Thomas Eugene Gall
Thomas Eugene Gall, aged 91, of Tipton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 10, 1933, in Tipton County, the son of William and Hilda (Peters) Gall. He married Rita Mae Klemme on September 15, 1962, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and together they enjoyed 62 years of marriage.
Tom graduated from Tipton High School in 1952 and went on to serve his country in the United States Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He then returned home to work at Perfect Circle before establishing Gall’s Power Equipment Sales and Service in 1981. He took great pride in serving his customers in Tipton and the surrounding areas, working well into his 80s. Tom was a lifelong parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Rita, to whom he was a loving and devoted caregiver; daughters Diane Gall of Kokomo and Elizabeth Gall of Tipton; a brother John Gall of Anderson; three grandchildren, Michael, Johanna, and Izzy Lecher, and a son-in-law, Carl Lecher of Noblesville.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Sharon Lecher and six siblings: Joseph Gall, Helen Plumer, Mary Sutton, Sr. Laura Gall, CSJ, Edward Gall, and Gertrude Glotzbach.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipton, with Rev. Dennis Goth presiding. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church, located at 335 Mill Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or to the Sharon Gall Lecher Memorial Research Award at Marian University, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46222.
The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Heart and Soul Caring and Paradigm Hospice for their compassionate care.
Tom’s kindness and gentle spirit will be remembered by all who knew him.
James R. Stroup
James R. Stroup, 77, of Tipton, passed away peacefully at 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at The Waters of Tipton. Born on November 5, 1947, in Elwood, he was the son of James W. and Muriel D. (Grimme) Stroup. Jim is fondly remembered by his long-time girlfriend, Anne Spence.
A dedicated professional, Jim worked as a Millwright at General Motors, from where he retired in 2009. He was a proud member of UAW Local 292 and graduated from Sharpsville-Prairie High School in 1965. Throughout his life, Jim enjoyed playing Euchre and cherished the time spent with family and friends. Additionally, he honorably served in the Indiana Army National Guard from 1966 to 1972.
Jim is survived by his brother, Gary Stroup, and sister-in-law, Diana, of Kempton; his sister, Cathy Zahn, and brother-in-law, Bob, of Sharpsville; sister-in-law, Kym Stroup of Tipton as well as 12 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Doug Stroup.
Funeral services to celebrate Jim's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025, at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, with Rev. Bob Lawson presiding. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Tipton. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the service time. Condolences for the family may be expressed on Jim's obituary page at www.young-nichols.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Baptist Church, 3530 N. 1000 W., Tipton, Indiana, 46072.
Willia Sue Tinklenberg
Willia Sue Tinklenberg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2024, at 12:30 a.m., just one day after celebrating her 83rd birthday. She was born on December 26, 1941, in Union County, Tennessee, to Earnest and Pearl (Hensley) Tharp. Sue was a twin, though her brother passed away shortly after birth.
On July 2, 1983, she married Marvin Tinklenberg, and the two shared a life full of love and cherished memories until his passing on January 6, 2012. Sue was a dedicated wife and caregiver to Marvin in his later years, always by his side. He often said she was his angel, a testament to her unwavering love and devotion.
Sue worked at Cuneo Press before joining General Motors, where she worked until her retirement in February of 1993. After retiring, she dedicated much of her time to family and service to others. Sue was an active member of the Indiana Gospel Music Association and traveled with the Spirits of Truth group, sharing her love of gospel music with residents at nursing homes.
A woman of deep faith, Sue was a member of Beulah Land Church in Sharpsville, Indiana, where her love for the Lord was evident to all who knew her. She had a heart that always thought of others first and was known for her kindness, compassion, and generous spirit.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin; sister, Dorothy Smith; brother, Willis Tharp; great-grandsons, Maxwell and Waylon Pogue; and great-granddaughter, Madison Fletcher.
Sue is survived by her children, Kelly (James) Kuntz, Connie (Kenny) Nicely, Anthony (Dawn) Steward and Kent (Nancy) Donahue; grandchildren, Dalton Tinklenberg, Dakota Pogue, Kent Donahue, Steven Donahue, Kimberly Tudor, Kendall Nicely, Dr. Kenny Nicely, Anthony Steward, John Fletcher, Kaitlyn Scott, Chris Carpenter and Ryan Thomas; many great-grandchildren; and her dear friend, Liz Cox.
A special thank you to Braylee Acord, who helped care for Sue during her illness.
Sue will be remembered for her selflessness, her deep faith and the love she shared with her family and friends. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. May her soul rest in peace, and may her memory continue to inspire all who knew her.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Caylob Baldwin officiating. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
David L. “Dave” “Cecil” Grabbe
Early Christmas Morning, December 25, 2024, David L. “Dave” “Cecil” Grabbe, 82, Kokomo, got the best Christmas gift ever when he met his Savior face-to-face and joined the love of his life, Carolyn S. (Young), in Heaven for eternity. He was also welcomed into Glory by his son, Mark A. Grabbe, who passed away on August 27, 2024, and his grandson, Reese Michael Hendershot, who passed away on July 13, 2023.
