Jan. 20, 1932 - Jan. 9, 2013

ELKHART — Mary Ellen Ihnken, 80, of Elkhart passed away Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born Jan. 20, 1932, in Elkhart to Earl Eugene and Kathryn Lucille (Barton) Kreighbaum.

She married Gene Ihnken Oct. 14, 1950.

He survives along with two daughters, Jean (Brian) Yerger of Elkhart and Lynn (Dennis) Wise of Goshen; four grandchildren, Casey (Alysha) Yerger, Cody (Amber) Yerger, Season (Tim) Price and Cory (Krissy) Wise; six great-grandchildren, Hunter and Holden Price, Emilee and Reese Wise, and Grayson and Adeline Yerger; and one sister, Earlene Wollam of Baton Rouge, La.

Mary Ellen graduated from Elkhart High School in 1949 and attended IUSB for one year. She retired in 2000 from Crown Industries in the purchasing department, where she was a secretary. She was a member of Northside Baptist Church and was involved in many church activities. She enjoyed oil painting, flowers and her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart, and one hour prior to the 10 a.m. service Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at Northside Baptist Church. Pastor Carl Henry will officiate.

Burial will follow at Olive West Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to Northside Baptist Church or Humane Society of Elkhart County. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.

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