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| In Memoriam |
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May 8 to July 25
Lucia Kroh
Friend of the University of Saint Francis
Lucia Marta Kroh, 72, of Sequim, Washington, died June 12, at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle after a sudden cardiac event. Lucia was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on December 1, 1951. Her parents died when she was young and she was adopted by her aunt and uncle, the late Ada and Stanley Silbey. They lived in France and Germany before she moved to the United States to attend Butler University. She completed nursing school at Indiana University, where she met her husband of 43 years, the late Dr. Charles Casey Kroh Sr. They moved to Fort Wayne, where she took a break from her career to raise her four boys. She returned to teach nursing at St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and then joined her husband’s medical practice. She obtained a master’s degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University and became a nurse practitioner.
She is survived by her sons Charles Casey Jr., Eric (Rachel), Evan (Sherry) and Alex (Kelsey Appleton); grandchildren Harlee Kroh, Lucas Kroh, Dexter Kroh and Charlie Kroh; and siblings Merike (Doug) Nichols, Maya (Corky) Peters, Alex (Michele) Silbey and Stanley P. Silbey II. Access the obituary.
Geoffrey “Jeb” Waldschmidt
Friend of the University of Saint Francis
Geoffrey Brand “Jeb” Waldschmidt, 75, of Fort Wayne, died on June 9. He was born on September 19, 1948. Geoffrey, known to his loved ones as Jeb, was a talented musician and a brilliant writer. He served as a writer, producer and CEO at Waldschmidt, Waldschmidt & Associates. Jeb was a creative director with WaterFurnace International, Inc., and taught writing at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute of Technology and the University of Saint Francis.
He leaves behind his daughter Amelia A. Waldschmidt (Nicholas Martinez) and son Ezekiel C. Waldschmidt (Ashley Navilliat); grandchildren Henry and George Waldschmidt; sisters Robin Waldschmidt Brennan-Perez (Micheal) and Kim Waldschmidt (Tom Tempel); many nephews and nieces; and former wife and mother of his children, Diana F. Cole. Geoffrey was preceded in death by his parents George and JoElla (Yakey) Waldschmidt. Access the obituary.
Velma Albert ’50
Velma J. Albert, 95, died on February 7 at Paulding County Hospital. Velma was born on June 9, 1928, in Milan Township to the late Raymond and Esther (Zimmerman) Gerig. Velma married Forest E. Albert, who preceded her in death on November 8, 1989. Velma was a registered nurse for 35 years. She worked at Paulding County Hospital before her retirement in 1985.
Velma will be lovingly missed by her children Doug (Jenny) Albert of Defiance, Ohio, Deb (Ron) Kitchen of Iowa City, Iowa, and Vickie Albert of Paulding, Ohio; grandchildren Jason Flint, Andrew (Jessica) Kitchen, Abigail (Todd) Relue, Katherine Albert and Allie Roddy; great-grandchildren Alberto (Alexis) Flint, Mari (Allen) Flint, Evie Relue, Teddy Relue, Claire Kitchen, Oliver Kitchen, Kane (Rochelle) Kessler and Tristan (Miranda) Albert; and great-great-grandchildren Jasper, Amelia, Abram, Arlo, Brooklyn, Brooks and Rowan. Velma was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Lawrence and Lloyd Gerig and sisters Fern Merillat and Hutoka Opdycke. Access the obituary.
Sharon Ann Brommer ’60
Sharon Ann Brommer, 86, died June 29 as a resident of Miller’s Merry Manor in Warsaw. She was born in Fort Wayne on March 12, 1938, to the late Eugene J. Brommer and Mabel M. (Wyss) Brommer. Sharon graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1956 and St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She obtained her master’s degree in education in 1964.
She is survived by her sister Linda L. (Bustamante) Walko of Clifton Park, New York. Access the obituary.
Elizabeth Dew ’61, ’71
Elizabeth (Betty) Dew, 103, died April 11 at The Towne House Retirement Community. Betty was born December 13, 1920, in Monmouth, Illinois to Charles and Mabel (Frymire) Johnson. The oldest of three daughters, Betty rode her pony to rural one-room schools and learned to drive at age 12 so she could attend Alexis High School in Illinois. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1961 and a master’s degree in education in 1971 from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
She is survived by her children Sharon and Nils Stangenes of Chicago, Illinois, and David and Kathleen Dew of Fort Wayne; grandchildren Daniel and Dawn Dew of Churubusco and Kirsten Stangenes and Alec Lilliebridge of Conifer, Colorado; nine great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; three nephews; and four nieces. She is predeceased by Clairus, her husband of 76 years; granddaughter Kari Stangenes and grandson Matthew Dew. Access the obituary.
