Wayne D. Hissong
April 28, 2008
    LEITERS FORD — Wayne D. Hissong, 87, of Leiters Ford, died in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth on Monday morning, April 28, 2008.
    Wayne was born in Argos to Lawrence and Carrie Hissong.  His parents preceded him in death as did his brother, Loren Hissong.
    On Oct. 21, 1956, he married Barbara Reinholt, who also preceded him in death. They were married 39 years and together had three children who survive, Valerie (Kevin) Staples of South Bend, Vince (Becky) Hissong of Leiters Ford and Van (Theresa) Hissong of Culver. His son from a previous marriage, Paul (Vicky) Sudlow lives in Billings, Mo. Wayne has eight grandchildren: Isaac Hissong, Alexandra and Patrick Staples, and Madeline, Morgan, Sam, Gabriel, and Savannah Hissong.
    Wayne graduated from Argos High School and worked in construction until his retirement. He was a proud WWII veteran having served for 4 1/2 years in the 2nd Armored Division and the 712th Tank Battalion. He was awarded the Purple Heart, a silver battle star, and several other ribbons and medals. Wayne maintained close friendships with his comrades in the years since the war. He traveled each fall to the 712th Tank Battalion reunions to renew friendships and recount stories.
    For Wayne, there was no baseball team but the Chicago Cubs. He also enjoyed golf, fishing and time with family and friends. He was a member of the Collins-Tasch American Legion Post 399 in Monterey, the Finney-Shilling VFW Post 6919 of Culver, and the Maxinkuckee Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Culver. Wayne was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by his family and many friends.
    Viewing will be held at the Bonine-Odom Funeral Home in Culver Thursday, May 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. EDT. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, May 2 at 11a.m. EDT. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Finney-Shilling VFW Post 6919 of Culver or to the Collins-Tasch American Legion Post 399 of Monterey.
    Condolences may be sent via the obituary page at www.bonineodom.com.

Hal Parks Groninger
Nov. 11, 1915 – April 28, 2008
    PLYMOUTH — Hal Parks Groninger, 92, living at 220 West St., for the past 28 years, died of natural causes at his home in the care of his family and Hospice, at 7:25 a.m. on Monday morning, April 28, 2008. Hal had lived in Plymouth 60 years, coming from Carroll County.
    Hal was quite a guy. Thirty-eight years ago, he won the annual Toastmaster’s Bull-Throwing Speech contest in South Bend.
    He could have won it again — hands down, against anybody. No one could tell a story or a joke like Hal Groninger.
    He will be greatly missed.
    Born in Rockfield, Ind., between Logansport and Lafayette, on Nov. 11, 1915, Hal was the son of Parks Douglas and Ethel M. (Connarroe) Groninger. He graduated from Rockfield High School in 1933 and continued to help his father on the family farm.
    On Aug. 4, 1937, Hal and his childhood sweetheart, Mildred V. Bowman, were married in Rockfield. Mildred died on Feb. 25, 1972. On Jan. 1, 1973, he and Patsy Jo Wright were married in Plymouth.
    He told folks that he, a self-proclaimed “people person,” had been so lonely and that ‘Patsy Jo” was the best thing that could have happened to him. They were married for 35 years and have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
    Hal never shied from work and he had plenty of different jobs. He worked in a ladies shoe store, earning $7 a week.  He worked as a soda jerk at Fleming’s Ice Cream Parlor on Lincoln Way West in Mishawaka and he drove a semi for Drewry’s Brewery.
    He was a mechanic and “a pretty good farmer.”
    He was called up into the Army, but WWII ended before he had a chance to serve. After the war, he sold his farm and did landscaping with Morman Minerals.
    But most of all, he was the consummate traveling salesman.  He worked with various wholesale feed companies: Nappanee Milling and Sun Ray Wholesale Feed in Culver.  He was with Syler’s Inc. in Plymouth for 17 years and later with Albers Milling for six more.
    For 10 years, Hal and Pat owned and operated, “Fun and Games Arcade” in Plymouth.
    The person that had the most fun there was Hal.
    His last job (for 14 years) until this past January was as he put it — a 92-year-old “Bagger Boy” three days a week with Martin’s Super Market in Plymouth. He always had a smile and a joke for the ladies.
    Until recently, he played duplicate bridge and did his own yard work. He loved to golf and read. He played poker and euchre and was a great Notre Dame fan.
    A dedicated Presbyterian, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for the past 60 years. Hal testified that “the Lord helped me a lot. When I needed Him, He came down.”
    Hal had kept a journal since 1982. In the back of Volume I are 432 rules to follow during the Christmas holidays. His philosophy was not to worry about the little things. Everyday is an important day.
    He is survived by his loving wife, Pat and by four children.  His daughter, Jane A. Bechaka lives in Chicago, Ill. She has a daughter, Nicole. A son, Douglas L. and his wife, Rhonda, are in Colorado Springs, Colo. Their children are Douglas Jr., Mara and Lee.
    Hal also has twin sons, Garry Parks and Valerie Groninger, San Jose, Calif., and Garry’s daughter Carly and Larry Earl and Debra Groninger, Colorado Springs, Colo.
    Four great-grandchildren also survive together with a sister, Love C. Fitzgerald, Indianapolis.
    Hal was also preceded in death by two sisters and a brother. They are: Beth Carman Groninger, Marzell Shaw and Ren Groninger.
    Friends are invited to join with his family to celebrate the life of Hal Groninger Wednesday, April 30, 2008, from 4 to 7 p.m. (and after 7 a.m. on Thursday, May 1) at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
    Funeral services for Hal will be held in the funeral home Thursday, May 1, 2008, at 11 a.m. The Rev. Tom Padberg, chaplain of The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., will officiate.
    Memorial gifts in Hal’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 401 N. Walnut St., Plymouth, IN  46563
    To share memories and express condolences, you may send messages to the family via the Web site: www.johnson-danielson.com