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| In Memoriam |
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January 19 to March 22, 2023
Suzanne Libbing
Friend of USF
Suzanne, 88, of Fort Wayne, died on Feb. 3 at her home surrounded by her children. Sue was born and raised in Fort Wayne, graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1952 and married Stephen V. Libbing in 1958. Sue and Steve settled in Fort Wayne and proceeded to build a legacy within their family, immediate and extended, of dedication to each other, responsibility for themselves and others, kindness, humor and love.
Sue is survived by her children Anne Libbing, David (Denise) Libbing, Stephen G. (Barbara) Libbing, Clare M. Libbing, Janet (Shawn) Prendergast and Katie (Mathew) McAllister; 15 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and her sister Josephine (Robert) Barger of South Bend. She was preceded in death by her husband Stephen; her daughter Mary E. Libbing; her parents Edward J. Disser and Marie M. Kelly Disser; and seven siblings.
Beverly Grote ’51, ’97
Beverly, of Fort Wayne, died on Jan. 14. Born June 27, 1930, in Fort Wayne, Beverly was the daughter of Paul Burton Shaffer and Esther Lavina Roush. She graduated from South Side High School in 1948 and then earned a nursing diploma from St. Joseph Hospital in 1951. Beverly married Kenneth Charles Grote in 1952 in Fort Wayne. Beverly was confirmed into the Catholic Church at that time.
She put her nursing career on hold while starting a family. She was the devoted loving mother of five children. Beverly returned to her nursing career in 1971 and worked for Dr. Richard N. Kent until 1985. She also worked for Dr. Katie Baeverstad as an office nurse. In 1980, Beverly suffered the loss of her beloved husband Ken in a tragic airplane accident. Her own journey with grief inspired her to earn a degree in ministry from the University of Saint Francis (then Saint Francis College) in 1997. She touched many lives by her volunteer work as a grief counselor at Charis House, the women’s division of The Rescue Mission of Fort Wayne, from 1997 to 2012. World travel was a lifelong interest; she especially enjoyed traveling with family members. She traveled to Japan, Italy, Alaska and Hawaii, and took a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Israel. Beverly was a deeply spiritual person, involved in many volunteer activities at her home parish of St. Charles Borromeo throughout her 50 years there. Beverly lived her final years being lovingly cared for by the team at Heritage Pointe of Fort Wayne, and by Eleos Hospice Care. Her family is very appreciative for their professionalism and compassion.
She is survived by siblings Elizabeth Bartels Meyers, Jay (Barbara) Shaffer and Gail (Dale) Fetzer; and children Karen S. (Robert) Masbaum, Steven C. Grote, Linda J. (Michael) Chase, David A. Grote and Anne L. (Peter Goodman) Grote. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren to carry on her legacy. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; parents Paul and Esther Shaffer; and sister Carolyn Such.
Sister Geraldine Hartke ’70, ’76
Sister Geraldine (Marilyn), of Hermann, Missouri, died on Feb. 1 at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Mishawaka. Sister Geraldine, of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, was a beloved friend to many.
She attended St. George School for elementary and two years of high school before entering the convent and serving a total of 72 years of religious service for the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. At USF, she worked in the audiovisual department for 12 years and then Campus Ministry for five years. She enjoyed working with the students and they loved her.
Sister Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Rita Strubber; and her brother Maurice (Bud) Hartke. Beloved Sister to her community, aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend to many, Sister Geraldine will also be remembered for a lifetime of learning and connecting with others, her quick wit and her successful career in education.
Shannon Schneider ’70
Shannon, 88, of Carmel, died on Jan. 19, at Sunrise on Old Meridian in Carmel. Born Dec. 24, 1934, she was the daughter of Glen and Irene (Carlisle) Traw in Petersburg. Shannon graduated from Bosse High School in Evansville where she was the Homecoming queen. She received an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Saint Francis. Shannon was an educator for many years, teaching first grade reading readiness for Fort Wayne Community Schools.
She had a very strong faith and relationship with the Lord. Shannon was a member of and served as choir director for Bethany Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne for many years and was a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church of Noblesville and served as pianist. She was a big IU fan, especially of basketball. Shannon was a master bridge player and enjoyed card games. She was a member and leader of Golden Aires group. At Sunrise, Shannon enjoyed playing music for the residents. Her biggest accomplishment in life was being a loving mother to her four boys and family. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her sons Eric (Jeanne) Schneider, Kurt (Sally) Schneider, Linc (Lori) Schneider and Bradd (Jill) Schneider; brother C. Michael Traw; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Shannon was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse, Robert George Schneider.
Caron Lynette (Diehl) Gillenwater ’00
Caron, 51, died on March 5. Born in Fort Wayne and raised in New Haven, Caron was the daughter of Thomas and Christine (Coy) Diehl, and the eldest of six siblings.
Caron attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School, New Haven, from kindergarten to eighth grade and graduated from New Haven High School in 1989. Caron loved sports, especially volleyball and softball; she played both sports through high school and played one year of softball in college. She was also an avid high school wrestling fan and loved cheering for her brother Sam, her high school friends and eventually her friends’ children. Caron started her college career at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, and eventually earned an associate degree in nursing from the University of Saint Francis. She started her career as a registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, then worked at Lutheran Hospital for many years, and finished her nursing career at Visiting Nurse/Stillwater Hospice.
