Obituary Collection

James Ebersol, 90, of Middlebury, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018. He was born April 28, 1927, to Menno and Faye (Stutzman) Ebersol. He married Doris Miller; she survives. Survivors also are three sons, James (Cindy) Ebersol, Timothy (Shelley) Ebersol and Steven (Darcy) Ebersol; two daughters, Brenda (Michael King) Ebersol and Janet (Chuck VanCamp) Crook; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Helen Pullen, Carmen Lehman and Mary Michelen. Jim had worked as a realtor in Goshen for Carl Lehman Reality. Visitation will be from 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 12, also at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Rice Cemetery, Elkhart. Memorials may be given to the funeral home for expenses.

October 1, 1943 -- February 11, 2018 Jon Michael Witmer, 74, of Middlebury, died at 7:40 pm on Sunday, February 11, at his residence as a result of cancer. He was born on October 1, 1943 in Elkhart County, to Ellis and Verda (Tyson) Witmer. On July 5, 1981 in Elkhart County he married Carol Brown; she survives. Survivors in addition to his wife are two daughters, Tina Marie Cooper-Viruez of Goshen, Teresa Ann Cooper-Grissom of Kalamazoo, MI; four granddaughters, Brittany, Jessica, Melissa and Gabrielle. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Charles and Merlin Witmer. Jon was a proud member of the American Legion Post 210 and two gun clubs, Elkhart Rifle and Pistol Club and the Edwardsburg Rifle and Pistol Club having served on the board for both for many years. He was proud of his service in the U.S. Army where he served as Procurement Officer and an assistant Army Chaplain. He was a longtime resident of Middlebury where he worked for Clarence Varns at Varns and Hoover...

February 16, 1944 ~ January 8, 2018 Thomas L. Cooke, 73, of Wolcottville, died at 9:32 pm on Monday,  at his residence. His death was unexpected and due to natural causes.   He was born on February 16, 1944 in San Diego, CA, to Robert and Betty Jane (Franco) Cooke.  On June 30, 1969 in Lake County he married Bettye Jo Farris; she survives. Survivors in addition to his wife are daughter, Veronica (Shank) Cooke of Wolcottville; seven grandchildren, Isabella, Cheyenne, Josephine, Adrianna, Chance, Journey, Catch; five great-grandchildren, Chloie, Lylibeth, Riley, Roselynn, Jaxson. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandchild, Lacoste, sister, Terry Blaydes, brother, Robert Cooke. He touched so many as a US Navy man, the mechanic at the Arco until 1985, the tow truck pull out guy, a fireman, a town of Middlebury & Shipshewana employee, President of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, an American Legion Post # 210 member who was active on ...

The Reverend James F. Simpson, 74, joined his Lord and Savior November 18, 2017. Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1961, Wittenberg University in 1965 and from The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1969. He married Delores (Alsbrook) Simpson on June 16, 1968 and was ordained at Bethlehem Lutheran Church June 16, 1969.  Serving St. John’s Lutheran Church, Nappanee, IN, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Lafayette, IN, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Middlebury, IN, and Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Lagrange, IN gave Jim the opportunity to minister to and encourage many in their faith journey. Puppets Prince and Peace (AKA Paul and Eve, Monty and Zoey) were favorite characters used to spread the Gospel. Camp Lutherwald, where Jim, in his teen years as a camp counselor, was called to ministry, continued to be a special part of his life; he continued to support and serve as property chairman for 15 years. ...

PATRICIA A. BONTRAGER WHITE May 17, 1942 - Oct. 3, 2017 GOSHEN — Patricia “Pat” Ann Bontrager White, 75, of Goshen, formerly of Middlebury died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. She was born May 17, 1942, to Wallace and Nellie (Teall) White. Surviving are daughter, Joni (Ben) Jones; two sons, Tony Bontrager and Troy (Angie) Bontrager; eight grandchildren, one great-grandson; three sisters, Marge Vaugh, Helen Gray and Charlotte Hoffman; three brothers, Jack White, Don (Sheila) White and Tim “J.T.” (Addie) White. She was preceded in death by her parents; son Todd Bontrager; two sisters, JoAnn Singell and Betty Hoffman. Patricia loved her grandchildren dearly. She had graduated from Elkhart High School in 1960. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, followed by a 1 p.m. memorial service all at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, Middlebury. Burial will be at a later date in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury. Memorials may be given to Goshen Home Care & Hospice.

Frank D Miller, 87, died Friday, Sept. 1, in Killbuck, Ohio, where he was residing with his wife, Sue Miller. He was born April, 7, 1930, to Milferd and Florence (Kauffman) Miller in Gulfport, Mississippi, where he lived to young adulthood. He married Miriam E Keim, Dec 20, 1953. They were married for 56 years and made their home in Middlebury. She preceded him in death Sept. 4, 2010. Frank loved the out-of-doors and enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing. He loved auction sales and flea markets. He was an active member of Forks Mennonite Church in Middlebury and the Methodist church in Killbuck. Frank is survived by his wife, Sue; three children, Annette (Mike) Neff, Goshen, Mike (Marcia) Miller, Middlebury, and Brian (Kim) Miller, Middlebury; eight grandchildren, Brooke Minor, Brad Neff, Elyse Ostrega, Bryce Miller, Andrew Miller, Amber Delcamp, Adam Miller, and Arthur Miller; 11 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sue Williams of Gulfport, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by h...

J. Andrew Harnish, age 44, Carmel, Indiana, passed away February 13, 2017, due to complications of liver disease. He was born December 2, 1972, in Elkhart, Indiana, the son of Joe and Jan (Oyer) Harnish. Andy grew up in Middlebury Indiana, where he was active in the Brethren and Mennonite Church families, Cub Scouts, Little League, Heritage School band, and high school wrestling. In 1990, he graduated from Northridge High School. He continued his education at Eastern Mennonite College and James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Economics. He was the manager of the Harnish Agency of Nationwide Insurance, West 96th Street in Indianapolis. He loved working with his clients, many of whom became life-long friends. He had an appreciation for literature and poetry and loved creative word use which led to a mischievous sense of humor. Andy often expressed his aspirations for writing a book of his life's journey. A favorite pastime was watching...