Elkhart ’61 Blog
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1961 Classmate Larry Ort passed away in his home in South Bend on December 22, 2011.  Larry is survived by a brother Richard ( Jean ) Ort of Arlington Heights, IL, a long time companion and caregiver, Johann Backer, and cousins Nancy (Hicks) Wilson and Jon Hicks, both of Elkhart.  He was preceded in death by a brother, Rollie Ort.

Larry was a Vocations/Spiritual Director of the Reformed Catholic Church of South Bend.

Our sincere condolences to the family.

EHS Class of 1961 classmate, Michael J. Palmer, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2011 in his home.  Mike received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his master’s degree in engineering from Western Michigan University.

He married Helene Heffington in 1998.  She survives along with his three sons, Michael A. Palmer of Elkhart,  Derek ( Danielle ) Palmer of Indianapolis,  and Ty ( Anita ) Palmer of Elkhart, three step daughters,  Germaine Harden of North Little Rock, AK,  Jeanette ( Tim ) Glancy of Little Rock, AK,  and Carmen ( John ) Arvidson of Milton, GA.  He is also survied by six grandsons and seven grand daughters .  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Duane Palmer.

Mike retired as vice president of T.R. Arnold & Associates in Elkhart.  He was a member of the Moose Lodge and an antique classic car enthusiast.  He was a member of Vintage Wheels and enjoyed showing his 1932 Ford Coupe.  He was also an avid fisherman.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting http://www.wmzfh.com Our sincere condolences to the family.

1961 EHS classmate Margaret Sue Perry passed away August 13, 2011 at her home in Elkhart.  Margaret attended Elkhart Dental College after graduation and married George W. Perry,  an EHS 1959 graduate.   She is survived by her husband,  two sons, Steven Perry of Elkhart, and Mark ( Lara ) Perry  of St Claires, MI ;  a daughter, Tina (Steve) Helvey of Elkhart,  four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Sue was a 30 year employee of The Elkhart Truth as a carrier,  a member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 73, and her sorority, Nu Chapter Beta Chi. She loved to cook, enjoyed traveling, and was an avid Notre Dame fan, a Cubs and Bears fan, and most of all, a fan of  the Elkhart Express  who adopted  her  and affectionately named her  ”Team Grandmother ”

Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.wmzfh.com . Our  sincere condolences to the family.

EHS Class of 1961 graduate William Lewis Holdeman passed away on March 20, 2011.  Bill married Judith Sawyer , another EHS class of 1961 graduate in 1962.  She survives along with a son, Brian K ( Sherry)  of Douglasville, a daughter, Christina Linn Head ( Dale ) of Rydal , six grandchildren and a sister, Linda ( Tim ) McCavitt  of Indiana.

Bill and Judy reside in Hiram, Georgia where he was employed for over 30 years at Al’s Supply.  He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church and also Alta ( Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association ). Clark Funeral Home in Hiram is in charge of arrangements.

Our sincere condolences to the family.

        1961 Classmate Steve Hardy passed away on Monday, January 24, 2011 in Pueblo, Colorado.

         Steve is survived by his children, Eli Hardy, Holly ( David ) Waller, and Phebe ( Greg ) Golden , five grandchildren, Dylan, Chandler, Peyton, Natalie, and Hayden, and siblings, Mike ( Marta) Hardy, Tom Hardy , and Char Hardy.

          Steve was very strong in his faith, loved riding and spending time with family and friends.

          Online condolences may be left at www.georgemccarthyfuneralhome.com

          Our condolences to the family. 

    1961 class member Lee R. Jesse of Nappanee passed away on December 15, 2010 at Elkhart General Hospital.

     Lee graduated from Ball State University with a BS degree and Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management with a B.I. M. degree.  He worked for various organizations such as NIBCO as Canadian sales and marketing manager ;  the Purdue Frederick Company & Affiliates as a professional sales rep; Kelly’s Woodcraft as vice president for custom kitchen and office furniture manufacturer; The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. as a professional sales rep; Goodwiill Publishers Inc. , and was retired from JESSCO, his brother’s business where he worked as a solid surface countertop fabricator.

