Velma A. DeKoninck, 81 years old of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at her residence. Velma was born on Sunday, August 8, 1926 in Yoder, Indiana, the daughter of the late John M. Schuhler and the late Marie M. (Vachon) Schuhler. She married the late Joseph A. DeKoninck on November 6, 1948 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and he passed away on November 15, 1968. Velma was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hessen Cassel and a member of the church choir; Hi-C's home Economic Club; Women of the Moose Lodge #1311 in Decatur for over 30 years; and the Poe Fire Department Auxiliary for 55 years.Velma retired from the Poe Tavern in 1990 after 24 years of service. Surviving are her daughter, Mary Ann (Steven) Bradtmueller of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, James (Lori) DeKoninck of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, Kenneth (Deb) DeKoninck of Spencerville, Indiana; son, Thomas (Becky) DeKoninck of Decatur, Indiana; son, Gerald (Marlene) DeKoninck of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; daughter, Dorothy (Thomas) Cole of Ossian, Indiana; son, Stanley (Pam) DeKoninck of Auburn, Indiana; daughter, Marie (Michael) Letizia of Toledo, Ohio; son, Anthony DeKoninck of Ossian, Indiana; daughter, Betty (Scott) Schroeder of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; son, Matthew (Rhonda) DeKoninck of Perrysburg, Ohio; daughter, Angela Bailey of Noblesville, Indiana; brother, John (Barb) Schuhler of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; sister, Delores ("Jack") Miller of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; brother, Richard (Betty) Schuhler of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; brother, Edward (Dodie) Schuhler of Avilla, Indiana; sister, Marjorie Belcher of Kettle Island, Kentucky; twenty-one grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren. Preceding Velma in death were two sisters, Edna Warkala and Rosemary Nicole; five brothers, Robert, Harold, Donald, Delbert, and William Schuhler. A Family Prayer Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 29, 2007 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana followed by at 2:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in the St. Joseph Catholic Church-Hessen Cassel with Father Thomas Lombardi officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Hessen Cassel. Friends will be received from 1-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Friday, December 28, 2007 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana and from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. A Rosary service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Preferred memorials are to Masses, St. Joseph School, Church Choir, or the Poe Fire Dept.
