Joan E. Guingrich, 89, of Wabash, Indiana, passed away at 2:45 p.m., on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Parkview Hospital in Wabash, Indiana. She was born on March 17, 1936, to the late Virgil and Ina (Belcher) Hyatt in Gas City, Indiana. 

Joan was a graduate of Mississinewa High School. She married Earl E. Guingrich on May 28, 1954; he died on December 21, 2021. Joan was a member of the Lagro United Methodist Church. She worked at General Tire in Wabash, served as a church secretary, and was a homemaker. She enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, and loved to sing. Most of all, Joan loved being with her family. 

Joan is survived by one son, Carl Guingrich of Wabash, Indiana; one daughter, Marsha Guingrich of Wabash, Indiana; three grandchildren, Carl Guingrich II, Erika Guingrich, and Cynthia Green; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, Estel Hyatt, John Hyatt, and Virgil Hyatt, Jr., and one sister, Orpha Meyers.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with Pastor Andrea Lantz officiating. Burial will follow at Falls Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the funeral home. 

Preferred memorials are to the Wabash County Animal Shelter, 810 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Joan E. Guingrich's final arrangements.

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

 

Joan C. Ross, 85, a lifetime resident of Wabash, Indiana passed away at 3:12 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 1, 1940, to the late Raymond Vogt and Dorothy (Parsons) Vogt. 

Joan married Russell Ross on September 8, 1961, he passed away on February 9, 2021. She worked at Wabash Magnetics in Wabash, Indiana before retiring. Joan enjoyed gardening and flowers, reading, and the Philadelphia Eagles. She especially loved her dog, Gus, and her family. Joan's family was everything to her and she loved to spend time with them. 

Joan is survived by one daughter, Shirley Ross of Wabash; one son, Russell (Cynthia) Ross, Jr. of Wabash; two grandchildren, Christopher Ross and Jonathan (Brittany) Ross, both of Wabash; four great-grandchildren, Leila Ross, Conner Ross, Savannah Ross, and Hudson Ross; sister, Delores Saksomboon of Pueblo West, Colorado; and her dog, Gus. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one sister, Dorothy Vogt. 

Per Joan's wishes, there will be no public services.  Private family services will take place. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with the final arrangements for Joan C. Ross.

Preferred memorials are to the Wabash County Animal Shelter, 810 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992.

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

 

Sandra (Gasiecki) Celmer, 82, passed away on January 1, 2026, at her home in Wabash, Indiana, surrounded by her family. She was born in Blue Island, Illinois on June 27, 1943, to the late Helen (Cap) and Walter Gasiecki. 

On January 21, 1967, she was united in marriage to Henry Celmer at Saint Florian Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois. During their 58 years of marriage, they were blessed with two sons and five grandchildren. 

Sandy was a 1961 graduate of Saint Francis de Sales High School in Chicago. Shortly after graduation, she began working for the Aspregen Insurance Agency in Chicago and then transferred to their Indianapolis office while Henry continued his education in Pharmacy at Butler University. After their move to Wabash, she began working for Saint Bernard Catholic Church as a secretary and continued working there for 27 years before her retirement in 2001. 

She is survived and will forever be cherished by her husband, Henry; two sons, Alan (Samantha) Celmer of Clarksville, Tennessee and Dr. Andrew (Mary) Celmer of College Grove, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Zane (Stacy) Celmer of Nashville, Tennessee, Madalyn Celmer and Jacek Celmer, both of Clarksville, Tennessee, Benjamin Celmer and Lucas Celmer, both of College Grove, Tennessee. She also leaves behind her only sister, Geraldine Beckman, along with many wonderful nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and two brother in laws, Arthur Beckman and Donald Celmer. 

Sandy loved being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Some of her greatest joys were watching her children and grandchildren as they participated in their many activities, and she would attend their events whenever possible. 

For the past 33 years her family enjoyed their lake house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Wetmore). Every July they celebrated a family vacation week with nieces, nephews, and cousins from her sister's family, along with her boys and their families. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Wabash, Indiana with Father Jay Horning and Father William Kummer officiating. Burial will follow at Falls Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992 with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.  

Contributions in her memory may be directed to Saint Bernard Catholic Church/School in Wabash, Indiana, Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Lagro, Indiana, or to the donor's choice. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Sandra Celmer's final arrangements.

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

 

Miriam L. Williams, 98, of Wabash, Indiana, passed away at 6:10 a.m., on Monday, December 22, 2025, at her daughter's residence. She was born on July 7, 1927, to Howard and Lula (Hollenbach) Akers in Huntington County, Indiana. 

Miriam graduated from the Indiana School for the Deaf in 1947. She was the first person in Wabash County that received a scholarship to attend the Indiana School for the Deaf. Miriam married Edward Williams on July 1, 1984. She worked at United Technologies, formerly Wagner Industries, in Wabash for twenty-five and a half years. Miriam was a member of the Indianapolis Deaf Club, National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, and Senior Silent Citizen. She loved playing cards, doing word searches, and spending time with her family. 

Miriam is survived by one daughter, Pamela Perkins of Wabash, Indiana; two grandchildren, Amy Mitchell of Ossian, Indiana, Ricky (Alina) Perkins of Wabash, Indiana; three great-grandchildren, Lillie Mitchell and Tripp Mitchell of Ossian, Indiana, Hannah Perkins of Wabash, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two sisters, Claribel Pegg and Phyllis Moore.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, at McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory in Marion, Indiana.

