South Bend Tribune

Herman Francis Beneke, 84, of Dowagiac, passed away Thursday morning, January 26, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born on July 7, 1938 in Blue Island, IL, the son of Herman and Bertha (Sill) Beneke. Herman was a veteran of the United States Navy serving four years from 1955-1959. On October 11, 1958, he was united in marriage to Joan Huizenga in Dowagiac. Herman was a contractor who worked for Portage Construction in Indiana and Beneke Construction until his retirement. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, camping, birdwatching and gardening. Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Joan Beneke; four children, Herman (Vanessa) Beneke of Aurora, IL, Cristina...

Donald Eugene Kohler, 77, of Nappanee, passed away peacefully at 2:18 pm, Wednesday, January 25, 2023 in his home surrounded by family. Don was born on February 12, 1945 in Nappanee to Victor and Pauline (Boston) Kohler. On November 23, 1968, he married Geraldine Kuntz in Nappanee. Don is survived by his loving wife, Geraldine; three children, Korena Kohler, Todd (Angie) Kohler and Jeffrey (Nichole) Kohler; 14 grandchildren, Elyse (Kyle) Michali, Ariel (Garrett) Jones, Ryan Heyse, Jeffrey Plank, Justin Kohler, Alysa (Mike Gentry) Kohler, Shelisha (Cody) Divens, Austin Kohler, Dustin Newswanger, Cole Newswanger, Ava Newswanger, Evelyn Newswanger, Stella Kohler and Hazel Kohler; and nine...

Dolores, 80, and Jeffery Downey, 60, mother and son, of Niles, MI, passed away unexpectedly on the evening on January 24th in an automobile accident. They are survived by her other children and his siblings, Pamela (Jim) McClean and Blake (Rita) Downey both of Baroda, MI along with Eric (Teri) Downey of New Port Richey, FL. They are inviting friends to celebrate their lives on January 30th at 5:00pm at the First Church of God, 33180 US 12, Niles, MI. In lieu of flowers the family wishes memorial contributions be made in Dolores' name to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (lls.org), or in Jeff's name to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan, 5400 S. Niles Ave., St. Joseph, MI...

John E. Martin, 85, of Odessa, Texas, passed away on January 24, 2023, in Odessa of natural causes. John was born in South Bend, Indiana, on October 16, 1937, to Edmund (Mnichowski) Martin and Catherine (Goephrich) Martin. He graduated from Central High School in South Bend and attended Indiana Tech. After graduating, he worked at Adams Engineering before entering the Air Force. After being honorably discharged, he started working as a tool and die designer at Torrington Tool and Die in South Bend. In 1961 he married Marie Hancz in South Bend, where they lived until 1967, when they moved to Odessa, Texas. John worked at Meither Bearing and Machine for 17 years before starting work at Tectrol...

Sandra Kay Karmolinski, age 79 of Elkhart, IN passed away January 22, 2023 at her home. She was born September 7, 1943 in Elkhart, IN to the late Henry and Clara (Cook) Zook. She and her husband are life members of the DAV #15 and VFW Post #985 in Goshen. Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, sons Dana Applewhite and Michael Karmolinski, brother Raymond Zook and seven sisters Rose Cavinder, Alice Gaerte, Edna Eberhart, Bette McNeal, Barbara Friend, Henrietta Grocke and Beverly Baer. Left surviving to cherish her memory are her husband Thomas P. Karmolinski, brother Henry Zook, son James Karmolinski and two granddaughters. Visitation will be held at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home 10776...

Donald Francis Everett (88) was born in South Bend, IN, on December 9, 1934, to James C. and Margaret M. Everett. He passed away on January 21, 2023, in Indianapolis, IN, where he recently had moved after living for over 40 years in Carlsbad, California. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Christ the King Church in South Bend on January 27th with burial at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Don moved to the west coast when he started working in the financial industry. When he retired from that career, he soon took up a second career as owner of a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise. He and his brother, Dick, operated the franchise in Carlsbad until the mid 2000s. Growing up in South...

Christopher Lee Baich, 50, of Buchanan passed away at his home on Saturday, January 21, 2023 after a brief but courageous battle with stage 4 melanoma. Chris was born on March 17, 1972, on St. Patrick's Day, to Steffen and Nancy Baich of Buchanan. Chris was a great son and brother, but most of all he was an amazing father. Without a doubt, his greatest source of pride, achievement and inspiration came from his children, Kayla and Taitam. Chris was not only a devoted and loving father, his children were his entire world; nothing was more important to him than their happiness. Chris is survived by his children, Kayla and Taitam Baich; mother, Nancy Baich and brother, Todd Baich all of...

Eugene "Gene" A. Sauder, age 94 passed to the presence of his Lord and Savior on January 20, 2023 surrounded by his family, after an unexpected cancer diagnosis. Gene was born December 31, 1928 in Mansfield, Ohio. He was the ninth and last surviving child of Aaron and Katie Schneider Sauder. In 1952, Gene graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. On September 13, 1953 he married the love of his life, Katherine "Kate" Graff and they began their life together in Parma, Ohio. Together they would have two children, Mark and Brenda. The family moved to Elkhart, Indiana where Gene had a successful career as a CPA. Gene and Kate eventually moved to Scottsdale,...

