All Obituaries

Local restauranteur and family man, John L. “Poppy” Lucchese, 96, of Elkhart, IN passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Esther’s House in Elkhart Center for Hospice Care. John was made in Italy and born in the USA on December 28, 1927, in Elkhart to the late Frank “Cheech” and Maria Grazia “Iucch” (Turzo) Lucchese. He was preceded in death by his sister Josephine and her husband Michael Dibley, brother Frank Lucchese and wife Kay, brother Leonard...

James Dennis Bock, 90, passed away April 22, 2024, at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona surrounded by his family. Jim was born October 26, 1933, to August and  Audrey  Bock in  Elkhart.  He graduated from  Elkhart  High  School  and  went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tri-State College (now Trine University) at the age of 20. He  met  the  love  of  his  life,  Joan ...

Tonia R. Gray-Njuguna, 54, of South Bend, formerly of Elkhart, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at home. Tonia was born February 1, 1970, in Elkhart to James A. and Elouise (Green) Gray. Her father preceded her in death. Left to cherish her memory are her children; Boniface (Leah) Muguro of Indianapolis and Christian Njuguna of South Bend: her mother, Elouise Gray of Elkhart; three brothers: Andre (Crystal) Gray, Anthony (Patricia) Gray and Derald (Cherlisa) Gray and a...

Blease White Sr., AKA “Whitey”, 86, of Granger, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital. Blease was born June 3, 1937, in Rimini, SC to the late Marie White Pinkney.  He was also preceded in death by two daughters: Teresa White and Jean Kelly, one son, Thomas White and three grandchildren. On May 23, 1967, Whitey married Bettie L. Holliday in Elyria, OH. Bettie survives along with a daughter, Lavella Montgomery of Macon, GA; five sons: Blease...

Deborah A. “Debby” Poorbaugh, 88, of Elkhart, died on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Hubbard Hill Estates in Elkhart. She was born March 7, 1936, in Rochelle, IL to the late Daniel and Edna Mae (Coleman) Heltness.  She was also preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey E. Poorbaugh in 1985. She attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison before graduating from San Diego State University in 1960, however, she always remained a lifelong prideful Badger.  Debby was an...

Ruth L. Ziems, 98, of Elkhart, died on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at her home at Brentwood Independent Living Facility in Elkhart. Ruth was born May 12, 1925, in Bourbon, IN to the late Wilbur L. and Mary E. (Baugher) Silvius.  She was also preceded in death by three sisters: Margaret E. Squires, Josephine E. Albritton and Lila I. Powell and two brothers: Robert L. and John P. Silvius. On March 20, 1971, Ruth married Robert W. Ziems in Elkhart.  Bob died March 2, 2006.  Ruth...

Kenneth M. Quarandillo, 78, of Elkhart, died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital. Ken was born on November 1, 1945, in Elkhart, IN to the late Anthony and Lillian E. Borrelli.  Also preceding him in death are a brother, Guy Quarandillo, a nephew, Rob Quarandillo and a brother-in-law, Larry Derr. On February 10, 1979, in Elkhart, Ken married Karry Irwin.  Karry survives along with a sister, Margaret Derr of Naples, FL; a brother, Joseph (Judy)...

Talmer E. Curry Jr., 85, of Atlanta, GA, formerly of Elkhart, died on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta. Memorial services for Talmer will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 11:00 am at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home with the family receiving visitors beginning at 10:30 am.  He will be laid to rest at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola where his father is buried.

Andrew McClelland Kirk, 57, of Vandalia, MI, formerly of Elkhart, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Grantsburg, WI. Andrew was born October 17, 1966, in Abington, PA to Charles and Barbara (McClelland) Kirk.  Andy grew up in Elkhart, IN and attended Elkhart Central High School.  He also attended Indiana University in Bloomington and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History in 1992. He is survived by his son, Phillip Elswick, two grandchildren; Aiden and Avery...

George Webster Biddlecome, 75, passed away Sunday, March 10, at his Goshen home, surrounded by his loving family.  George was born August 30, 1948 to George Clark Biddlecome and Elizabeth Seibert Biddlecome (née Perry) in Elkhart, Indiana.  Following his graduation from Elkhart High School in 1966, George earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University, with an emphasis on political science, and a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University.  He was also a...