Visitation for family and friends will be one hour prior to the service on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials may be made to the Indiana School for the Deaf, 1200 E. 42nd St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46205. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Miriam L. Williams' final arrangements.

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

 

Robert "Bob" F. White

 

Robert "Bob" F. White, 80, a lifetime resident of Wabash, Indiana, passed away at 2:25 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at VA Northern Indiana Care System in Marion, Indiana. He was born on January 9, 1945, in Columbus, Indiana to Earl E. and Mary E. (Simpson) White.

Bob attended Wabash High School. At the age of 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the 1st Battle Ready Battalion to land in Da Nang Vietnam in March of 1965. He then worked at Celotex in Lagro, Indiana for 34 years before retiring. He was an avid Harley Davidson rider and mechanic. He was talented enough to build the trike motorcycle he had owned. Bob was a member of the American Legion Post 15 and the VFW Post 286 in Wabash.

Bob is survived by his partner of 36 years, Lori VerMaas of Wabash, Indiana; one son, Robert (Denise) Votaw of Wabash, Indiana; one brother, Jimmy White of South Bend, Indiana; one sister, Linda (Steve) Kuhlman of Kansas City, Missouri; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren and his cohort in crime, Betty Lou Taylor. He is preceded in death by his parents, one son, Art White who passed in 1999, and one sister, Barbara Grimm who passed in 2024.

Private family graveside services will be held at a later date at Friends Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana. 

Preferred memorials can be made to the Wabash County Cancer Society, P.O. Box 144, North Manchester, IN 46962. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Robert "Bob" White's final arrangements.

Leon Gene DeLauter, 88, a resident of Wabash, Indiana, passed away at 1:30 a.m., Sunday, December 21, 2025, at his residence. He was born on May 31, 1937, to Domer Leon DeLauter and Genivieve F. (Young) DeLauter in Canton, Ohio.

Gene was a graduate of Wabash High School. He married his true love, Mary L. Day on August 28, 1954-a marriage that would last seventy-one years.  With a talent of working with his hands, Gene's career as an electrician flourished at General Tire in Wabash, Indiana and carried him through until his retirement.  He had a servant's heart and once retired steadily committed to giving back to his community and family.  Gene was a master craftsman not only adding to his one home over the years, but various civic projects locally.   A small volunteer offer to tend a few flower beds at the Wabash City Parks Department turned into a full-time maintenance job.  He was a life-long learner, passionate about Wabash County and U.S. history and served as a member of the Wabash Historical Society.  History also fueled his wanderlust as he would travel afar to visit museums and the president's homes across the country.  He made the journey to Germany to find the foreign exchange student that lived with his family in high school and granddaughter in China.  Music was another cornerstone of Gene's life.  Gene was a member of the Wabash Church of the Brethren where he sang in the choir.  He played a potpourri of instruments by himself or with his children and grandchildren including the guitar and harmonica, which he always kept in his pocket.  Although he felt one's voice was the greatest instrument of all as you could use it to sing your entire life.  He and his wife, Mary, were awarded Distinguished Citizen in 2005 for their various community service projects. Most of all, Gene was a beloved anchor for his family believing that time spent together was sacred.  He loved his family beyond measure. 

Gene is survived by his wife, Mary L. DeLauter of Wabash, Indiana; one son, Jack DeLauter of Wabash, Indiana; three daughters, Jeanie (Tony) Cooper of Silver Lake, Indiana, Jane (John) Unger of Wabash, Indiana, Joyce (Daryl) Knotts of Converse, Indiana; six grandchildren, Carrie (Andrew) Brunson, Candie Cooper, Mary Knotts, Calvin Knotts, Reese (Layne) DeLauter, and Sterling DeLauter; three great-grandchildren, A.J. Brunson, Giselle McCoart, and Wyatt DeLauter; sister, Caryl (John) Flesher of Roann, Indiana. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, David DeLauter.  

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawns Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana. 

Visitation for family and friends will be on Friday, December 26, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials may be made to the Wabash County Museum, 36 E. Market St., Wabash, Indiana 46992. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, Wabash Chapel, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Leon Gene DeLauter's final arrangements.

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

 

Nancy L. McLain

 

Nancy L. McLain, 87, of Wabash, Indiana, passed away at 12:53 a.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at The Waters of Wabash East. She was born on March 29, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio to Fred and Viola Winkleman.

Nancy worked as a secretary at the Federal Courthouse in Cleveland and also for the Parks System in Mansfield, Ohio. She enjoyed playing Bridge and the Piano. She was a member of the Purple Hat Club. Nancy was also very involved with March of Dimes in her younger years. 

Nancy is survived by her two sons, Michael (Sally) Falatach of Bay Village, Ohio, Dennis (Shirley) Falatach of Marysville, Ohio; one daughter, Sally (Hilton) Sparks of Wabash, Indiana; daughter in law, Eileen Falatach; and ten grandchildren, Erin (Brian) Cullison, Elise (Dylan) Morris, Mitchell (Danielle) Falatach, Rebecca (Dylan) Abrahamson, Elizabeth Falatach, Scott (Taylor) Falatach, Katie (Gordon) Neilson, Taylor Sparks, Daniel Sparks, and Devin Sparks. She is preceded in death by her parents, one son, Robert Falatach, and one sister. 

Per Nancy's wishes there will be no services. 

Preferred memorials can be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 006, Newton, MA 02458 or the Wabash County Cancer Society, P.O. Box 144, North Manchester, IN 46962. 

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with Nancy McLain's final arrangements