Florence Mauch ’67
Florence Elizabeth “Flo” (Coleman) Mauch, 91, of Fort Wayne, died on June 14, surrounded by her family. Flo was born January 26, 1933, in Royal Center, and graduated from Royal Center High School as valedictorian in 1951. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University and a master’s degree from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
Flo is survived by sons Greg (Vesta) Mauch of Wolcottville, Paul (Kelly) Mauch of Fort Wayne, Tom (Kay) Mauch of West Lafayette and Bill (Jennie) Mauch of Loveland, Ohio; grandchildren Christopher, Jason, Kelli, Kyle, Nakao, Christie, Ben, Joe, Andy and Brian; and great-grandchildren Coleman, Landon, Eliana, Oliver, Aubrey, Charlotte, Ellie and Annie.
Flo was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Donald John Mauch; parents Harold and Bernardine Coleman; brothers Ed and Tom Coleman; and sisters Mary Ann McLeland and Arnetta Hanawalt. Access the obituary.
Patricia Cook ’70, ’91
Patricia Ann Cook of Whitehouse, Ohio, died on June 22. Pat was born on July 19, 1948, to John E. and Josephine Kissner in Defiance, Ohio. After graduation, she attended St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and received her degree in elementary education. Patricia married Floyd “Ginger” Cook in 1969 and had a son, Andrew John.
She is survived by her son Andrew Cook of New Mexico; four grandchildren; sister-in-law Rita Kissner of Defiance, Ohio; sisters Marnie (Bill) Johnson of Manitou Beach, Michigan, and Mary (Harold) Miller of Cincinnati, Ohio; brother Joseph (Melissa) Kissner of Toledo, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents John and Josephine Kissner; brother John; and sisters Jan (Bob) Miller and Suzanne (Jim) Lenhart. Access the obituary.
Janel Ryan ’70
Janel A. Ryan, 75, of Fort Wayne, died on July 7. She was born to the late Norbert and Angeline Weins. She attended Saint Peter Girls High School for three years in New York and then transferred to Cathedral Girls High School in San Diego, California, graduating in 1966. Janel graduated in 1970 from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) and then earned a master’s degree in 1977 from Indiana University.
She is survived by her husband Tom; daughters Jen Ryan, Sarah (Arnold) Ma and Megan (Matt) Gilbert; and grandchildren Ryan, Katherine, Henry, Mick and Finn. Preceding her in death were brothers Jim and John Weins. Access the obituary.
Wanda Bricker ’72
Wanda L. (Mendell) Bricker, 92, Gaston, died on June 21 at Aperion Care, Marion. She was born in Bright on May 24, 1932, to Harold and Helen (Kling) Mendell. Wanda graduated from Converse High School in 1950 and furthered her education at Marion College and St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis), receiving her master’s degree in education. She worked her entire career at Sweetser Elementary School.
Survivors include her children Susan (Brent) Davis and Jim (Malinda) Bricker; grandchildren Teryn Renbarger, Kalyn Renbarger, Raayn Renbarger, Kurt Davis, Kortnee Mauck, Rebekah Bricker and Justin Bricker; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clarence Bricker; daughter Jane E. Renbarger; and sisters Waneta Hyman, Joan Gates and Dorothy Hoyt. Access the obituary.
Elizabeth Schultz ’86
Elizabeth Jane (Keefer) Schultz, 85, of Fort Wayne, died June 17 at Parkview Hospital Randallia in Fort Wayne. She was born in Fulton County, Ohio on November 15, 1938, the only daughter of E. Jay Keefer. She moved to Fort Wayne in 1974.
She acquired a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in elementary education and a master’s degree from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis) in special education. She taught in public schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. She was an educational therapist in private practice for nearly 20 years. She was preceded in death by her daughter and only child Elizabeth Ann Marie “Libby” Shultz; and her partner of many years Jack Meyers. Access the obituary.
Kerry Blanchette ’94
Kerry Joseph Blanchette, 70, passed away at home on June 27, in Fort Wayne. He was born in Lafayette on August 18, 1953, to the late Everal L. and Rita T. (Billings) Blanchette. Kerry graduated in 1971 from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Joliet, Illinois, and in 1994 from St. Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis).
He is preceded in death by his parents; and siblings Joyce Beaver, Kenny Blanchette and Janet Prescot. Access the obituary.
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