Dave was born on August 15, 1942, in Grand Rapids, MI, the son of the late Elmer and Freda (Elwood) Grabbe. He married Carolyn S. Young in Russiaville on June 16, 1962, who preceded him in death on November 30, 2020.
He was a 1961 graduate of Western High School. David co-owned D & D Framing for four years in the 1970s. He was also a farmer and volunteer firefighter in Russiaville. David went on to be a builder of many homes, furniture, and a cabinet maker for 59 years. He also owned Grabbe & Son Construction for a time. In the early 2000s David worked maintenance at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He later received his Florida home inspection license and builder contractor license. Dave’s most recent employer was Nutrien Ag Solutions in North Grove. His Nutrien co-workers were a second family to him. He loved and cherished his time with them and the many laughs and adventures to and from the fields. David was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Kokomo.
David is survived by his children, Timothy Wayne (Bridgette) Grabbe, John David Grabbe, Susan Elaine (Greg) Hendershot, Philip Eugene (April) Grabbe, and Jared Lee (Becky) Grabbe; grandchildren, Drew Grabbe, Britta Grabbe, Garrett Austin (Noralee) Grabbe, Nathan Grabbe, Hunter (Lexi) Grabbe, Cody Grabbe, Sierra Grabbe, Breanna (Caleb) Strom, Jacey (Chase) Cottle, Isaac (Indi) Grabbe, and Grace Grabbe; four great grandchildren and another on the way that he was so proud of; sisters Joyce (Ed) Gunderson and Phyllis (Ron) Babb; sister-in-law, Nancy (Dale) Zell; and his brothers-in-law, Dan (Connie) Young and Ron (Cheri) Young as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Along with his wife, Carolyn, and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Mark Alan Grabbe; grandchildren Jeremy David Grabbe and Reese Michael Hendershot; sister and brother-in-law, Marcia and Harlan Bowers; and great grandchild, Aaron Joseph Crenshaw.
Funeral services celebrating David’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 E Main St, Russiaville, with Pastors Keith Treadway and Dan Murphy officiating. Burial will follow in New London Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2025, at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left at www.stoutandson.com.
Denise Eileen Leicht
Denise Eileen Leicht, aged 60, passed away on December 28, 2024, in Kokomo, Indiana, surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 29, 1964, in Limestone, Maine, to Anne and the late Richard Bennett, Denise grew up imbued with a spirit of compassion and curiosity that would define her entire life.
A proud graduate of Haworth High School, Denise carried her passion for learning and community service into her studies at Indiana University of Kokomo, where she earned her degree and set forth on a path that would touch countless lives. As a dedicated social worker in the medical field, Denise's career was a testament to her unwavering commitment to supporting and empowering those around her. Her professional life was not just a job but a calling, through which she embodied the values of care and advocacy every day.
Denise’s interests and hobbies added a rich texture to her life. She was an avid crafter, and poet often found creating beautiful pieces that brought joy to both the maker and the receiver. Her love for reading was insatiable, fueling her intelligent mind with both knowledge and pleasure. Books were not just a pastime for Denise; they were gateways to new worlds and ideas, and she cherished the growth and escape they provided.
Adjectives such as loving, faith-filled, and intelligent don't just describe Denise; they capture the essence of a woman who lived her life with purpose and grace. Her faith was the cornerstone of her existence, guiding her through life's challenges and inspiring her to be a source of light and love to everyone she encountered.
Denise's family was the heart of her world. She leaves behind her cherished mother, Anne Bennett, who has lost a precious daughter but gained countless memories to hold dear. Her brother, Craig Bennett, and his wife, Stacy, will miss her guidance and laughter, while her niece, Natalie Drott, and her husband, Kyle, along with her nephew, Caleb Bennett, will carry forward her legacy of kindness and wisdom.
The void left by her departure will be deeply felt by all who knew her, but the impact of Denise Eileen Leicht's life will continue to resonate. She walked this earth with the lightest of footprints but left behind a trail of love and service that will guide those she touched for years to come.
As we bid farewell to Denise, we celebrate a life lived with fullness and an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others. Her journey on this earth may have concluded, but the stories of her compassion, her laughter, and her indomitable spirit will be recounted with fondness and admiration.
In accordance with her life's philosophy, to live fully and love deeply, we honor Denise's memory by continuing to weave the threads of kindness and understanding she left behind into the fabric of our daily lives. Her presence will be sorely missed, but the lessons she taught us through her example will remain.
A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Denise Eileen Leicht will be held in our hearts forever as a beacon of love and humanity. May she rest in peace, knowing that her legacy is one of profound and enduring love.
City of Firsts Cremation and Funeral Services by Rose and Geiger was entrusted with the arrangements. www.cityoffirstscremations.com