Betty Ann Nelson

ST. JOSEPH – Betty Ann Nelson, 80, of St. Joseph passed away at 8:47 a.m. Tuesday (April 26, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with David Barcus officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Betty was born on Sept. 19, 1935, at Champaign, the daughter of Glen and LaVerne Reese Sumner. She married Roy H. Nelson on June 1, 1958, in St. Joseph. He preceded her in death on Dec. 23, 2003.

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Dillman of St. Joseph, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Betty worked at the Natural History Survey for 38 years.

She was a graduate of the Illinois Business College. She was also a member of the St. Joseph Church of Christ.

Betty enjoyed reading and spending time with family, and was a friend to everyone.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Eldred Eugene Ehmen

SYRACUSE, Ind. – Eldred Eugene Ehmen, 71, of rural Syracuse, Ind., passed away at 6 a.m. Saturday (April 23, 2016) at his home.

He was born on June 4, 1944, in Urbana, to Henry John and Harmine "Minnie" (Ackerman) Ehmen, who preceded him in death. He married Barbara Bowers on Sept. 12, 1981; she survives in Syracuse.

He is survived by two children, Brett of North Webster, Ind., and Anna (Matt) Lewis of Aiken, S.C. He is also survived by two sisters, Eunice Ehmen and Karen (Allen) Brucker; two nephews, Steve (Mary) Duitsman and Greg (Joy) Duitsman; three nieces, Colleen (Jesse) Cantu, Melanie (Leon) Sieberns and Amy (Eric) Hommema; five great-nieces and eight great-nephews; and one great-great-niece and two great-great-nephews.

Eldred graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1962 and earned a B.S.M.E. at General Motors Institute (Kettering University) in 1967 and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1969. He has worked as a mechanical engineer for General Motors in Michigan and Illinois and Dalton Foundry in Warsaw, Ind.

He was self-employed at Ehmen Contracting and Engineering and as a farmer. He held an Indiana professional engineer license and a plumber contractor license.

He belonged to the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association and the Single Shot Rifle Association. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Syracuse.

Eldred enjoyed bluegrass music, camping, gun shows and long discussions with friends on conservative politics.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 26, and 9 to 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 27, at Eastlund Funeral Home in Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, April 27, at Grace Lutheran Church in Syracuse with the Rev. Wendy Piano officiating. Burial will follow the service at Cable Cemetery.

Contributions can be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana or Goshen Cancer Care Center.

Sally Kemp Dawson Buford

ST. JOSEPH – Sally Kemp Dawson Buford, 77, of St. Joseph passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at the Oaks of Brevard nursing home in Brevard, N.C.

A native of Urbana, Sally graduated from Urbana High School, Class of '56, and attended Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio.

She lived in St. Joseph for 38 years, during which time she faithfully served thousands of students as an admissions officer at the University of Illinois, retiring in 1999. She moved to North Carolina in 2005 to be with her family.

Sally was a loving mother and was loved dearly by her family and many friends. She was known for warming hearts with her contagious smile and unconditional love.

A longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, she was an avid bridge player, loved animals, and enjoyed antiquing and gardening.

Sally was the daughter of the late Mildred and Alva "Barney" Dawson of St. Joseph. In addition to her parents, her husband John Buford and in-laws Fred and Merlene Buford of Dallas, Texas, and grandson Randall Buford of Pisgah Forest, N.C., preceded her in death.

Surviving are her son, John Buford and wife, Mindy Kurlakowsky Buford, of Pisgah Forest; grandson, Dustin Buford of Pisgah Forest; brother, Stuart Dawson and sister-in-law, Ellen, of York Harbor, Maine; sister-in-law, Harriet Ristevski and husband, Zivko, of Plano, Texas; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, remembrances can be made through a donation in honor of Sally Buford to the Champaign County Humane Society.

Sally's burial and graveside service were held in Pisgah Forest on Saturday, April 16, with her immediate family.

