Rochester Sentinel 2020 Wednesday January 1, 2020 Holiday-No Paper Thursday January 2, 2020 Rebecca Sue SLENTZ Rebecca Sue SLENTZ, 66, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, was called home by the Lord God on Sunday December 29, 2019, after a courageous fight for almost four years with cancer. Becky was born in Fulton County to the late Covert WENTZEL and Romayne (SMITH) WENTZEL. She was a 1971 graduate of Kewanna High School and a 1975 graduate of Manchester College, where she met her husband and partner of 45 years, Michael SLENTZ. Besides her husband, Michael, Becky is survived by three children, John (Angie) SLENTZ, Butler, Matt (Fei) SLENTZ, Austin, Texas, and Rachel (Matt) JUN, Mishawaka; four grandchildren, Rowan, Pearl, Robby and a granddaughter on the way; five siblings, Roger (Julie) WENTZEL, Falls Church, Virginia, Tim (Jeri) WENTZEL, Hicksville, Ohio, Don (Amy) WENTZEL, Fishers, Christy (Spencer) STOPA, Mesa, Arizona, and Carol HOLMQUEST, Fishers; and in-law Robert (Ann) SLENTZ, Butler. She truly enjoyed spending time with her beloved family, many close friends and her church family. An elementary school teacher for 40 years, the first two years at Orland Elementary and the last 38 years at Butler Elementary, teaching fifth grade, Becky loved helping and connecting with her students and she excelled at teaching math and coaching the math bowl team. Becky was an active member in the community, devoting her time to co-directing the Butler Community Food Pantry for 10 years, being a former member of the DeKalb County Young Farmers, leading the Franklin Busy Bees 4-H Club and being a 4-H mother for 17 years. She could also often be found giving of her time and talents at Butler United Methodist Church, where she was a longtime member, a dedicated Sunday school teacher, and an integral part of the United Methodist Women’s group. A member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Becky loved working with her Gamma Lambda chapter to receive grants to collect and place books for newborns and their families in the community hospitals, doctors’ offices, and emergency rooms. An avid reader, Becky loved visiting the library and reading. Her favorite author was Diana Gabaldon, and she intensely watched the “Outlander” series based on her books and often commented on the differences between the book and the TV series. She had dreams of visiting Scotland one day. Becky was an excellent cook and was especially proud of her fruit pies. She loved living on the farm and especially enjoyed raising and tending her flower beds, a hobby that she picked up from her two grandmothers, as many of her starts had come from their gardens. Besides the farm, animals held a very special place in Becky’s life, from her bottle-feeding and hand-raising baby lambs to her cats and kittens and her two Australian shepherds, Lucy and Kami. She was a kind, caring, thoughtful and giving and a loving mother, wife, grandmother, friend, teacher and person. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed. Her funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, January 4, 2020, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center Street, Auburn, with burial to follow in Eddy Cemetery, Hamilton. Visitation is 2-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may go to the “Rebecca ‘Becky’ SLENTZ fund for Early Childhood Literacy” at the Community Foundation DeKalb County, 700 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 111, Auburn, IN 46706. To send condolences, visit www.fellerandclark.com. Timothy PENICARO September 10, 1951-December 25, 2019 Timothy J. PENICARO, 68, Rochester, passed away at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at The Laurels of DeKalb, Butler. Born on September 10, 1951, in Winamac, he was the son of the late Frank and Arnabelle (STEPP) PENICARO. Tim formerly worked as a cook at the South 40 in Winamac. Survivors include his children, Shawn PENICARO, James PENICARO, Angela HALE, Deana GRADOWSKI and Melinda PENICARO; brother Danny PENICARO; and sister Penni HILTON. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brothers, James and Bradley; and sister Tina KASTEN. Per Tim’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Friends may sign Tim’s online guest book or leave a condolence for the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Rans Funeral Homes & Crematory, Metzger Chapel, 123 E. Main Street, Kewanna. Robert J. OLIVER Robert J. OLIVER, 65, Rochester, died Sunday at Hickory Creek, Rochester. Survivors include his siblings, Ruth BALLINGER, Granger, Pat MELLINGER, Maxine COWLES, Debbie DELL and Junior OLIVER, all of Rochester, Ed OLIVER, North Manchester, and Harry OLIVER, Anderson. His celebration of life is noon Friday at Good Family Funeral Home. Visitation is 10 a.m. to the time of the service Friday at the funeral home. Barbara