Caron was a faithful servant of God and grew her faith and love for Jesus Christ at Grace Gathering. She was baptized there in 2000 and attended services there for over 23 years. Her unwavering and steadfast faith was an example to everyone she met, and her smile was contagious.
Caron met the love of her life, Shane, at her best friends’ wedding in 1998, and she married Shane in 1999. Caron had the privilege of loving and helping to raise Shane’s three beautiful children. Her dreams eventually came true when she and Shane adopted their son, Jesse, who completed their family. Caron and Shane were also blessed with nine grandchildren.
Caron had a passion for entertaining her friends and family, and she was an amazing cook. She also loved to travel with her husband and family, and for a short time they lived in Florida, which she dearly loved.
Caron loved her big family beyond measure, and especially loved family gatherings where cooking, euchre and laughter were enjoyed by all. She also had an amazing group of friends and her list of “great” friends seemed to be endless. She was the definition of a true friend and was always there to show love, witness about her faith in God and serve others.
Caron was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, aunt, niece, cousin, friend and, most importantly, a faithful child of God. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Shane; children Jesse Gillenwater, Elizabeth Gillenwater, Cameron (Kaitlyn) Logan and Aaron (Autum) Logan; grandchildren Indiah, Brielle, Corieon, Benjamin, Ainsley, Isaiah, Allie, Leighton and Ivory; siblings Angela (Mike) Thompson, Sara (Shannon) Brinkley, Matthew (Lori) Diehl, Rebecca (Jeremy) Washington and Samuel Diehl; six nieces and nephews; 35 first cousins; and 14 aunts and uncles. Caron was preceded in death by her granddaughters Hadley Logan and twins Lily Belle Logan and Libby Mae Logan; grandparents Frederick and Doris Diehl, Paul and Eileen Roembke, and Chester and Luann Coy; and father-in-law Bill Gillenwater.
Trina (Brashear) Donahew ’08
Trina died on March 13. She was born Feb. 22, 1981, to Kenneth and Barbara (Burgess) Brashear in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where she was raised with her three younger siblings. Trina developed her strong faith in Christ, instilled by her loving parents, at the Temple Baptist Church. Trina’s love for music was nurtured in church and she became an accomplished pianist.
Trina attended Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in 2003.
In 2008, she graduated from the University of Saint Francis with a master’s degree in the physician assistant program. Trina was drawn to this career because of her empathy for anyone suffering, and she took immense pleasure in seeing her patients get better. During her 15-year career as a physician assistant, she focused on family practice and dermatology, offering care to patients in Limon, Colorado; Clovis, New Mexico; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her work, especially the relationships she developed with her patients, was a driving force in her life, and she was dedicated to providing exceptional healthcare to everyone she served.
Of Trina’s many accomplishments in life, her greatest proved being a wife and mother. She had a devoted and encompassing love for her husband of 11 years, Matthew, and her children Scarlett, Emmett and Juliett. She often noted to her husband about how amazingly different they were from each other. Scarlett, with so much of her mother’s personality, is tenderhearted, witty and caring toward others. Emmett, always marching to the beat of his own drum and making others laugh, is strong-willed and protective of his sisters. Juliette creates so much joy with her spitfire, in-charge personality, keeping everyone quick to their feet. Trina’s family was the true passion and greatest success of her life.
Trina is survived by her loving husband Matthew and their children Scarlett, Emmett and Juliette of Edmond, Oklahoma; her parents Kenneth and Barbara Brashear, of Tucumcari, New Mexico; her grandmother Gretchen “Nana” Brashear of Tucumcari, New Mexico; her siblings, sister Cheryl White and husband John of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, brother Daniel Brashear and wife Chekesa of Irving, Texas, and brother Timothy Brashear and wife Shayna of Amarillo, Texas; in-laws John and Jan Donohew of Clovis, New Mexico; sister-in-law Andrea Jacobs and husband Tony of Raeford, North Carolina; dear friend, Suzannah “Suki” Smith of Omaha, New Mexico; and numerous nieces, nephews and loved ones. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather L.C. Brashear and maternal grandmother Doris Jean Herndon.
Lois (Hammond) McInnis ’66
Lois Ruth died on Friday, March 3 at home surrounded by loved ones. Born April 19, 1930, in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Dr. Gordon and Dorothy Hammond. Lois was a fourth generation Allen County resident, then moved to North Carolina to be near her family.
She graduated from South Side High School, received her bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Arizona and her master's degree in education from the University of Saint Francis. After 30 years as a teacher in Southwest Allen County Schools, Lois retired in 1993. She served as a deacon in the First Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority and The Fort Wayne Woman's Reading Club and served as president for several terms.
Lois was an avid reader who enjoyed learning about people and their histories. She loved hearing good stories and even told a few of her own, like the time she was kissed by Jimmy Dean. She enjoyed big band music and had a fondness for the Rolling Stones. Stray animals (and a few humans) found their way to her doorstep and were welcomed as family. Lois will be remembered as an independent, loving and generous person and will be missed dearly. She is survived by her son, Gordon (Vicky) McInnis; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
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