Beverly “Dutch” Ramseyer

Beverly “Dutch” Ramseyer, 88, of Kokomo, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Bloom Assisted Living in Kokomo. She was born on April 24, 1935, in Upland, Indiana, the daughter of George T. and Charlotte A. (Sharp) Fettig.

Dutch grew up in Elwood, Indiana, with her seven brothers, and graduated from Wendell Willkie High School. She was crowned the “Miss Elwood Centennial Queen” in 1952 and went on to compete in the “Miss Indiana” pageant. She attended St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, and worked for many years at Continental Steel, from switchboard operator to Executive Secretary. She retired as Office Manager at Dr. Grider’s dental practice.

Dutch enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, traveling the world, and wintering in Florida. She was an active member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo for over 60 years.

On May 21, 1993, she married Richard Ramseyer, and he preceded her in death on May 3, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her parents, George & Charlotte Fettig; first husband and father of her children, Billie Joe Nelson; son, Aaron Nelson; and brothers, Jim Fettig, Larry Fettig, Mike Fettig, and Steve Fettig.

Dutch is survived by her children, Mike (Debbie) Nelson, Pat Nelson, Joan (Thomas) Bolka, and Adam Nelson; stepchildren, Shelia Grant, Susan (Herb) Ling-Modrak, Stacey (Kenny) Kendall, and Todd (Maria) Ramseyer; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon on Monday, January 29, 2024, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 County Rd S 200 W, Kokomo, with Rev. Fr. Peter Vanderkolk, the celebrant. Entombment will follow Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:30 am until the time of service on Monday, at the church. Contributions may be made in Dutch’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/?form=FUNSETYDEFK. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

Lucy Irene Freeman

Lucy Irene Freeman, 77, Kokomo, passed away at 3:30 am Friday, January 26, 2024, at her home. She was born August 18, 1946, in Kokomo, the daughter of the late Orville & Madeline (Marquand) Smith.

Lucy retired in 1991 from Delphi Delco after 30 years of service. She was a member of the Eagles and enjoyed crocheting, bowling and going to garage sales and estate sales. Lucy also loved camping, spending time with her family and going to the lake where she would hang out at the beach.

Lucy is survived by her children, Brian K. Morgan, Kimberly R. Wheeler and Christopher S. (Rhonda) Morgan; 9 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen, Sherry and Mary along with many nieces and nephews.

Lucy was preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers; 2 sisters; and son-in-law, Brando R. Wheeler.

Funeral service will be held at Noon Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Terry Russell officiating. Entombment will follow in Kokomo Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10 am until time of service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Lucy’s memory to Gospel Light Mission Church, 1407 Belmont Ave., Kokomo, IN 46902.

Abby L. Baker

Abby L. Baker, 64, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, and formerly Forest, passed away at 1:09 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Erlanger Hospital, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was born March 24, 1959, in Logansport, to Ted D. and Elaine S. (Blocher) Long. On June 30, 1980, she married Kenneth E. Baker, at Temple Baptist Church, in Kokomo, and he survives.

Abby attended Clinton Central High School and Hyles-Anderson College, in Hammond, and Tennessee Temple College, in Chattanooga. She was a fiber artist, who enjoyed creating items on her spinning wheels and looms and also enjoyed crocheting and knitting. She was very proud to have taken part in knitting soft, cuddly bears to send to disadvantaged kids in Africa. She fondly referred to her missionary bears as “missionbearies.”

In addition to her husband, survivors include her mother; brother, Clark (Valerie) Long; sister, Onda (Steve) Fague; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father.

A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Beech Grove Cemetery, in Sharon, with Pastor Luke Vasicek officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Abby’s memory to the Kokomo Rescue Mission. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stout & Son Funeral Home in Russiaville.

William Bentley Borden

William Bentley Borden, age 94, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

A time of visitation for William will be held Friday, February 2, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home & Cemetery, 2097 West Alto Road, Kokomo, Indiana 46902. A time of visitation will occur Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1204 North Armstrong Street, Kokomo, Indiana. A mass of Christian burial will occur Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 1:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1204 North Armstrong Street, Kokomo, Indiana. An entombment will occur Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 2:30 PM at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery, 2097 West Alto Road, Kokomo, Indiana 46902.

