Obituaries

Scott Allen Manning, 60 of Holiday, FL, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and loved ones Monday evening, Oct. 6 in Knightstown, IN. He was born April 26, 1965. in New Castle, Indiana. a son to Larry O. and Sharon K. Manning

Scottie enjoyed life…he spent many years in construction and continued to perform handy-man work when he lived in Florida, where he loved to fish and go boating. He loved to spend time with his grandkids and adored their visits, along with the many other family and friends that visited.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife/partner of 41 years; Florence L. “Weezie” Manning; his two sons: Joshua S. (Kelsea) Manning; and Cory D. (Ciara) Manning; a sister Terri L, Gorman (Jack Tague); a brother Berry R. (Julie) Manning; his youngest sister Lisa V. (Terry) Helderbrand; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Scott was proceeded in death by his parents Larry O. and Sharon K. Manning.

Scottie will be dearly missed by family and friends.  A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 2pm-4pm at the Carthage Community Church.

James “Jim” Russell Osbon, Sr., 81, of Middletown, Indiana, passed away on October 1, 2025, at Community Hospital Anderson, surrounded by his loving family, following a courageous struggle with lung cancer. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 10, 1944.

Jim graduated from Anderson High School in 1962, where he played trumpet in the band and was a member of the dive team. He continued his education at United Electronics and the Louisville School of Mortuary Science, later earning an associate’s degree in Electronics from the University of Illinois. His early career included an apprenticeship in funeral service with Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service in Anderson while also working part-time at Seybert’s Radio and Electronics. Jim then served his country in the United States Air Force with the 341st Combat Defense Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. A Vietnam War veteran, he attended Middletown Church of the Nazarene.

Blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit and a knack for fixing anything, Jim owned and operated Middletown Electronics for 13 years. Before that, he owned three convenience stores, including The Quick Stop near Big Barbee Lake in North Webster, Indiana. Most recently, he worked for S.A.S. Retail Services.

Jim was a fixture at Spring Hill Campground in Brookville, Indiana—his 36 years there made him the longest-tenured camper. A talented water-ski enthusiast, he was still barefoot skiing at age 80—and still gripping the tow rope with his teeth! He enjoyed camping, fishing, and photography, and he was rarely seen without a cup of coffee in hand.

He is survived by his loving wife of more than 40 years, Tina (Simpson) Osbon; two sons, Cody Osbon of Middletown and James (Torrie) Osbon, Jr. of Horse Cave, Kentucky; a daughter, Michelle Osbon of New Albany; and a step-daughter, Stephanie (Kent) Hinshaw of Middletown. Jim is also survived by thirteen grandchildren—Kaden Osbon, Brandon Osbon, Elizabeth Osbon, Alexandra Gouvas, Andy Osbon, Brandon Price, Madi Osbon, Caitlin (Adam) Nowak, Brittney (Zach) Grimmett, Sam Hinshaw, Kendra (Hunter) Davis, Hannah Hinshaw, and Rachel Hinshaw—and five great-grandchildren: Kenna Grimmett, Zane Grimmett, Gariah Mayo, Ariana Densford, and Dayton Osbon.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Florence (Harris) Osbon; and two sons, Brandon Osbon and James Ross (“Little Jimmy”) Osbon.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Middletown Church of the Nazarene (698 N. 5th Street, Middletown, IN 47356), with Reverend Phil Rogers officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Miller Cemetery in Middletown.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

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Joseph Savarino, 93, died peacefully on September 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born on March 24, 1932 in Youngstown, Ohio to Sicilian immigrants Josephine (Guarnotta) and Angelo Savarino. After graduating from Rosemead, California high school in 1950, he entered the Jesuit seminary in Los Gatos, CA, during which time he attended the University of California at Santa Clara and Fordham University in New York. Joe continued to serve and teach as a Brother but ultimately decided not to be ordained and left the community in 1964. He began graduate school studies at Marquette University in 1965, where he met Mary Ella Giovannini in whom he found a friend and partner for life. They were married on March 18, 1967 and Joe received his Master’s in Theology in 1968.

Joe and Mary Ella moved to Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa in 1968 where Joe enrolled in the University of Iowa Religion Department for further graduate studies. In 1971, Joe ran for a seat on the Iowa City Council as part of the “New Coalition” slate of candidates; their platform included 24 hour transportation, city assisted child care, expanded low-income housing, comprehensive future-oriented land-use planning, and improved law enforcement. Although not elected, the coalition helped register student voters and increase campus voter participation. Joe and Mary Ella also served on the Iowa City Association for Talented and Gifted and advocated for a 1980 proposal by the school board for additional funding from the Iowa Department of Public Instruction for gifted students. They attended the U of I Newman Center, the Emmaus Community, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church where Joe served as a liturgical minister, on the Social Justice Committee, and participated with the Scripture Study group. Mary Ella and Joe also helped establish the Iowa City Free Lunch Program in 1983. Their favorite extracurricular activity was Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball and they were season ticket holders for more than 45 years.