A remembrance and memorial service for Sally's friends will be held in St. Joseph from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

Kenneth R. Umbarger

HOMER – Kenneth R. Umbarger, 87, of Homer passed away at 1:24 p.m. Sunday (April 17, 2016) at his home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 22, at Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer. Pastor Chuck Alt will officiate. Burial will take place at G.A.R. Cemetery in Homer. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Kenneth was born on Dec. 10, 1928, in Hume, the son of Ralph R. and Beulah Witt Umbarger. He married Beverly Morrison on Feb. 10, 1951, in Homer. She survives.

Survivors also include one daughter, Marilyn (Jim) White of Homer; two sons, Lynn (Tammy) Umbarger of Ogden and David (Lauri) Umbarger of Homer; one brother, Robert E. (Maxine) Umbarger of Homer; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jim Umbarger; grandson, Brandon Umbarger; and sister, Eileen Wakefield.

Kenneth served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955.

He was a member of Homer United Methodist Church. He enjoyed bowling, woodworking, upholstering and being with his family.

Memorials can be made to the Brandon Umbarger Scholarship Fund or to Homer Fire and Rescue.

Gerald L. "Jerry" Fuoss

ST. JOSEPH – Gerald L. "Jerry" Fuoss, 76, of St. Joseph passed away on Friday (April 8, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana.

Jerry was born on Aug. 26, 1939, in Paxton to parents Clarence and Alice (Perkinson) Fuoss. They preceded him in death.

He married Kathleen Boudreau on Jan. 11, 1964. She survives.

Also surviving are two children, Darrin Fuoss of Homer and Deborah Fuoss of Urbana; a sister, Audrey Turcheck of Littleton, Colo.; and a brother, Morris (Ruth) Fuoss of Tacoma, Wash.

Jerry was a Navy veteran who served on a destroyer escort. He returned from the Navy to work for Kraft Foods and then the University of Illinois, from which he retired after 30 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 601.

There will be a private service for the family at a later date. Condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com.

Charolotte K. Mahannah

ST. JOSEPH – Charlotte K. Mahannah, 73, of St. Joseph died at 10:48 a.m. Friday (April 8, 2016) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 13, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, Urbana. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign; the Rev. Chris VonHolten will officiate.

Mrs. Mahannah was born on May 24, 1942, in Champaign, the daughter of Clarence and Bertha "Peggy" Humes Williams. She married Ronald Mahannah on April 3, 1992, in York, S.C.; he survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Deborah S. (Ruben) Martinez of Marissa, Deanna (Donald) Shane of St. Joseph and Kimberly (Robert) Thurman of St. Joseph; one brother, Charles Williams of Casper, Wyo.; one sister, Cheryl Little of Kokomo, Ind.; six grandchildren, Chase Nierenhausen, Megan Nierenhausen, Brittany Ashmore, Madison Shane, Emma Thurman and Drew Thurman; and one great grandson, Marshall Ivory.

Mrs. Mahannah loved to read, crochet and spend time at Myrtle Beach and Turkey Run.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.

Dean M. "Luke" Smith

ST. JOSEPH – Dean M. "Luke" Smith, 80, of St. Joseph passed away at 4:50 p.m. Friday (April 8, 2016) at his home.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Luke was born Feb. 17, 1936, in Effingham, the son of Maynard and Marion McCoy Smith. He married Ruth Greeson on Aug. 9, 1957, in St. Joseph. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Kenneth (Cheryl) Smith of Oklahoma City, Raymond Smith of Stone Ridge, Va., and Karen (Tieje) Gaylord of St. Joseph; seven grandchildren, Kyle, Megan and Andy Smith, Alison and Zander Smith, and Sarah and Hannah Gaylord; four great-grandchildren, Hudson, Lincoln, Afton and Luke Smith; one brother, Don Allen Smith of St. Joseph; and one sister, Jane Dowling of Lake Okeechobee, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Stanley Smith; and sister, Mary Lou Smith.

Luke worked for Felmely-Dickerson Construction of Champaign for 41 years. He was a member of Carpenters Local 44 of Champaign. Luke enjoyed restoring antique Ford cars, trucks and tractors. He was always glad to help family and friends with projects, till gardens and plow snow. The family extends a special thanks to the oncology department, fourth floor, Christie Clinic, Rainbow Hospice and all the family and friends for visiting with Luke.

Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is handling arrangements.