William Richard Beaver

William Richard Beaver, 80, of Kokomo, passed peacefully at home on Thursday January 11, 2024, after a lengthy, courageous struggle with C.O.P.D. He was born in Kokomo, IN, on November 18, 1943, the son of the late William Richard Beaver Sr. and Bertha Ann (Kinney) Beaver. On December 24, 1965, he married Suzanne Hood, and she survives.

Richard was a Kokomo High School graduate and attended Indiana University Kokomo. He retired after 50 years from the Brick Layers Union and remained active in the Apprentice Program. He was a general contractor, owning Construction Unlimited and Kokomo Industrial Contractors, completing many projects through central Indiana. Richard’s main priority was loving and caring for his family. He was a friend and mentor to many. He was a hard-working man, willing to help anyone in need. He was an avid volunteer for many organizations throughout the community. He delivered Christmas Boxes for the Kokomo Rescue Mission for 65 years, and insisted his boys and their children shared that experience with him. He was also supportive of Habitat for Humanity, C.A.M. and We Care. He was an Eagle Scout, receiving the Order of the Arrow Award. His hobbies included beekeeping, bicycling, classic Chevys, and banjo. He enjoyed sailing on Jim’s boat in Arkansas Pass, Texas, and built a wooden skiff at Farley’s Boat Works. Other special times were spent visiting Yosemite National Park with Chad and volunteering as a Trail Angel on Carson Pass in South Lake Tahoe.

In addition to his wife Suzanne, Richard is survived by his sons, James Lee (Teresa) Beaver, Chad Alan Beaver; grandchildren Daniel (Rebecca) Miller and their son, Isaiah Miller; Cody Beaver, Cassie Jean Beaver; Zachary (Yeraldy Zuniga) Beaver and their children, Domenic Beaver, Liliana Beaver; Hannah (Adam) Foster, and their children, Haven Foster, Noelle Foster; brothers, Harry (Shari) Beaver, John (Deborah) Koontz; and his faithful cat, Patchey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Robert Koontz.

Richard’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Guardian Angel Hospice, and especially Angie, Brittany, Maddy, and Terry for their excellent and compassionate care they provided.

Richard was a devout member of Saint Andrew Episcopal Church in Kokomo, where a Celebration of Life will be held in the Fellowship Hall from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday February 17, 2024, 602 West Superior Street, Kokomo, IN 46901. Contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to the Kokomo Humane Society. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

John Bernard Cherven, Jr.

John Bernard Cherven, Jr., age 77, passed away peacefully on January 11, 2024, due to complications from a stroke.

John was born on October 28, 1946, in Corpus Christi, Texas to Marcyle (Green) Woodard and John B. Cherven, Sr. He graduated from Wilmot High School in Wisconsin in 1964. In 1966, John enlisted in the Marine Corp and served for two years. He then worked at Great Lakes Naval Station as a heavy equipment operator. He also earned his commercial pilot’s license during that time.

John moved to Anchorage in 1983 and managed the Long Branch Saloon for 10 years. After it sold, he worked again as a heavy equipment operator for various companies and was a member of Local 302.

John enjoyed a variety of interests including traveling and camping in his Airstream motor home, repairing and restoring cars and trail bikes, playing golf and target shooting.

John was preceded in death by his father John B. Cherven Sr., Eunice Cherven (stepmother). He is survived by his wife Rose Marie “Rosie” (Moore) Cherven, his mother Marcyle Woodard of Ft. Worth, Texas; his two sons John Cherven (Jocylyn) and Michael Cherven of Colorado, his granddaughter Hannah, his brother Richard Cherven (Dorothy) and niece Morgan, his stepsons Jason and Matthew Pawluk (Renata) and granddaughters, Julia and Luciana Pawluk.

A funeral Mass is being planned for May in Tipton with burial to follow in St. John’s Cemetery. Young-Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements and the details of the funeral Mass will be published at www.young-nichols.com when they are available.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Alaska or the Wounded Warriors Project.

Thank you to all of the doctors, nurses, and aides who helped John during the last few years.