Elise S. Dersch, 104 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 8:05 a.m. Sunday in Woodcrest Nursing Center. Elise was born on August 30, 1902 in Adams County, Indiana the daughter of the late Otto E. Bleeke and the late Emilie R. (Steele) Bleeke. She married Clarence J. Dersch on April 7, 1928 in the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Decatur. He passed away on July 22, 1984. She was a homemaker and had formerly worked at the General Electric Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana for 7 ½ years. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur where she was on the Altar Guild. Elise was active in the Lutheran Womens Missionary League and the Lutheran Laymans League. Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy M. Gage of Decatur, Indiana, daughter, Arlene R. Bentz of Decatur, Indiana, son Wilber C. Dersch of Decatur, Indiana, fourteen grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and thirteen great great- grandchildren. Preceding Elise in death were three brothers, Raymond, Grover & Morris Bleeke, five sisters, Gretchen Krueckeberg, Nora Scaer, Vera Sealscott, Marcella Kirchner & Erna Weiland, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in the Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur with Pastor Scott Bruick officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur and one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the church. Preferred memorials are to the Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur.
