Obituary Collection

Mary Louise Shroyer, 83 Born: Aug. 9, 1930 Died: Jan. 30, 2013 Mary Louise (Kempton) Shroyer, 83, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at Forest Glen Assisted Living in Dowagiac. Mary Lou was born Aug. 9, 1930, in Chicago, to Henry and Mary Elfreda Kempton. Orphaned at three years old, Mary Lou was taken in and raised by her maternal grandparents, Oswald and Otillie Schwartz on their Decatur farm. She was a graduate of Dowagiac Public Schools (1946) and Western Normal School (for teachers). On Aug. 22, 1947, she married Richard Hobart Shroyer in South Bend, Ind. They began married life in her grandmother’s farm house, Route 2, Decatur, where they lived for the next 45 years before moving into a custom-built cottage overlooking the pond at the back of their farm. Mary Lou first taught at a country school in Keeler Township. After the consolidation of area country schools, she began a long career as elementary librarian for Decatur Public Schools. She made t...

Herbert R. Maust, 84, Goshen, died 3 p.m. Mon. Jan. 21, 2013 at his residence. He was born May 18, 1928 in Goshen to Douglas & Amanda (Martin) Maust. He married Rosemary (Slabaugh) Maust on Oct. 23, 1949 at North Main Mennonite Church, Nappanee. Surviving are his wife, Rosemary, children, Ronda (Steve) Chupp, Goshen, Rick (Tammy) Maust, Wakarusa, Becky (Dave) Schwartzentruber, Goshen, Rene (Mafra) Maust, Goshen, 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death are sisters, Berniece Short, Arvilla Anglemyer and Anabel Hartman. Herb was a 1946 graduate of Wakarusa High School and attended one year at Chicago Technical College. He was founder & owner of Wakarusa Farm Center for 40+ years, Wakarusa Fence Co. and in retirement worked at PolyVinyl Sales. He was 45+ year member of the Elkhart County 4-H Board, serving as president in 1980 and heavily involved in many activities and events including being the rodeo producer for 30+ years; volunteered for Switchbo...