       Lee was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam war and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Elkhart.  He was an avid hunter especially duck hunting with his Labrador retriever, Lakota.

       Lee is survived by his wife, Sarah of Nappanee, a daughter, Leisha Miller of Atlanta, a son, Darren Miller of Mishawaka, a brother Ken Jesse of Arizona and a brother Jack ( Carolyn ) Jesse of Wakarusa, and a grandaughter, Logan Fincher of Savannah.  He was preceded in death by a sister, Gail Jesse..

      Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wmzfh.com   Our sincere condolences to the family. 

         Class of 1961 graduate Sharon "Sherry" Fisher Baldwin died Wednesday in her home in Elkhart. She is survived by her husband Terry B. Baldwin whom she married on September 29, 2001 in Goshen. 

         She is also survived by three children, Joddi ( Ronald) Thompson of Elkhart, Julie K.L. Foreman of Lexington, Kentucky and Jeffrey ( Rebecca) Foreman of Largo, Florida, two grandchildren, and two sisters, Janice( Bob )Zeek of  Port St. Lucie, Florida and Linda ( Ron ) Thompson of Elkhart.

        Our sympathy to the family.

     EHS  1961 class member Laurali Chester Smith passed away August 10, 2010  after a brief illness.

     After graduating from EHS, Laurali graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL in 1965 with a degree in secondary education but put off a career in teaching to raise her children.  She was an instructor for LaLeche league, also a second-grade teacher at New Creation Academy from  1999 until she retired to care for her mother in 2006.  Before that she was an aide at Elkhart Central High School and also worked at the Elkhart Credit Bureau.   She was a founding member of the New Creation Fellowship since 1979 and spend much of her time with church activities.  In May of this year, she graduated from Victory Bible Institute.

     Laurali is survied by her husband, Ted of Middlebury ; Her mother, Pauline Chester of Elkhart ; two sons. Mark ( Kaye ) of Dowagiac, MI and Matthew ( Cindy ) of Elkhart ; a daughter, Laura ( John ) Homan of Elkhart ; four grandchildren, and two sisters, Barbara ( Phillip ) True of Elkhart, and Nancy ( Tom ) Lewandowski of Mishawaka.

     An online guestbook is available at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com   Our  sincere condolences to the family. 

       Class of 1961 member Richard A. Pedler passed away on June 23, 2010.   Richard attended Purdue University and graduated from Bethel College with a degree in social work in 2006.  He served with the First Infantry Division in Lai Khe, South Vietnam from 1968-1969.  Rich was president and co-founder of Recovery Journey, an addictions treatment center in Elkhart.  He was president of the board for the Elkhart Country Drug Free Partnership.  He also was chairman of the board of Tobacco Control of Elkhart County.  Dick also mentored children through Dreams Work and CARES,

      Dick is survied by his children, Stephaney ( Mike )  Nay, Elizabeth ( Brent ) Kattau , and Jeffrey ( Julie ) Miller;   six grandchildren and a sister Rosemary Dinse of Roseville, California.

     Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapel-hillmemorial.com   Our condolences to the family. 

     Class of  EHS 1961 class member Cinnann Freel Taylor passed away on June 16th, 2010 at Elkhart General Hospital.  Cinnann is survived by her husband Terry, also a 1961 class member; of Elkhart;   her mother, Bettie Freel of Elkhart:; a daughter , Kim ( Don ) Hilligoss of Elkhart;, a son , Mark ( Susan ) Taylor of Chicago; a sister, Scherrie Walters of Elkhart and five grandchildren.

      Cinnann owned and operated a daycare center in Elkhart for 35 years.  She was a homemaker who loved spending time with her family.

      Our sincere condolences to the family.