Obituaries, March 24, 2023
Carolyn S. Sewell Snead
Carolyn S. Sewell Snead, 83, Kokomo, passed away at 10:16 am Thursday, March 23, 2023 at her home, where she was lovingly cared for by her family. She was born on January 14, 1940 in Kokomo. She was the daughter of the late Charles F. Ancil and Vivian (Hatfield) Chaplin. On December 7, 1956, at her parents’ home, she married Floyd “Boono” Sewell, and he preceded her in death on February 16, 2013. On May 20, 2018 at Crossroads Community Church, she married John R. Snead, and he survives.
Carolyn graduated from Kokomo High School in 1957. She retired from Delco Electronics Housekeeping in 1998, after 30 years of service. She was a member of Crossroads Church. She volunteered for many years at St. Joseph Hospital. She loved to go primitive shopping with her besties and decorating the many houses she had made her home. She loved time spent with her small group from church and her graduating class. She found great joy in the time spent with her beloved family and friends and especially enjoyed her trips to visit her daughter’s family in South Carolina. Carolyn will be remembered as always being willing to lend a helping hand.
In addition to her husband, John, Carolyn is survived by her children, Steve (Cindy) Sewell, Bob (Deana) Sewell, Julie (Kirk) Gillam, and Dave (Jenny) Sewell; grandchildren, Ben Sewell, Zach (Keirstin) Sewell, Lauren (Ryan) Tanselle, Lindsey (Matt) Amayan, Lainey (Kenton) Schroer, Megan (Hales) Swift, Maddie (Justin) Eades, Molly (Nick) Jeffries, Derek Gillam, Abby (Patrick) Davis, and Carly (Sam) Bell; 18 great grandchildren and one on the way; brothers-in-law, Ron Yamaoka, Danny Sewell; sister-in-law, Janet Sewell; many nieces and nephews; bonus daughters, Heather Snead, Jill (John) Quinn, and Sally (Chris) Rathgeb; bonus grandchildren, Erin (Allen Tierney) Quinn, Daniel Quinn, Rob Quinn, Piper Rathgeb, and Chase Rathgeb.
She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Vivian and John Chaplin; father, Charles Ancil; husband of 56 years, Floyd; brothers, Glen Ancil, Dick Ancil, and John Chaplin; brothers-in-law, Jack Sewell, and Ron Sewell; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Yamaoka, Shelby Sewell, and Patsy Sewell.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am Monday, March 27, 2023 at Crossroads Community Church, US 931 & St. Rd. 26, with Pastor Jeff Harlow & Pastor Dick Sanburn officiating. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Community Church. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.
Mark Richard Blacklidge
Mark Richard Blacklidge, 56, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at his home in Noblesville. He was born in Kokomo on December 9, 1966, to Kent H. Blacklidge and Marilyn (Quinnette) Carmichael.
Mark graduated from Kokomo High School in 1986 and received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University where he was an active member of Fi Gamma Delta fraternity. Mark was a hard worker, starting with his first job at his family's newspaper (The Kokomo Tribune), where he worked for many years. Upon graduation from Purdue, he worked in real estate before starting Blacklidge Appraisals which he was the owner of for over 25 years. Mark was also a member of the Y’s Men Club of Kokomo, the Elks, the Kokomo Country Club, many bowling leagues, and the Legion where he built many lasting friendships. Mark’s children, Kelcie and Linsey Blacklidge, brought him much joy. They created many memories together whether it be listening to 80s music and talking exotic cars or being on the water with his family. He was a lifelong avid jet skier, as well as raced in the pro circuit. You would never see him without Maui Jim sunglasses on.
Mark is survived by the mother of their children, Lisa Blacklidge and their two daughters Kelcie Blacklidge and Linsey Blacklidge; his parents Kent H. Blacklidge and Marilyn (Quinnette) Carmichael; siblings Doug (Victoria “Tori”) Blacklidge, Dawn “Kieba” Blacklidge, and Jill (Steve) Glover; nieces and nephews, Aubrey (Adam) Fernando, Douglas (Reagan) Bailey, Zac Glover, Kara (Justin) Carter, Makenna Blacklidge, C.J. Jackson, Macie Blacklidge, and Luke Jackson. Extended family members include Suzanne Jackson Jarrett, Patricia Bailey, and Charles (Rosa) Jackson.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Richard H. & Marian Blacklidge, and Everett & Gladys Quinnette.
A funeral service will take place at 4 pm on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Paul Sutherland officiating. A private burial will take place at a later date. Friends may visit with the family from 1:30 pm to 4 pm on Saturday at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
Ellen Quandt (née Slattery)
Ellen Quandt (née Slattery), age 82, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 23rd, 2023, with family at her side.
Ellen was born to Thomas and Esther (Spinner) Slattery on May 5th, 1940, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She grew up in Waterville, Iowa, with her three brothers. She forged her own path at an early age finding a love for sports, nature, community, and living in the moment. She was fearless and pushed boundaries throughout her life. She excelled in basketball in high school at a time when women’s sports were uncommon. She was chosen as the high school senior prom queen, but she never once mentioned this to our families herself.
