Peru Tribune Obituaries: 2011 - Debby's Web Pages

Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Saturday, April 9, 2011Mrs. Jean L. Waters, 80, formerly of Peru, Indiana, passed away Friday, April 8, 2011 at Schneck Medical Center with herfamily at her side. Born January 10, 1931, in Peru, she was the daughter of Edward and Kathryn Louise (Gaiser) Wise. OnMay 8, 1948, she married Merrill E. Waters who survives. Jean attended Loree Brethren Church, in Bunker Hill. She livedmost of her life in Miami County before moving to Bartow, Fla., after retiring from Square D Company in 1988. She and herhusband recently moved to Seymour to be near her daughter. She is survived by her children, Susan Marie (Doug) Lynch,Nancy Jean Waters, Sharon Louise (Patrick) Doyle; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and a brother, Charles(Penny) Wise. She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Steven, Dale and Dean Waters; grandson, Shane Waters;brother, Junior Mannies; and sister, Charlene Cleaver. There will be a private graveside service at a later date at RankinCemetery, Bunker Hill. All arrangements have been entrusted to Voss Funeral Service and Tri-County Crematory, Seymour.Condolences may be sent to www.vossfuneralservice.comPeru Tribune, The (IN) - Saturday, April 9, 2011Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Alvin John Straka, 82, formerly of Peru, passed away at Century Villa Health Care Center inGreentown, at 7:25 p.m., Thursday, April 7, 2011. Alvin was born March 30, 1929, in Hazelton, Pa. the son of John and Ann(Dombroski) Straka. Al married Shirley J. Loe at the Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Jersey City, N.J. on April 16,1955 and she preceded him in death on April 27, 2010. He graduated from the Academy of Aeronautics in La Guardia FieldNew York from the accelerated Aeronautical Engineering College in the Upper half of his class in 1950. He joined the AirForce and spent 21 years as a B-52 Chief Navigator in Bomb and Operations Support Officer. He served in the Korean andVietnam conflicts and across the world. He was a highly decorated veteran and awarded many distinguished medals andawards for his outstanding commitment, dedication, devotion to duty to his country and exemplary leadership. After hisretirement from the Air Force he spent 20 years with Wilson Foods Company as an Industrial Engineer, (Sweet Al) the guywho wore slippers to work. He was an accomplished martial arts student earning his Black Belt in Thailand. Al will best beremembered for his love of Jesus. He taught us that through Jesus we learn that people fail but love does not. Through love webecome connected to others around us, and centered to the spirit within us. Al served continuously to volunteer services in:prison ministry, meals on wheels, Emmaus in Logansport, and was an active member of St. Charles Catholic Church andKnights of Columbus. His legacy is great, his memory will be cherished by all he touched. Our lives have been strengthened,enriched and enhanced by his presence. Al was an avid gardener with four green thumbs, he at times planted “canned”vegetables during bad growing seasons. He loved producing and bottling his own wine from the many fruit trees, grapes anddandelions he cultivated. Surviving are his children, Madonna Peraud and her husband, David, of Warrensburg, Mo., MatthewStraka and Ursula of Marshfield, Wis., Tanya Sutton of Peru, Denise Hauser of Logansport and Valerie Straka and Ron Deatonof Peru; 20 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a true friend, Terry Padgett of Fairfield,Iowa. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Alvin John Straka will be held on Monday, April 11, 2011 at 12 noonat the St. Charles Catholic Church, 58 West Fifth Street, Peru, with the Rev. Francis I. Kilcline officiating. Burial will be in Mt.Hope Cemetery, Peru with military graveside services provided by members of the Miami County Military Rites Unit. Familyand friends will gather from 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru, IN.There will be a prayer service at 4:30 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made through the funeralhome to the Miami County Helping Hands. Condolences may be made online at eddyfuneralhomes.com .Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Tuesday, April 12, 2011Jack Robert Ryan, 23, Peru, died April 10, 2011. Funeral arrangements are pending from Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home, 105W. Third St..Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Tuesday, April 12, 2011Walter H. “Grandpa Little” Little, 93, Friday, April 8, 2011 at Floyd Memorial Hospital in New Albany. He was born inClarksdale, Miss., and a longtime resident of both North Manchester, and New Albany. He was a retired superintendent withthe old Laketon Asphalt Refinery in Laketon, Indiana. Walter was an Army veteran of World War II during which he receivedthe Silver Star and Bronze Star. He was a member of the American Legion in Laketon and was an avid fan of the New AlbanyLittle League. Walter was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Vertis “Snookie” Little; daughters, Cynthia A. Murphy,Sheila L. Bramlett, Nancy L. Fisher; son-in-law, Dana L. Bramlett. Survivors include daughters Darla (David) Gradeless, Terri(Richard) Mullins; sons-in-law Lewis Murphy, and Gregg Fisher; 16 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Visitation willbe from 2-8 p.m. Monday at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Indiana. His funeral service will beheld noon Tuesday at the Kraft Charlestown Road Chapel with entombment at Kraft-Graceland Memorial Park in New Albany.The family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the New Albany Little League. The Little family would like to thankthe wonderful staff at Rolling Hills Nursing Home for the excellent care provided over the last year.Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Wednesday, April 13, 2011Jack Robert Ryan stepped into the open arms of his Lord and Savior at 12:30 p.m. on April 10, 2011, just 23 years, 1 hourand 24 minutes after God loaned him to his family. Jack was born in Peru, to John K. Ryan and Denise Sims Ryan on April10, 1988. Jack was home schooled and graduated high school in 2006. He also graduated from Lincoln Technical College in2008. Jack was self employed with a group called "Us Against the World" (UAW) as a night club entertainer. He deeply loved