Kenneth L. Thieke
Kenneth L. Thieke, 88, of Kokomo, Indiana, peacefully passed away on February 1st, 2024.
Ken was born on May 9th, 1937, to Thilburn and Nellie (Jordan) Thieke in the city of Burney Ford, Missouri. Ken attended Kokomo High School and joined the United States Marines, serving from May 1954 to May 1957 in Okinawa, Japan. After serving in the military, he worked at the Continental Steel Mill, Kokomo, for many years until its closing. In addition, Ken held a position as a semi-truck driver later in his life.
Ken’s hobbies and interests included bike riding, camping, grilling, fishing, and he loved spending time with his friends and family.
Preceding Ken in death are wife Shirley (Skinner) Thieke, wife Edith (Archer) Thieke, parents Thilburn and Nellie Thieke, and brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Sondra Thieke.
Ken is survived by: daughter Diane (Tim) Bousum, grandson Mark (Wendy) Jones, grandson Brent (Debra) Bousum, granddaughter Melissa (Kevin) Branigan, great-grandson Craig (Chelsie) Jones, great-granddaughter Ashley Jones, great-granddaughter Hannah Jones, great-granddaughter Emma Jones, great-grandson Jesse Bousum, great-grandson David Bousum, great-grandson Sean Branigan, great-grandson TJ Branigan, great-great-granddaughter Piper Jones, and close companion Brenda Giselbach.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Ellers Mortuary, 3400 S. Webster St., Kokomo, from 11:00 am until the start of Funeral Services at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Albright Cemetery. Share a memory with the family at www.ellersmortuary.com.
Ervin “Doyle” Luttrell
Ervin “Doyle” Luttrell, of Hobbs, Indiana passed away peacefully at home following a short battle with dementia on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
Doyle was born July 30, 1940, in Bald Knob, Arkansas to his parents Ervin and Essie (Long) Luttrell.
Doyle was a 1958 graduate of Roll High School of Hartford City. He retired from Chrysler after 40 plus years of service; soon after deciding to go back to work pulling campers. He and his wife, Ruby, delivered campers and trailers all over the United States and parts of Canada for several years. He then came across his passion, driving a truck. He loved driving trucks, 18 wheelers, for a local farmer. He loved that he was able to see new places and people; Doyle never met a stranger and was very outgoing. He could sit and talk for hours as he enjoyed his normal visit to the coffee club every morning with the guys next door as they were always playing practical jokes and talking about farming and world events. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
Doyle was incredibly handy and could fix just about anything. He was a go-getter and enjoyed keeping busy. He was a doting grandfather; his grandchildren meant the world to him.
Doyle was a member of Local 685, Moose, American Legion, Eagles, Scottish Rites, Hobbs Coffee Club and Hobbs Christian Church. He proudly served in the Army National Guard for six years.
Those left to carry on his legacy of love are his wife, Ruby; sons, Brian Luttrell of Elwood, Herb Luttrell of Tipton; granddaughters, Devon Williams (Jordan) of Kokomo, Shelby Luttrell of LaGrange, North Carolina; two special great granddaughters, Charlotte and Cora Harlow of Kokomo; brother, Dennis Luttrell (Marcy) of Windfall; and sister-in-law, Nita Luttrell of Kokomo.
Doyle was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Essie; and brother, William Dwight Luttrell.
A funeral service celebrating Doyle’s life will take place on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home, located at 314 N. Main Street in Tipton, with Pastor James Snapp officiating. Visitation for friends and family will be held before the service from Noon to 2:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will take place immediately following the service in Tipton’s Fairview Cemetery.
Taylor & Cowan Funeral Home is honored to care for the Luttrell family in their time of need.
Barbara "Barb" Ann Hamilton
Barbara "Barb" Ann Hamilton, 87, of Kokomo, IN passed away February 4, 2024. She was born on August 15, 1936, in Kokomo, IN the daughter of Andrew and Thelma Richards (Hall). She graduated from Kokomo High School in the Class of 1954.
She worked at Hutto's Drugstore, where she met her future husband Tom when his dad told him, "Go down to Hutto's and meet that Richards girl. She'll make you a good wife." And she did. She and Tom were married in 1957 and raised six children together: Cynthia (Richard) Russell, Pam (Bob) Hendershot, Ella (Mike) Cunningham, Jeff (Brenda) Hamilton, Brian (Stacy) Hamilton, and Sally (Bobby) Duke.
They lived in Greentown for most of their lives, where Tom pastored a church and Barb enjoyed singing songs and hymns with her beautiful voice. Barb and her husband mentored and guided many young people in the community. She was loved by all, and the Hamilton house was the favorite place to hang out after school. For that reason, many call her their "second mom" and friends were always welcomed by her to stay for dinner.
Barbara worked for Delco Electronics for 30 years, where she enjoyed many friendships and loved being a group leader. She was known for telling funny jokes and for ordering lunch for everyone each Wednesday.
Barb was an avid bowler, with many team and individual trophies and awards. She loved to play euchre and organized euchre clubs in Kokomo and Florida. She also enjoyed playing par-3 golf on a team with her sisters, as well as playing shuffleboard, and table tennis. In her younger years she was an outstanding softball pitcher.
Barb is survived by her six children, five siblings, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Doretta Mae, granddaughter Sarah and great granddaughter Grace.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM and Friday, February 9, 2024, from 10 AM - 11 AM at Ellers Mortuary & Cremation Center. Funeral services 11:00 AM Friday, February 9, 2024, at Ellers Mortuary & Cremation Center 3400 S. Webster Street Kokomo, Indiana 46902. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery Kokomo, Indiana. Share a memory with the family at www.ellersmortuary.com. Memorial contributions can be made to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Melinda K. (Buscher) Haggadone
Melinda K. (Buscher) Haggadone, 82 of Stevensville, Montana, died January 5, 2024, following a brief illness.
Melinda was born January 30, 1941, and was raised in Atlanta, Indiana before moving to Michigan after marriage. She graduated with a nursing degree in 1963 and practiced as a registered nurse for many years.
She is survived by her two children, Brian Haggadone of Armada, Michigan and Kimberly (Edward) Holstein of Florence, Montana, granddaughter, Victoria Fair, of Bellevue, Washington, and brothers Robert (Ann) Buscher of Plainfield, Indiana and Phil (Pat) Buscher of Jeffersonville, Indiana.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Judy Buscher.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at Arcadia Church of the Brethren Cemetery.
Young-Nichols Funeral Home is assisting with local arrangements. Condolences for Melinda’s family may be left on her obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.