She was a 1962 graduate of the Saint Francis School of Nursing, where she met some of her closest and dearest friends and filled her free time with endless adventures. Her classmates described her as a class leader and an exceptional nurse. She worked as an operating room nurse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and later in Kokomo for many years.
Ellen worked hard and played even harder, and she never missed a party. She very much lived in the moment and would travel anywhere on a moment's notice. She was known to take a downhill ski trip whether or not friends could join her. One of her favorite memories was being told by her mother that she couldn’t go skydiving at age seventeen; once she turned eighteen she went without asking. In those days women didn’t skydive often, so she looked ridiculous in a pack that was for someone at least twice her size!
Ellen met her future husband Charles at a party in Milwaukee with mutual friends. On March 7, 1975, Charles and Ellen got married in Milwaukee in a private ceremony in the largest cathedral that they could find, only inviting their small wedding party. They settled into their lifelong home on the Green Acres Golf Course where they developed a loving and supportive community and raised a family with son Brian and daughter Andrea.
There were no strangers in Ellen's life. She made friends quickly and fostered lifelong friendships. She was an even better mother than she was a friend. She instilled her sense of fierce independence and adventure in her children. She understood the importance of listening and making others feel heard, only offering advice when it was requested. Even as a new grandmother, she patiently supported each new crazy parenting idea without judgment.
Ellen was always the first to volunteer for anything when she saw a need: each and every school activity, manning the gift shop at church, delivering food to homebound individuals for the Meals on Wheels program in Kokomo, helping to run the neighborhood swimming pool, or filling in as emergency childcare for anyone in the neighborhood. Ellen even put her nursing background to use as she was called upon by numerous friends and neighbors and family members to treat any number of maladies.
Ellen did almost everything in her life fast. She drove fast. Played euchre fast. Read books fast. Played golf fast. She even liked to brag that on long trips she could manage switching drivers in the car without pulling over just to get to the destination more quickly.
Ellen never skipped an opportunity to travel or experience something new. Sometimes that meant travel plans laid out months in advance; other times it meant hopping in a car without any reservations and just going. She explored Europe with friends and her mother as a young adult. She later returned with Charles. With their children they traveled to Ireland, Canada, and Mexico and saw most of the United States. As an empty-nester, they took many cruises in Europe, South America, Alaska, and Hawaii with friends. Her passion for exploring the world will live on with her children and grandchildren.
Ellen was an avid reader and never went anywhere without a few books to read. Especially in the days before smartphones, she’d fill every spare second of the day enthralled in novel after novel. Whether she was waiting for her daughter during gymnastics practice, picking up her son from swimming practice, or waiting in line at the bank, she was always reading a book. When her children were especially fussy in the car, she would even pull over to the side of the road and resume reading a book until the argument ceased. She took great joy in teaching her children to read and took them to the library so often it felt like a second home.
Ellen also loved the theater and would regularly see shows with her family or her friends at Havens Auditorium, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Beef & Boards Dinner Theater, and Frankfort’s Red Barn Summer Theatre.
Ellen had a witty and sarcastic sense of humor; she loved making people just uncomfortable enough for them to come out of their shells wondering if she was serious. Occasionally she’d sit down at a restaurant and ask a complete stranger if they liked their meal. If they seemed to roll with it, she’d sometimes even ask the person if she could have a bite of their dessert! While battling cancer, she once decided to take off her wig during the middle of a meal at a restaurant. She dryly told everyone it was because she was getting warm and thought it would help her cool off, but the look she gave when retelling the story made it clear she enjoyed getting reactions from people.
Her humor extended to how she raised her kids. When they were young, the family would take trips to Indianapolis to do shopping. She’d take the family to Toys “R” Us but would tell the kids that it’s a “toy museum” and that they couldn’t buy anything because then there wouldn’t be any toys left for other kids to come see. Her kids believed that longer than they should have, but absolutely love sharing that story with their own kids now.
In 2020, Charles and Ellen moved to Michigan to be closer to family and caregiving. They enjoyed spending extra time with family and being involved in the daily lives of their grandchildren. Ellen helped teach all the grandkids to play euchre and make banana bread properly. Friends and former neighbors showered them with cards, well wishes, and phone calls which helped a great deal, but they still did miss their Green Acres home and community. The move to Michigan did afford Charles and Ellen the chance to spend more peaceful time at the lake and some less peaceful time surrounded by granddaughters.
Ellen's fearlessness, unconditional love, and sense of adventure will live on with all of the lives she has touched throughout her life.