As a graduate student in the U of I Religion department, Joe served as a secretary for the department, and later as director of programs for Churches United, an ecumenical organization of Cedar Rapids churches. For 25 years Joe worked as a patient care coordinator at the University of Iowa Hospital Child Health Specialty Clinic, helping connect doctors to families with children in need of specialized medical care. This experience made him a lifelong advocate for healthcare reform. During President Clinton’s 1993 effort to address healthcare, Joe joined a “freedom bus” to Washington DC to attend the rally. He got separated from his group and ended up with an assembly of people on the dais behind the President– his face captured in the background for a Time magazine photo of the event.

Joe’s children have many fond memories with him– going out for ice cream after helping mow the lawn, swimming at the Coralville pool in the evening after work, and road trips to the UP in the old diesel Mercedes. It was a special treat to take the bus to visit his office and eat in the cafeteria. He was often found behind an open newspaper in the rocking chair, or sitting in his captain’s chair engrossed in Masterpiece Theatre or 60 Minutes– or laughing at Statler and Waldorf on the Muppets. Watching Joe enjoy Max the dog in How the Grinch Stole Christmas was entertainment for the whole family. TV viewing was usually accompanied by a snack of peanut butter and jelly on Ritz crackers. Joe loved to cook and was an incurable recipe clipper, sometimes tweaking ingredients based on similar dishes and making notes of his experiments. His lasagna was legendary and was always requested on home visits and holidays. As kids, weekly family scripture study wasn’t a favorite activity; but in retrospect, Joe’s understanding and ability to explain and interpret biblical writings within their social and historical context are valuable lessons that still resonate. Unfortunately, his incomprehensible newspaper organization system will remain a mystery.

Joe enjoyed art, particularly the Impressionists including Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and Auguste Renoir. He was deeply moved by music, especially folk, ragtime, opera, and classical. He was an insatiable reader and appreciated the power of language and ideas. Joe enjoyed traveling and visited many countries, including Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Scotland, Italy, and his parents’ hometown in Sicily. Joe lived at an unhurried pace; he took simple joy in feeding the backyard cardinals and building a pleasant campfire. He loved movies, listening to NPR or watching PBS, and he remained an enthusiastic fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes (football and men’s and women’s basketball), even after leaving Coralville. In 2015, after 47 years in Iowa City/Coralville, Mary Ella and Joe moved to Robin Run Village in Indianapolis to be closer to their daughter and her family. They made friends and Joe found new interests in playing Mexican dominoes and Shuffleboard (even winning the championship with his partner), and watching the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. Robin Run friends provided a welcoming and caring community in their last years.

Joe’s greatest love was for his family; he was exceedingly proud of each of his children and delighted in being a grandfather. The many photos of Grandpa Joe feeding bottles, cuddling sleeping babies (maybe nodding off himself too), playing with them, and reading them books will be treasured. They are reminiscent of photos with his own children—usually piled on his lap and topped with an unflappable cat.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ella, his parents, three brothers – Paul, Peter, and Frank, and an infant sister, Frances. He is survived by his three children Gianna Savarino, Damian (Tara) Savarino, and Malia (Dana) Vanaman, and five grandsons Dominic, Luca and Giovanni Savarino, and Jackson and Kellan Vanaman. He is also survived by nieces and nephews for whom he was a favorite, and many dear friends.

He will be remembered for his gentle character, quiet manner, profound intellect, and easy laughter. His thoughtful and balanced perspective on life was a gift to family and friends, may his empathy and kindness continue in them. Joe lived a life of humility and service, he eschewed extravagance and expense and declined the fuss of a funeral or memorial. In death, he chose to extend his impact and educate others by donating his body to the Indiana University School of Medicine Anatomical Education Program.

To honor Joe’s memory, donations may be made to local NPR and PBS stations, progressive candidates and officials, or community social justice organizations.

Timothy Charles Wakefield, 63, of Anderson, passed away on September 18, 2025 at Saint Vincent Anderson Hospital. He was born on July 9, 1962 in Anderson, Indiana to Charles and Rosemary (Taylor) Wakefield.

He was a life long resident of Madison County. As a child, he played baseball in Markleville, IN and attended Pendleton Heights High School.

Tim was always willing to lend a hand to friends and neighbors. He had the “gift of gab” and was considered to be the life of the party. With his quick sense of humor and easy laugh he brought joy to wherever he went. He never lost his playful spirit and approached life with the heart of a big kid.

He loved his dogs, always preferring the larger breeds. He enjoyed playing on his computer and telling stories to friends who would stop by (often with a bit of embellishment).  He also had many plants that he took pride in and tended to. He was known for having a natural green thumb.

Above all, Tim cherished the time with his grandchildren — especially when they were young. He made it a point to always have a bedroom for his daughter Lacey, so she knew she always had a place to call home. He helped her whenever possible to make her life just a little easier.