E. MILLER Barbara E. MILLER, 75, Argos, died Friday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend. Survivors include her husband, Richard MILLER Sr., Argos; her daughter, Theresa KLINE, Bremen; her son Rich MILLER Jr., Argos; and her brothers, Ed ROSEBAUM, Hanna, and Joe ROSEBAUM, Plymouth. Her funeral service is 2 p.m. Saturday at ParkSide Community Church, 225 S. Michigan Street, Argos. Visitation is 1 p.m. to the time of the service Saturday at the church. Arrangements are handled by Earl-Grossman Funeral Home. Anthony SHAFER Anthony SHAFER, 46, formerly of Rochester, died Wednesday in Knox. Arrangements are pending at Good Family Funeral Home. Paul Roy FOX April 1, 1936-December 31, 2019 Paul Roy FOX, 83, rural Rochester, passed away at 12:34 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at his residence. Paul was born on April 1, 1936, in Wyano, Pennsylvania, to the late Glenn and Martha (WERTZ) FOX. In 1957, he married Merida L. WOLFE. She preceded him in death on April 3, 1976. He then married Sharon PULS PARKER on October 15, 1977, in New York. She survives. He was a dairy farmer and worked for many farms in his lifetime. He worked for farms in Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York and then back in Indiana. He owned and operated Golden Circle Holstein Dairy Farm, retiring in 1990. He graduated from Hempfield Area High School in 1957. He was a member of the NRA and in years past the Future Farmers of America. He enjoyed deer hunting and travelling and was a gun enthusiast. He always wished he would have spent more time fishing. Survivors include his wife, Sharon FOX, Rochester; his children, Robert FOX, Argos, Dr. Deborah FOX and husband Jake BOYLE, Roxbury, NY, and Kathy FOX and husband Eric GROH, Delhi, NY; his stepchildren, Peggy SHEWMAN and husband Ron, Akron, and Jerry PARKER and wife Sherri, Hudson; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; five brothers; and one sister. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his oldest brother. His funeral service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, January 5, 2020, at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester Street, Akron, with the Rev. Phil PRATT officiating. Visitation hours will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, January 5, 2020, at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron. A private family interment will be at the Eel River Ulrey Memorial Cemetery, Silver Lake. Memorial contributions may be made in Paul’s memory to the donor’s choice of charity. Family and friends may share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com. Erma Jean WALTERS April 26, 1926-December 20, 2019 Erma Jean WALTERS, 93, rural Akron, passed away at 9:25 a.m. Friday, December 20, 2019, at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester. Erma was born on April 26, 1926, in Culver, to the late Daniel and Eva (MYERS) BURKETT. She married Kenneth R. WALTERS on August 13, 1949, in Rochester. He preceded her in death on August 24, 2018. Erma had been a cook for the Akron School, retiring after 25 years, and was also a homemaker. She graduated from Argos High School in 1944. She had been a member of The Beaver Dam United Methodist Church for many years. She always loved spending time with her grandchildren and taking golf cart rides. She also enjoyed playing cards, especially euchre. Survivors include her daughters, Debbie and husband Stan TENNANT, Warsaw, and Lisa and husband Jerry KIPKER, Warsaw; her grandchildren, Lori BUSENBURG, Jeff GRAY, Mindy BERNICKY, Brad TENNANT, and Brian TENNANT; 12 great-grandchildren; her great-great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth R. WALTERS; and her brother, Devon BURKETT. Her funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2020, at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester Street, Akron, with Pastor Butch TROKE officiating. Burial is in the Akron Cemetery. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday, January 2, 2020, at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc., 26345 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673, the Riley Children’s Foundation, 30 S. Meridian Street Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or the Henry Township Volunteer Fire Department. Friends and family may share a memory of send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com. Elizabeth Mae CASTLEMAN PATTEE January 15, 1941-December 28, 2019 Elizabeth Mae CASTLEMAN PATTEE, 78, South Bend, went to be with her Lord on December 28, 2019. Born on January 15, 1941, in Lakeland, Florida, to Olin Oran and Myrtle Addison CASTLEMAN, she was such a tiny baby she was dubbed “Bit,” a nickname that stuck with her for the rest of her life among family and childhood friends. To many more, she was known as “Liz.” She graduated from Rochester High School in 1959.