Sunday's Obituary-William J. Edwards

William J. Edwards, 76, well-known farmer residing in Blue Creek township, Adams County, died suddenly Monday forenoon while engaged in cutting corn in a field on his farm. His lifeless body was found about 11:30 o'clock Monday forenoon. A physician, who was called immediately, by apoplexy.
Mr. Edwards had been in his usual good health. He went to the field to cut corn about 9:15 yesterday morning. Shortly after 11o'clock Mrs. Edwards became uneasy about her husband, as he had intended to return to the house before that time. She went to the homes of neighbors and failing to find him there, she went to the cornfield where she found his lifeless body. A physician was summoned, immediately, but Mr. Edwards had been dead for about two hours. There was no indication of any suffering.
Mr. Edwards met with an accident about three years ago, when a team of horses ran away with a wagon. The wagon upset and the bed of the wagon struck Mr. Edwards on the head. It is believed that this injury led to his sudden death yesterday.
The decesed was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 26, 1850. He had resided in Blue Creek township for more than fifty years. Surving are the widow Anna L. Kauffman, six children, Chalmer, Gerald, Raymond, Grace, Corrine and Mildred, all at home. One brother Horace G. Edwards of Blue Creek township, and one sister Mrs. Martin Suhm of Petersburg Illinois.
Funeral services will be held at the Salem Church at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

Information omitted from the obituary-William was the son of Lewis Edwards and Elizabeth Wilson. He married Anna L. Kauffman on October 8, 1900 in Adams County Indiana.

Sunday's Obituary-Christian W. Bohnke

Christian W. (Chris ) Bohnke, 85, a resident of Decatur IN since 1970 and a retired Union Township farmer dies at 10:16 p.m. Saturday Nov. 8, 1986 in Decatur Community Care Center where he had been a patient for three days, he had been in ill health for more than a year.
Born in Root Township on April 5, 1901, he was the son of Charles and Emma Franz-Bohnke and was married to Louise Bleeke on Dec. 25, 1931. They were married for 54 years. He resided in Union Township from 1948-1969 and had been employed at Scott's foods in Decatur for 11 years, retiring in 1985. He was a graduate of the first class of the Reppert Auctioneering School in 1923 and was active in auctioneering for many years. He was an active member of Immanuel Luthern Church.
Survivors include the wife, 5 daughters and 2 sons, 1 sister, 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchilren. He was perceded in death by 1 son, 3 sisters, and 2 brothers.
Services were held at Immanuel Luthern Church, Rev. Earl Petzold offiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

This obituary was posted in the Decatur Daily Democrat Newspaper on Nov, 10, 1986. Chris was the brother of my grandfather Herman Bohnke. Herman Bohnke died  suddenly in 1952 of a heart attack, my father was only 17 at the time and told us that Uncle Chris was a big help to him and his brother during this difficult time.

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Treasure Chest Thursday-stairway rug

In July of 2007 we lost our Grandma Edwards, she was the only grandparent my siblings and I ever knew, since my father's mother had died shortly after my father was born. Grandma Edwards was the most patient lady I ever knew, I cannot remember her ever raising her voice to anyone. Our family had the daunting task of cleaning out her home to be sold. She had several treasures, none of great monetary value but a home full of sentimental treasures. As we were moving out the last of her things something caught my eye the last day. It was an old rug that had been nailed to her stairway long before I was born in Nov 62'. I claimed it for my home. I had it cleaned and a new binding sewn to the edges, it's still kinda faded and torn a little where the nails were, but to me it's in perfect condition. That tattered old rug is just priceless to me, I remember my family when I was younger each time I see it, all the Thanksgivings, Christmas', birthdays and Sunday afternoon get togethers were some of the best times ever. It's not the value of the items after we go, its the value of the memories that matter most.
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Sunday's Obituary-J. Chalmer Edwards-Willshire Ohio

J. Chalmer Edwards, 85 of Willshire, died at 1:04 a.m. in Van Wert County Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on July 16, 1902 in Adams County, Ind. a son of William and Anna (Kauffman) Edwards.
Edwards married Leah Geisler in September of 1927. She preceded him in death Feb. 2, 1988.
Edwards was also preceded in death by a brother Raymond Edwards and a son Dallas Edwards.
He was a teacher for 41 years; 10 years in Adams County Ind., and 31 years in Van Wert County Ohio, he was also involved in insurance and tax preparation. He was a 1941 graduate of Manchester College. He was a member of the Willshire United Methodist Church, Willshire OES, Willshire Masonic Lodge 32nd Degree, the Scottish Rite in Toledo and a former member of the Willshire Lions.
Funeral services were held at Zwick-Sefton and Jahn funeral home in Decatur Ind. with the Rev. Ron Fruth officiating. Burial will be in the Willshire Cemetery.


The following obituary was found in my grandmothers scrapbook, Ruth Schott Edwards, after she died. She had written the date 3-28-88 at the top. This was his death date. He had 2 children a son and daughter, 3 sisters and 2 brothers one of which was my grandfather Gerald C. Edwards. His full name was Joseph Chalmer Edwards but he went by the name Chalmer. I can remember going to Chalmer's home a couple of times with my grandparents when I was young. After his death his house was sold and eventually fell into dis-repair. A few years ago my husbands aunt and uncle bought the house and have since cleaned the place up and remodeled it.