Obituaries

Mar 23, 2025

Joni Van Galder, age 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Raclin Hospice House in Mishawaka, Indiana. She was born on October 4, 1948, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to Marjorie and Russell Van Galder.

Joni graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1966 and went on to live in various places, including Hawaii, California, Madison, and northern Indiana, each...

Mar 21, 2025

Jeaniece Annette Bumgardner, 86, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family at the Center for Hospice, Esther’s House. She was born on May 27, 1938, in Sidney, Ohio. It was during high school that she met the love of her life, Arthur Herbert Bumgardner. The two were married on June...

Mar 20, 2025

Robert “Mr. Bob” Jackson Sr., age 84 of South Bend, passed away at Countryside Meadows in Avon, Indiana on March 20, 2025. Robert was born May 9, 1940, in South Bend, Indiana. Bob served honorably in the US Air Force during the Korean War era and was honorably discharged in 1961. Robert was employed for many years with the South...

Mar 15, 2025

Cindy Johnson, 62, of Cassopolis, MI took her final breaths in the comfort of her home on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with her husband by her side. She was born in Paw Paw, MI on May 12, 1962, to the late Charles and Marsha Cambron, and later married her best friend, Chuck, on Sept. 17, 1988. 

Chuck survives along with his...

Mar 13, 2025

Sue Ellen James, 80, of Mishawaka stepped into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 13, 2025, with family by her side. She was born on July 9, 1944, in Cleveland, OH, to the late Charles N. and Mary M. (Miller) Berry, and later married Kenneth Lee James in Niles, MI, on April 15, 1963.

She is survived by...

Mar 11, 2025

Ross A. Portolese, age 101, of Mishawaka, passed away with his family by his side on the morning of March 11, 2025. Ross was born on February 5, 1924, to the late Frank and Domenica (Trimboli) Portolese. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1942. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He served...

Mar 4, 2025

Michael Robert Nicholls, age 58, of Mishawaka, passed away unexpectedly on March 4, 2025. Mike was born August 28, 1966, in Jackson, Michigan. He was employed as a maintenance manager for several apartment buildings in the Michiana area, where he was loved by all the residents. Hardworking and dedicated, he took pride in his job and always went the extra...

Feb 26, 2025

Brandon M. Roth, 40, of South Bend, lost his brave fight with cancer on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, with family by his side. He was born September 26, 1984, in South Bend to Louis Roth and Theresa (Bruegel) Trensey, and later married his best friend, Nicole Makepeace, on August 4, 2004.

Nicole survives along with their children, Savanna (Brocton) Szuba of...

Feb 15, 2025

Thomas “Tom” Ferguson, 61, of Mishawaka entered heavenly rest on Saturday, February 15, with family by his side. He was born to the late Edwin B. and Delphine A. (Tobolski) Ferguson on April 17, 1963. Surviving are his cousins, Autumn Bourne, Tanya Yoder, Jorja and Justin Bourne, and a brother Dennis Ferguson.

Tom was a devoted member of Queen of Peace...

Feb 7, 2025

William Ray (Bill) Gamble passed away peacefully Friday February 7, 2025, with his wife and children surrounding him. He was born July 1, 1957, to Chester and Leoka Gamble in South Bend, Indiana.

When he was 7 years old, he moved with his family to the dairy farm in New Carlisle where he grew up. On March 20th, 1981, he married...

Jan 16, 2025

Gregory Labis, 71, of N. Webster entered heavenly rest on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. He was born in South Bend on September 26, 1953, to the late Henry and Rosemary (Cunningham) Labis, and married Shirley Ann Boros in June of 1979. Shirley preceded him in death in January of 2015. Surviving is a son, Ryan (Amy) Labis of Michigan City,...

Jan 5, 2025

Thomas Leroy Muller, age 74, of South Bend, passed away on January 5, 2025, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka. Tom was born on May 15, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois. He was lovingly welcomed into the family of Phillip and Edith Muller, along with their first son, Erven, when they adopted him in 1952. Later, Tom met the...

Jan 3, 2025

Melody Beth Grabarek, 69, of Mishawaka passed away Friday, January 3, 2025 with her husband and best friend by her side. She was born in Mishawaka on March 17, 1955, to the late Jack and Martha (Strieble) King, and later met and married Frank Grabarek while they worked together.

He survives along with their children, Julie (Kris) Johnson of Mishawaka and...

Jan 1, 2025

Sharon A. Calhoun, 84, of Mishawaka entered heavenly rest on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at home with family by her side. She was born September 19, 1940, to the late Maurice and Elsie (Vandenberge) Kerckaert. She married Donald J. Carr in June of 1965, who preceded her in death in 1974, and later married Lawrence “Cal” Calhoun on May 7,...

Dec 20, 2024

Chani Whetstone, 32, of Mishawaka, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Friday, December 20. She was born on September 16, 1992, in Mishawaka to Jennifer Brown.

Chani is also survived by her brothers, Tyee and Quinn Calhoon, Devon Smith Jr., and Christopher Smith; her sisters, Courtney Reeves, Whitney Victoria Smith, and Alexis Orange Smith; her grandparents, Amanda Jensen, Denise Clark,...

Dec 1, 2024

Linda Jo Sikorski, age 75, of New Carlisle, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2024, with her family by her side. She was born on October 11, 1949, in South Bend, Indiana. Linda was a graduate of Penn High School, Class of 1968. She worked for many years as both an owner and hostess at the Whistle Stop in...

Nov 16, 2024

Elizabeth Jane “Betty” Chamberlin, 90, of Mishawaka, passed away peacefully at the Pendle House on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Born on December 13, 1933, in Mishawaka, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Howard Sr. and Florine (VanHuffell) Kohler. Betty graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1951. On February 15, 1958, she married Joseph Chamberlin Sr. at St....

Nov 12, 2024

** For those who wish to join us remotely, a livestream of Alex’s funeral service will be available in the video window below this obituary. Please gather with us in honoring his memory from wherever you are**

Laymon (Alex) Alexander, 104, passed away at Pilgrim Manor on November 12, 2024. Alex was born in Slaughters,...

Nov 6, 2024

Carol Ann (Trimboli) Mahler passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the age of 86 with her family close by her side. Carol was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 25, 1937, to the late Salvatore and Minerva (Newman) Trimboli. She graduated high school in New York, studied to be a Nun for almost 6 years and changed paths...

Nov 5, 2024

Kenneth “Ken” Reeves, 70, of Mishawaka entered eternal rest on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at home. He was born on September 16, 1954, in Niagara Falls, NY to the late Francis B. and Louise (Wilhelm) Reeves. He later married Judith “Judy” Ann, who preceded him in death in 2011.

Ken is survived by a son, Chris (Danielle)...