Janet A. Hynes, 18, died Friday, January 20, 2023 at her home surrounded by family. She was born February 24, 2004 in Mishawaka to James P. and Jean E. (Keough) Hynes. They survive along with 12 siblings, Joy (William) Fourie, John (Tia) Hynes, Julie (Jeff) Wooldridge, Joan (Luke) Dickerson, Jane (Joseph) Kwok, Joel (Rebekah) Hynes, Jill (Justin) VanOrder, Josh Hynes, Jenny (Caleb) Dickerson, Jeana (Ben) Duncan, Joe Hynes and Jackie Hynes; and 17 nieces and nephews. Janet was a beloved member of her large family. A private graveside service will take place at Sumption Prairie Cemetery, South Bend. Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sandra L. Carnes, 82, of Warsaw, died Thursday January 19, 2023 at her Hoffman Lake home. The Chicago native was born November 12, 1940 and in January of 1959 she married Charles L. Carnes who preceded her in death in April of 2013 after 54 years of marriage. Sandy was a server at Stacy's in Leesburg and retired after 30 years at the restaurant. She and her husband were fans of Bluegrass music and were longtime members of the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association, assisting with the organization & scheduling of bands performing at area festivals. Survivors include her daughter, Linda Rummer of Warsaw; sons, Steve (Lilly) Carnes of Warsaw and David Carnes of Leesburg; 9 grandchildren and...

Katherine Marlene Ballinger, 48, Bremen, passed peacefully away at 1:04 pm, Thursday, January 19, 2023 at home. Kathy was born on June 3, 1974, to Donald and Marlene (Childess) Brody. She was a loving wife to William; mother to son, Payton and sister to siblings, Buddy (Bunny) Keiser, Melody O'Bryant, Gwen Adams, Don (Val) Keiser, Gidget (Duck) Booth, Alan (Becky) Keiser and Ty (Shannon) Brody. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Church of the Brethren, 921 Woodies Lane, Bremen, with one hour of visitation prior. Pastor Evan Garber will officiate. Burial of ashes will follow in Bremen Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at...

Nancy Jo (Titus) Johnson of Estero, Florida, died peacefully on January 19, 2023, at the age of 85. Nancy was a nurse educator who taught at Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend and later was a Methodist missionary at a Christian hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1998, Nancy was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist church and served churches in Minnesota and New Hampshire as a Parish Nurse. She was a member of the PEO sisterhood for over 50 years and an active member of the Copperleaf Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Florida, for over 20 years. Rev. Johnson is predeceased by her parents, L.O. and Bea Titus, and four of her siblings (Dr. Jack Titus, Bob Titus,...

Vicki M. Maybee, 81, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Catherine Kasper Life Center, Donaldson. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4-7 pm at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 11 am with Pastor Scott Yoder officiating. Burial will take place in the Tyner Cemetery, Tyner. Condolences may be sent to the family through the website: www.johnson-danielson.com

Robert G. Drake, 88, died at home on January 17, 2023, from congestive heart failure and diabetes. Bob was born in Mishawaka, Indiana on December 5, 1934, to Mary Walker Drake Brunner and Buddy P. Drake. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1953. He then served in the US Navy from 1953 to 1955, where he learned survival skills such as how to nap standing up and how to walk carrying a cup of hot coffee. He graduated with his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1960 from TriState College in Angola, Indiana. Bob will be best remembered for his wry and slightly dangerous sense of humor, including numerous pranks played on family members with a hand-cranked generator. All his grandchildren...

Terry Ermal Edison, 83, of Stevensville passed away peacefully on January 16, 2023 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Annunciation and Agia Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, 18000 Behner Rd, New Buffalo, MI 49117. Friends may meet with the family from 5-7 PM on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Pike Funeral and Cremation Services, The Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman, with the Trisagion beginning at 6:30 PM. Burial will be in Sumption Prairie Cemetery, North Liberty. Memorial contributions may be given to the church. Online condolences accepted at www.PikeFH.com. Terry was born on September 19, 1939 in South Bend, the son of the late...

Keith Edward Butus, age 62 years of Niles, Michigan, husband, father, brother, mountain climber, alpine skier, and lumberman died peacefully at 12:12 a.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023 with his family gathered around at his home, ending a battle against pancreatic cancer. He was born on July 25, 1960 in Niles to Peter H. and Kathlyn A. (VanHaften) Butus. He began his education at the Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana and was a member of a local troop of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout at the young age of thirteen which included leading a project to refresh Niles' historic train station. His high school education and graduation was from the...

Kevin Claire, 71 years old of Edwardsburg, passed to his rest Jan. 13, 2023 at the Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka, after his battle with cancer. He was born April 24, 1951 in Niles, the son of E. Dale and Eloise (Samson) Claire. He lived in Edwardsburg most of his life and graduated from Edwardsburg High School in 1969. He continued his education at Michigan Tech, obtaining his degree in biology. Kevin was a manager for Lunker's, Midwest Gun Exchange and continued his work at Clear H2O. Kevin fell in love with Kathy Sell and married Aug. 30, 1980, She survives with their three daughters, Aubrey (Wes) Hiemstra, Kelsey (Marc) Claire-Gordon, and Hollis (Obed) Claire-Quiroga. He...