Marian Jane (Bohmer) Winebrenner Obituary (1922 - 2018)

Marian Jane (Poppele) Winebrenner passed away on March 27, 2018, in Columbia City. Born in south Chicago on May 28, 1922, she was the daughter of Marion and Vera Mae (Morrison) Bohmer. Upon the death of her parents at the age of two, she was adopted by a loving couple, George and Magdelene Poppele. Marian attended Holy Cross and St. Columbanus Catholic schools in Chicago until the family moved to Garrett around 1936. There, she attended St. Joseph Catholic school where Marian graduated in 1940 as valedictorian. Times were hard, but with the help of her mother, Marian was able to attend the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ft. Wayne. While at nursing school, she was introduced to a handsome young man that would be the love of her life - Hobert Winebrenner of Merriam. WWII interrupted, and Marian said goodbye to her love when he was shipped off to Europe. When Hobert returned from the war, they were married on Nov. 20, 1945 in Garrett. The young couple moved to Merriam and built their lifetime home. Marian continued her career in nursing at Luckey Hospital in Wolf Lake and then Whitley County Memorial Hospital in Columbia City. As a labor and delivery nurse, she ushered nearly a thousand little ones into the world. Throughout her life she was a member of the St. John Bosco Catholic Church and St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. The focus of Marian's life were her children. She instilled in them a deep Catholic faith, love of music and love of family. Her grandchildren were always so very dear to her and brought her tremendous joy. She was sure that her great-grandchildren were the smartest and most beautiful in the world! Surviving are her three children, Steve (Valerie) Winebrenner of Fulton, MD; Tony (Jill) Winebrenner of Albion and Jane (Bill) Stroup of Columbia City; six grandchildren, Kara (Paul) Kehoe of Rockville, MD; Erik (Mindy) Winebrenner of Ellicott City, MD; Kristina (Tom) Tsuleff of Ft. Wayne; Sarah (Lloy) Ball of Angola; Joshua (Nichole) Stroup of Round Rock, TX and Dr. Kathleen (Kyle) Heimann of Decatur; 13 great-grandchildren, Annabelle and Lexi Kehoe, Joey and Elliott Winebrenner, Daniel and Peter Tsuleff, Dyer and Mya Ball, Falon and Rexton Stroup, Sebastian, Frankie and Xavier Heimann; Marian's shi-tzu, Freddie was her loyal companion for the last 8 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hobert Winebrenner on April 25, 2009. Calling will take place at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Holy Rosary at 8:00 p.m. Calling also one hour prior to the service at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m., at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Columbia City, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Burial will follow at Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to Humane Society of Whitley County, Inc or St. Paul of the Cross (repair fund).