Ellen is survived by her son Brian (Tracy) Quandt of Westfield, Indiana, and daughter Andrea (Matthew) Aagesen of Ann Arbor, Michigan; brother Donald (Marilyn) Slattery of Orlando, Florida, and sister-in-law Clare Slattery of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is also survived by five granddaughters: Avery and Emerson Quandt; Payton, Ella, and Charlotte Aagesen. Ellen also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles, and her brothers Thomas and Joseph.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Saturday April 22, 2023, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 East Main Street, Russiaville, IN 46979. A joint memorial service for Ellen and her husband Charles will begin at 1:30 pm on Saturday April 22, 2023, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/) in her name. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.
Charles Quandt
Charles Quandt, age 92, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 6th, 2023. He was born on March 16, 1930, in Woodland, Wisconsin, to Theodore and Alma (Steinberg) Quandt. Growing up on a farm with eleven siblings helped him develop a strong work ethic and fostered his love of outdoors and baseball. He attended a one room schoolhouse for elementary school where he was the only student in his grade.
Charles was a graduate of Hartford High School. He worked on the family farm until he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served from 1951-1955 during the Korean War. He was stationed in England during much of his service and played baseball on the military team and traveled during his free time there. After his discharge, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Charles met his future wife Ellen at a party in Milwaukee with mutual friends. After Charles relocated to Kokomo, Indiana, for work he continued to visit Ellen as often as he could and finally won her over. On March 7, 1975, Charles and Ellen got married in Milwaukee in a private ceremony in a beautiful cathedral (they didn’t invite any family or guests, as they always did everything their own way). They settled into their lifelong home on the Green Acres Golf Course and were very active in the community there.
Charles worked as an engineer for General Motors and Delco Electronics in Kokomo until his retirement in 1993. His focus was largely on materials engineering, and he was particularly proud of a project that developed materials for the NASA space program. Additionally, he ran a successful small business building radio antennas with a couple close friends for over 30 years.
Charles traveled extensively. In his younger years he visited Europe several times with friends and took many hunting, fishing, and golf trips. He enjoyed traveling to Wisconsin and Oregon visiting his nieces and nephews. With his wife and children he traveled to Ireland, Canada, and Mexico and saw most of the United States. As a retiree he took many cruises in Europe, South America, Alaska, and Hawaii with his wife and friends. His passion for exploring the world will live on with his children and grandchildren.
Charles loved teaching his children to play sports and share his love of the outdoors. He spent hours catching pitches, playing wiffle ball, golfing, pulling water skiers behind a boat, and snow skiing in Michigan, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Colorado. He taught the importance of family making the family dinner a priority every night and filled his evening with family games, golf, and watching his kids’ activities.
Despite not taking up golfing until his forties, Charles quickly became an avid golfer and introduced his wife and children to the game. In his retirement, he and some friends volunteered with the Indiana Golf Association as part of a crew that would “rate” golf courses so that people of differing skill could compete fairly by using a handicapping system. They visited courses all over the state and got to play most of them.
Charles was surrounded by wonderful neighbors and friends. He and Ellen enjoyed helping their community by managing the neighborhood pool (even engineering around some maintenance issues) and later delivering food to homebound individuals for the Meals on Wheels program in Kokomo. He loved spending the mornings on the golf course or even just having coffee with the guys at the clubhouse; evenings were spent on the deck with a beer. They would never turn down a lunch invitation with friends. Charles took pride in grilling a perfect medium-rare steak, keeping a meticulous lawn and a spotless garage, and tinkering with anything that needed fixing.
Charles and Ellen enjoyed spending time with family, especially their five granddaughters. They had a full schedule of birthday parties, soccer games, school performances, and many other activities and managed to juggle it all (across two states) with seeming ease. Charles never missed an opportunity to playfully tease his granddaughters; he never missed an opportunity to enjoy ice cream with them either!
In 2020, Charles and Ellen moved to Michigan to be closer to family and caregiving. They enjoyed spending extra time with family and being involved in the daily lives of their grandchildren. Friends and former neighbors showered them with cards, well wishes, and phone calls which helped a great deal, but they still did miss their Green Acres home and community. The move to Michigan did afford Charles and Ellen the chance to spend more peaceful time at the lake with family.
Charles is survived by his son Brian (Tracy) Quandt of Westfield, Indiana, and daughter Andrea (Matthew) Aagesen of Ann Arbor, Michigan; sisters Marion Bloch of Portland, Oregon, and Loris (Tom) Gabel of Sussex, Wisconsin. He is also survived by five granddaughters: Avery and Emerson Quandt; Payton, Ella, and Charlotte Aagesen. Charles also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ellen; brothers Vernon, Marvin, Theodore, Harlan, Ronald, and an infant; and sisters Mildred, Elvira and Beatrice.
Friends are invited to visit with the family from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Saturday April 22, 2023, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 East Main Street, Russiaville, IN 46979. A joint memorial service for Charles and his wife Ellen will begin at 1:30 on Saturday April 22, 2023, at the funeral home. Military honors will be provided by the United States Air Force and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team to highlight Charles’ military service. Until then, grab a bowl of butter pecan ice cream to celebrate Charles! In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to Semper Fi & America's Fund (https://thefund.org/donate/) in his name. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.