., North Manchester, IN 46962. Condolences may be sent at mckeemortuary.com.

GOSHEN — Mary Ann Hale, 61, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at Goshen Hospital. She was born Feb. 17, 1956, in Muskegon, Mich., to Lyle Eugene and Ellen Maxine Baxter Pulsipher. On Sept. 27, 1998, she married John Hale in Warsaw. He survives along with three children: Angela (Timothy) Weaver and Shawn Dion Michael Hale, both of Warsaw; and Shon Eugene Pulsipher, California; a niece, Angie (Daniel) Burkholder, Goshen; many other nieces, nephews and grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a brother, Victor E. (Carmen) Pulsipher, Shelby, Mich. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Benny Pulsipher; and infant grandson, Ryan Bowman. Cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory. A memorial gathering will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at God’s Highway to Heaven, Warsaw. Pastor Bob Brown will officiate. ***** Condolences may be shared at www.yoderculpfuneralhome.com.  

James L. Newcombe, 73, Leesburg, died at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in his home. Arrangements are pending at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw.  

James F. Martin, 57, Warsaw, died at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Parkview Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw.  

GOSHEN — Mary Ann Hale, 61, formerly of Warsaw, died Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at Goshen Hospital.   Funeral arrangements are pending at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  

Ralph DeWayne Wilson, 71, Pierceton, passed away at 8:28 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in his residence.  He was born Jan. 5, 1946, in Batesville, to Charles and Beulah Johnson Sparks.  He was a 20-year resident of the Barbee Lake area of Pierceton. A retired General Motors employee, he had 25 years of service from 1972 to 1998. He was united in marriage to Esther Catherine Farmer in Anderson on June 24, 1966.

Rose L. Whitaker, 84, Claypool, passed away at 8:14 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.

Brent Riley, 27, Claypool, passed away at 3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Warsaw.

Gloria J. Wade, 87, Warsaw, passed away at 2:04 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.

Arthur G. Winkle, 85, Bourbon, passed away at 2:02 p.m. Aug. 8, 2017, in Catherine Kasper Life Center, Donaldson.

ohn Richard Knecht, 96, passed away peacefully Aug. 9, 2017, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester.

Lois E. Sikora, 68, passed away peacefully at 4 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in her Pierceton home.  She was born in Fort Wayne on Dec. 20, 1948, to Wallace Eugene and June Arlene Logan Dill. On March 8, 1969, she was married to Bernard Sikora in Fort Wayne. They would share 45 years together until his passing on March 5, 2015.  Lois spent most of her lifetime living in the Beaver Dam area. She worked for Sonoco Products in Akron for 30 years before retiring in 2010. She loved to spend time gardening, especially growing vegetables and flowers. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She loved her dogs and loved spending time with her family. Those left to cherish her memory include  two sons, John (Elizabeth) Sikora, Pierceton, and Michael (Michele) Sikora, Warsaw; and four grandchildren: Hannah Sikora, Sean Sikora, Alicia Sikora and Logan Sikora. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Sikora, March 5, 2015. A memorial service celebrating Lois’ life will take place  at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan St., Warsaw, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. David Hummel will officiate.  ***** Memorials to the Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581-1906.

Gloria J. Wade, 87, Warsaw, passed away at 2:04 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.  Arrangements are pending with McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw.  

NORTH MANCHESTER — John David Rohrer, 86, North Manchester, died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at Timbercrest Senior Living Community.  He was born July 31, 1931, in North Manchester. In 1952 he married Mary Ann Gugle, who survives. He formerly worked at Parker Industries/ParKan, Silver Lake. No services are planned. McKee Mortuary, North ?Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials to the North Manchester Food Pantry, c/o McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114W. North Manchester, IN 46962. 

Abby Irene Ewen, 56, Silver Lake, passed away at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017, in her residence. She was born Sept. 17, 1960, in Warsaw, to William and Helen Mort Ewen. Local survivors include her mother and a brother, Jon (Colleen) Ewen, both of Silver Lake. Services will be private. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Pierceton. McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw is entrusted with arrangements. *****  To sign the guestbook or send a condolence, go to www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.   

MOBILE, Ala. — Charles Frederick "Fred" Lursen, 86, Mobile, Ala., and a native of Leesburg, died Aug. 4, 2017. Fred was a retired certified public accountant in his firm of Charles F. Lursen PC. He was a member of Little Flower Catholic Church, past president of National Association of Accountants in Indiana and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was blessed with 60 wonderful years of marriage to his loving wife, Betty, who passed away in 2014. He was also preceded in death by his parents, John Lursen and Marie McKibbin Lursen; and his brother, Howard Lursen.  His survivors include six children: Vincent (Ellen) Lursen Sr., Moryne (Frank) Breckenridge, Joseph (Dawn) Lursen, Susan Lursen, Patrick (Renee) Lursen and Paulette Lursen; one sister, Ruth Hammond; nine grandchildren: Vincent Jr. (Kit), Matthew, Christina, J.C., Kathleen, Michael, Mary Beth, Daniel and Samantha; one great­-grandson, Vincent III; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.  A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Little Flower Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Aug. 19, with calling one hour prior.  ***** Memorials to Little Flower Catholic Church or the American Heart Association.  Condolences may be offered at www.mobilememorialfunerals.com.

Amy Lucile Burley, North Manchester, formerly of Winona Lake, went home to be with the Lord at 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, at the age of 92.  She was born Jan. 24, 1925, in Pandora, Ohio, to Edward Joel and  Rhoda Emma Neuenschwander Leightner. On July 30, 1950, she was married at Pandora Missionary Church to Robert Thomas Burley, who survives.  Amy was a 1943 graduate of Pandora High School. She then attended Fort Wayne Bible College.  She was a resident of Kosciusko County for the past 59 years. She worked for 30 years at the Light & Life Bookshop and Herald Book Store, both in Winona Lake. 

Charles W. “Charlie” Laster, 84, Warsaw, passed away at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at his home.  He was born Nov. 26, 1932, in Harvey, Ill., to Edward and Addie Pool Laster.  He grew up in Illinois and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. On March 28, 1953, in Harvey, he married Betty Jane Lallak, who preceded him on Aug. 1, 2010. 

Abby Irene Ewen, 56, Silver Lake, passed away at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in her residence. Arrangements are pending with McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw.

ROCHESTER — Sharon Woodcox, 68, Rochester, passed away at 2:24 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne.  Arrangements pending at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester.  

Lois E. Sikora, 68, Pierceton, died at 4 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in her home. Arrangements are pending at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw.