The dream is over

layups.”

After the game, the Southwood seniors shared their thoughts on the tournament run and the season.

“Coming from a small community, we don’t do this too often so it has a bigger meaning,” Stout said. “Starting off the season the way we did, this is great. We weren’t expected to go too far in the tournament at all. To make it to the state championship game with these guys, it means so much.”

“To start off the year like we did, it’s been really fun,” Cole Winer said. “People in Wabash were calling us the worst team in Wabash County. This run means so much to me.”

Oprisek added, “Throughout the year you could see us more and more improving. I still don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet. I think we could have played better if we had two or three more weeks.”

Lehner summed it up. “To start off 0-5 and to be here, it’s unreal.”

Perry added his thoughts on the magical run.

“Playing for Southwood, I never won a sectional game. To lead these guys down here to the state finals is still unreal. It’s going to take a while to set in,” the Southwood coach said. “In our little community – we have 240 kids in our school and they all went to our school. They grew up together. They know each other’s parents’ names, know where they live. They know everything about each other.

“For this community, along with these guys, and Southwood on their jerseys, it means a lot to everybody in our community to be down here,” he continued. “We’re only the second program to come to the state finals in basketball (in Wabash County) and both of them have been ours in the last five years. Everybody was behind us and supporting us. It’s definitely crazy that this happened but these boys were determined. That’s what they wanted.

“I set goals at the begging of the season,” Perry added. “The last goal I put up there was to win sectional. I don’t put up regional or anything beyond that. We did that but they weren’t done. They wanted to get down here.

“They didn’t drive the bus but they got us down here.”

Oprisek led the Knights with 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals on the day, while Cole Winer had 15 points and six rebounds, followed by Will Winer with 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists, Stout with eight points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assist, Lehner with eight points and six rebounds, Jaret Denney with four points, Bryce Wilcox with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal, and Randy

Boone, Dalton Barney, and Keaton Metzger each with one rebound while Barney added an assist.

The Knights finish the season with

Alice Johns, 82

Enjoyed hummingbirds

Feb. 11, 1958 – March 24, 2023

Alice J. Johns, 82, of LaFontaine, passed away at 5:40 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023, at Parkview Randallia Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was born on April 4, 1940, in Marion, to Walter and Mary (Bradford) Howard.

Alice married Robert Johns on Feb. 11, 1958. She worked for Foster Forbes Glass Company in Marion, then she ran her Indiana Beach business. Alice attended First General Baptist Church in Marion. She was in the Liston Creek Gospel Band, and she was also a song leader at her church. Alice loved to watch hummingbirds, playing piano, singing hymnals, and loved the color lavender. One of the best human beings on the planet.

Alice is survived by three sons, Raymond Johns of Peru, Marvin Johns of LaFontaine, and Kevin Johns of Vandalia, Mich.; one daughter, Cynthia Ratliff of Nashville, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Matthew Johns, and Kevin Cody Johns, one great-grandchild Liam Conner; and one sister, Ruth Caplin of Marion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Robert Johns, four brothers, and five sisters.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Ave., Wabash. Burial will follow in the LaFontaine I.O.O.F Cemetery.

Visitation for family and friends will be two hours prior to services from 9-11 a.m. at the funeral home.

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, have been trusted with Alice Johns’ final arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Beverly Ann Finley, 94

Was in church ministry

Aug. 5, 1928 – March 25, 2023

Beverly Ann (Ingram) Finley, 94, North Manchester, passed away March 25, 2023. She was born Aug 5, 1928, to Walter M. and Flora M. (Pember) Ingram. On Sept. 4, 1954, Beve married E. Dean Finley.

Surviving are her husband, the Rev. E. Dean Finley, North Manchester; two daughters, Susan C. Finley, Chicago, and Janet Finley (Matthew) Long, Littleton, Colo.; and grandchildren, Scott Plant, Angela Plant, Alec Plant, Mark Plant, Anna (Daniel Chenoweth) Long, Jenna Long, and Kajsa Long.

A private burial will be later in Indianapolis. McKee Mortuary handled arrangements.

James Enser, 81

Owned several businesses

Aug. 25, 1941 – March 25, 2023

James Robert Enser, 81, of rural Wabash, Indiana, died at 4:05 pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at his home. He was born on August 25, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, to Robert and Gladys (Soldwedel) Enser.

Jim was a 1960 graduate of Pershing High School in Detroit, before moving to Peru. He married Alma N. Truax in Peru on Nov. 18, 1961.

He was an entrepreneur at heart and thought of himself as an ironworker. Jim took a welding class and opened E & S Metal Fabrication in 1968, with his partner Terry Smith.

After the loss of his partner, he continued the business for more than 52 years. He drafted, built, and installed aluminum smelting equipment in many local businesses and throughout the United States. He was also a partner in S & R Enterprises, now the Real Alloy Recycling on Dimension Avenue.

Jim was also co-owner of Cranes Inc. which was formed in 1982. He purchased the Dairy Queen in downtown Wabash in 1982, and opened it as Sodas N Such, and operated it until 1984.

His favorite business and hobby was Sweet Tree Farms Maple Syrup, which he missed the last few years. Making maple syrup was his hobby, and he enjoyed sharing it with his children and grandchildren. He operated that for over 18 years, and supplied many local businesses with local maple syrup. Jim was also a pilot and served on the Wabash County Aviation Board for several years. He was also a member of the Sweetwater Assembly of God in North Manchester, member and Past Master of the Hanna Masonic Lodge # 61 of Wabash, a member of the Fort Wayne Scottish Rite and Mizpah Shrine, the Wabash Elks Lodge, and the NRA. Jim was a devoted husband, dad, and grandpa. He enjoyed welding, fishing, flying, and riding and driving his horses and mules.

He is survived by his wife, Alma N. Enser; three children, Liz (Stan) Farmer, Mike (Deb) Enser, and Dyan (Dave) Snavely, all of Wabash; seven grandchildren Erica Farmer, Amanda (Nestor) Lopez, Cayla Enser, Sheere (TyLerr) Fuller, Derek Reed, Zachary Reed, and Megan Snavely; six great grandchildren Sienna and Gavin Lopez, Oaklynn and WrenLee Fuller, and Aspen and Norah Reed; sister, Sally (John) Crawford of Mooresville, Indiana; and his brother, Chris (Teri) Enser of Vienna, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his grandson, Kaleb Enser.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, March 31, 2023, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash, with Pastor Jeremy Jones officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Mexico. Friends may call 37 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home, with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m.

Preferred memorial is Sweetwater Assembly of God, North Manchester.

The memorial guest book for Jim may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.

Jerry Hudson U.S. Army veteran

June 10, 1939 – March 3, 2023

Jerry Lee Hudson, age 83, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Jerry was born on the family farm near Urbana in Wabash County, on June 10, 1939. He was a son of Ivan Montgomery and Mildred (Palmer) Hudson. He graduated from Urbana High School in 1957 and immediately enlisted in the United States Army where he served stateside in the First Army Division (The Big Red One) for two years, with an additional two years spent in the Army Reserve.

Back home, he enrolled at Manchester College to study business, paying his way by working at Honeywell third shift. Around this time, he met Patricia Derrick of Wabash. Pat and Jerry’s courtship was brief, they married on December 29, 1962, and the wedding date moved up because of the possibility Jerry might be called up to serve in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Pat and Jerry’s first apartment was above the Hoover-Miner Funeral Home, where Jerry worked part-time. Their son Michael was born a year later, and their daughter Jennifer was born three years after that.

After graduating from college, Jerry started out as a corporate accountant, working first for Central Soya in Marion, Ohio, and later relocating to Fort Wayne, Indiana. From time to time, he worked for several small manufacturing companies, learning the skills he would need later as a business owner. His last corporate job was as a Trust Officer for the Fort Wayne National Bank. Although finance was his area of expertise, manufacturing is where his true interests were. In 1981, he quit his job at the bank, and with business partner Dave Hensler, started Hydra-Tech, Inc., a maker of aerial devices (“cherry pickers”) for the electric utility, construction contractor, and tree care industries.

The business was a success and LIFT-ALL aerials and digger derricks were in service with some of the largest utility companies and tree care services in the country, as well as in service throughout the world. Jerry sold the company in 2008 and enjoyed a long retirement, traveling the world with his wife Pat. He was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne. Jerry was an avid car aficionado. From his first Triumph TR-3 roadster in college, he liked working on them as much as he enjoyed driving them.

Jerry is survived by his wife of sixty years, Pat; children, Michael (Meredith) Hudson, and Jennifer (Garrick) Cook; grandchildren Schuyler, Sherman, and Beatrice Cook; and sister, Judy Rice of Wabash.

In addition to his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by two brothers, James (Jim) and Joseph (Joe). Services were Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne. Committal services occurred at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Contributions in Jerry’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society of Fort Wayne, 111 E. Ludwig Road, Suite 105, Fort Wayne, Indiana or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fond memories and Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenlawnmpfh.com for the Hudson family.

Joshua Copeland, 44

Was an auto mechanic

March 14, 1979 – March 17, 2023

Joshua “Josh” R. Copeland, 44, a lifetime resident of Wabash, passed away at 4:10 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, surrounded by family and friends. He was born to Ray and Dawn (Penn) Copeland on March 14, 1979, in Wabash, Indiana.

Josh was an auto mechanic. He enjoyed making people laugh, helping others, working on cars and motorcycles, cooking on the grill, having fires, and pyrotechnics. Josh had a heart of gold. He is still helping people by the donation of life.

Josh is survived by his parents, Ray (Dawn) Copeland of Wabash; one son, Tyler Copeland of Wabash; one daughter, Kayleigh Copeland of Wabash; two brothers, Alvah (Dawndra) Copeland of Wabash, and Donnie (Angie) Wagner of New York; two sisters, Amelia (Anthony) Bailey of Rising Sun, Katie (Rusty) Richardson of Wabash; paternal grandmother, Mary Fields of Peru; nephews, Kyle (Angel) Copeland, Cody Copeland (Maci), Noah Copeland, Landon Copeland, Drake King; nieces, Shay Cook, Paige Bailey, and Tori Bailey; step daughter, Skylia Wilcox; and girlfriend, Adrina Dils, and daughter, Eliana. He is also, survived by biological father, Scott Heeter.

He is preceded in death by grandfather, Harold Penn, grandmother, Betty Penn, grandfather, Ron Copeland, grandfather, Jerry Fields, and best friend, Chris Sheckler. Visitation and funeral services were Friday, March 24, 2023, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Ave., Wabash, with Pastor Nathan Whybrew officiating. McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Ave., Wabash, have been trusted with Josh Copeland’s final arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

George Dingledy, 99

Former Wabash mayor

Nov. 26, 1923 – March 26, 2023

Former Wabash mayor George Henry Dingledy, age 99, died unexpectedly March 26, 2023 in Indianapolis. He was born on November 26, 1923, and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. He was one of six children born to Frederick and Florence (Moran) Dingledy.

Dingledy was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 19 and joined the 164th Infantry (American Division.) He landed on the Solomon Islands on Christmas Day 1943. The unit moved in January 1945 to the Philippine Islands (where MacArthur landed) and then to Cebu Island; both places were Japanese strongholds. World War II ended on September, 1945 and Dingledy, was sent to occupy Japan.

Following his discharge after 33 months of active duty in the Pacific Theater, Staff Sgt. Dingledy used the GI Bill of Rights to attend college. Through a visit to the hometown of a fellow student at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, he met the student’s sister Rita Ann Fedewa whom he married in 1948. He graduated from the University of Tampa in 1950. Dingledy was employed as a sales representative for the Sunbeam Corporation from 1951-1958, in Jacksonville, Detroit and Memphis. He moved to Wabash, in 1958 when he bought the Fedewa Appliance Store with his brotherin-law Tom Fedewa from his father-in-law Arthur Fedewa.

For the next 30 years, Dingledy served his community in a variety of ways. He was president of the Retail Division of the Chamber of Commerce, and also president of the Wabash County United Fund. Dingledy was named the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen in 1974. Dingledy was a strong supporter of education, serving eight years on the Wabash City Schools board and six on the board of the Upper Wabash Vocational School. He was also on the board of directors and an officer of the Wabash Valley Dance Theater, as well as president of the Honeywell Swim Team Booster Club for two terms.

Weekly Reports

Wabash County Sheriff’s Department Traffic accidents

A vehicle driven by Katie Shepherd, 57, Claypool, struck a deer at 12:19 p.m. on State Road 15, near County Road 1000. Damage was estimated at between $1,001 and $2,500.

A vehicle driven by Dylan J. Curless, 25, Lagro, struck a deer at 8:39 a.m. March 21 on Blue Star Highway, east of CR 500 E. Damage was estimated at between $2,501 to $5,000.

A vehicle driven by Sheema L. Gouvan, 48, Wabash, struck a deer at 7:25 a.m. March 20 on CR 300 E, south of State Road 124. Damage was estimated at between $2,501 to $5,000.

A vehicle driven by Kyndell A. Hacker, 26, Huntington, slid on snow and slush, ran of the roadway and ended in a ditch on CR 200 N and CR 300 E. Damage was estimated at between $5,001 and $10,000.

A vehicle driven by Ethan R. Bowman17, LaFontaine, struck a deer at 11:58 p.m. March 17 on CR 100

E. Damage was estimated at between $2,501 to $5,000.

A vehicle driven by Doyle L. Silvers, 63, LaFontaine, struck a utility pole while backing from a private drive on CR 50 E. Damage was estimated at between $2,501 to $5,000.

Vehicles driven by Josphat Chikoti, 31, Columbus, Ohio, and Robert M. Byl, 31, LaFontaine, collided on SR 15, south of CR 500 S. Damage was estimated at more than $100,000.

He was a long-time member of the Wabash Toastmasters Club where he served as president, and also served as commander of Post 286, VFW. Dingledy was an avid reader and especially enjoyed history. With this in mind, he became the Oral History Project Director, compiling oral histories of local citizens in Wabash for the public library. These included veterans of wars from the SpanishAmerican through Vietnam. When he moved to Indianapolis in 1989, there were over 100 accounts on file documenting the city’s history.

During 1979 Dingledy served as president of the Indiana Oral History Roundtable. Dingledy served four years on the Wabash Carnegie Public Library board of directors, including one as president. In addition, he was a member of the board of directors of the historical society for many years. Dingledy joined Rotary in 1958, and served as President of the Wabash Rotary Club. Dingledy was Rotary District Governor from 1987-1988 in Rotary Zone 30 and was a member of the Rotary Council of Past District Governors. Dingledy remained an active member until his passing. He was the oldest active Rotarian WWII veteran in the state of Indiana. Dingledy served as Mayor of Wabash, Indiana from 1979-83. For this and his other community, business and military service, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb honored Dingledy last August with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

He was survived by his three children, John (Carol) Dingledy of Columbus, Thomas (Lucy) Dingledy of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and James Dingledy of Indianapolis; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Dingledy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife (1924-2006), son George Henry Dingledy II (19531981) and daughter Christine Thieroff (1952-2020). Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Chapel of Remembrance Mausoleum at Memorial Lawns Cemetery in Wabash, with Father Jay Horning officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawns Cemetery. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash.

The preferred memorial is the Wabash Carnegie Public Library.

Arrests

Jarrett Michael Bradley, 44, Laketon, was charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of parapher- nalia, being a habitual offender on March 17.

Christopher Robert Bishop, 29, Peru, was charged with domestic batter on March 17.

Kayla Leigh Bessette, 34, was charged with a drug court sanction on March 17.

Ashley Nichole Kidd, 36, was charged with invasion of privacy, on March 17.

Mason Alexander Parker, 22, Warsaw, was arrested on a Cont. on Pg. 10.

Robert E. Kirtlan, 86

Former Roann Church of the Brethren minister

Oct. 26, 1936 – March 26, 2023

Robert E. Kirtlan, 86, of rural Roann, died at 1 p.m., Sunday, March 26, 2023, at his son’s home in Fort Wayne.

He was born on Oct. 26, 1936, in Wabash County, to Everett Ray and Ruth B. (Kirby) Kirtlan.

Robert married Violet Marie Robison on Aug. 5, 1956, at the Roann Church of the Brethren; she died May 3, 2022. He was the minister at the Roann Christian Church for several years. Robert enjoyed gardening, especially growing irises.

He is survived by three children, Dennis (Glenda) Kirtlan of Fort Wayne, Teresa (Frank) Baresel of Arlington, Wash., and Todd (Mary) Kirtlan of Roann; 10 grandchildren, Jeremy Kirtlan, Aaron (Trish) Kirtlan, Stephanie (Allen) Miller, Nathan Kirtlan, Danielle (Kevin) Pillow, Anna (Adam) Marsh, Robert Bailey, Christopher Bailey, Zachary (Blakley) Kirtlan, and Kimber Kirtlan, 12 greatgrandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Roscoe R. Kirtlan.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash, with Chris Ponchot officiating. Burial will be in Roann Community Cemetery. Friends may call 4-7 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are Roann Christian Church or the Roann Volunteer Fire Department .

The memorial guest book for Robert may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.

Delbert Hembree, 75

Retired from Celotex

May 22, 1947 – March 25, 2023

Delbert E. Hembree, 75, of rural Lagro, died at 6:52 pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

He was born on May 22, 1947, in Paintsville, Ky., to Matison Perry Hembree and Viola (Griffith) Mulkey.

Delbert married Sharon Kay Richardson in Chicago on Nov. 13, 1965; she died Feb. 5, 2011. He retired from Celotex in Lagro. Delbert enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by three children, Doyle (Jane) Hembree of Lagro, Deanna (Gary Bitzel) Hembree of Fort Wayne, and Delta (Chris) Jones of Wabash; seven grandchildren, Nate (Courtney) Hembree of Huntington, Kate Hembree of Evansville, Samuel Hembree of Lagro, Braxton Myers of Wabash, Dakota Bitzel and Michael Bitzel, both of Fort Wayne, and Brianna Myers of Marion.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, and his granddaughter, Jasmine Hembree.

Per Delbert’s request, there will be no services. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash.

The memorial guest book for Delbert may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.