Tim is survived by his daughters Lacey (Joe Dailey) Wakefield, Wendi (Todd) Lewis, and his big sister Susan (Steve Ruthig) all of Anderson. Also his 5 grand children Karmyn, Kammyl, Landyn, Emma, and Jase. And his life long friends, Steve Evans, Bill (Beth)Rose, and Timmy and Jeff Moore that now reside in Arizona.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Charles and Rosemary, and his beloved dogs Gunther, Lizzie, and his grandpup Gypsy.

The family would like to thank Dr. David Mares and his wonderful staff and Southern Care Hospice for being so caring, showing much empathy, and reaching out to the family when they needed the most.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Please contact the family via Facebook if you are wanting to attend this event.

If you know Tim well he is looking over us right now rolling his eyes thinking that none of this is necessary.

Robert “Bob” Elmer Wiens was born March 8, 1947 in central Kansas and left this life to be with Jesus on Sunday, August 31, 2025 in Fishers, IN. Bob is the first of five sons born to Elmer and Ruth Wiens. He and his brothers lived on the family farm near Inman, KS caring for animals, livestock, and helping on the combine crews for harvesting wheat. They all attended Inman High School.

Bob attended Bethel College in North Newton, KS where he graduated with an A.B. degree in Chemistry. Here he met the love of his life in the food service line. Dorothy Ann Nachtigal, was the daughter of the late Jacob and Edna (Klassen) Nachtigal. The two were married on August 17, 1969 in Buhler, Kansas, a union that stayed strong and true for 56 years.

Bob grew up in the Mennonite faith, baptised May 20, 1962 in the Inman (KS) Mennonite Church. As a conscientious objector, he served 2 years of alternative service in Topeka, KS. From there he went to Kansas State University where he received a M.S. degree in Analytical Chemistry. In 1991, he was employed by Eli Lilly where he worked for 22 years before retiring in 2013.

In 1973, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where they started their family. Their marriage was blessed with three children, twins Scott and Melissa, and younger sister Karen. That small family grew to include daughter-in-law Ivy, sons-in-law Patrick and Dan, and 10 grandchildren. With the move to Carmel in 1991, the family became involved with St Mark’s United Methodist Church very quickly. Bob participated in the choir for 28 years, and enjoyed the fellowship in Bible Studies and the men’s ROMEO group (Retired Old Men Eating Out). He shared his photography hobby by documenting many activities with photos.

Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. With his scientific background, he was eager to participate in two trial drug studies over several years. As the disease progressed and challenges increased, Bob moved in October 2024 to a Memory Care facility (Independence Village Fishers South) where he was cared for until his end of days. He was at peace and bonded with his new family. They will remember his smiles, giggles, and his constant whistling.

Bob was always a helpful person, even when it got more difficult to do things correctly. He loved music and he enjoyed all young children. He will be missed.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents Elmer Peter and Olivia Ruth (Reimer) Wiens, brother Arlen Wiens, and nephew Corey Wiens. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy (Nachtigal) Wiens; children Scott (Ivy) Wiens of Cedar Falls, IA, Melissa (Patrick) Fait of Noblesville, IN, and Karen (Dan) Wiggins of Lafayette, IN. His 10 grandchildren: John Fait, Jirah Wiens, Cannon Wiens, Katherine Fait, Maizy Wiens, Jennifer Fait, Elsa Wiens, Brek Wiens, Oliver Wiggins, and Xavier Wiens. His brothers: ElRoy (Loretta) Wiens of Goessel, KS, Ronald (Cheryl) Wiens of Angel Fire, NM and Phoenix, AZ, Orville (Theresa) Wiens of Katy,TX, and sister-in-law Deloris Wiens of Bartlesville, OK. There are also many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, followed immediately at 12 p.m. by a Celebration of Life service at St Mark’s United Methodist Church, 4780 East 126th Street, Carmel, IN 46033.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association

John William O’Neal, of Noblesville, Indiana, passed away on August 29, 2025, at the age of 70.

John is survived by his wife, LaVonne O’Neal (Wright). They were married on November 3, 1975 and spent 50 years together. He loved his role as a husband, father, and grandfather. He is also survived by his daughter, Angela O’Neal-Kraus (John David); his son, John Curtis O’Neal (Holly); and his four grandchildren: Caleb, Cameron, Lily and Ava; his sister, Debra Killmon (Roger); and his brother, Kenny Deppen.

Born on June 25, 1955, in Noblesville, John was the son of Shirley Deppen (Camp). He was a graduate of Noblesville High School. He was a musician, a business owner, and a skilled audio-video specialist.

He was a faithful member of the Noblesville Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where he was known for his kindness, warm hugs, generous spirit and dedication to his beliefs.

John found great joy in traveling, fishing, and food, especially when shared with his grandchildren. He was an avid storyteller, known for captivating his loved ones with tales that were humorous and unforgettable.

A visitation will be held from 2 pm to 4 pm followed by a Memorial Service at 4 pm on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 19100 Allisonville Road, Noblesville, IN 46060. All who knew and loved John are welcome to attend.