Christopher E. Schenkel

Christopher E. Schenkel, age 82, of Leesburg, IN, passed away Sunday, September 11, 2005 at Lutheran Hospital of Ft. Wayne.

He was born August 21, 1923 in Bippus, IN to Philip and Theresa (Sell) Schenkel.

Chris moved to Leesburg in 1971 from New York. He traveled extensively as a Sportscaster. He was a WWII US Army Veteran serving in the Philippines and Korea, a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 253 in North Webster, Inducted into 16 Halls of Fame, awarded an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement, Honorary Chief of the SAC/Fox Tribe and Miami Nation of Indians, Graduate of Purdue University, Honorary Doctorates from Purdue, Ball State and Rose Hulman Universities, Presidential Gold Medal from University of Detroit.

January 2, 1945 he married Francesca L. Delfino, and she survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Tina Schenkel of Deerfield Beech, FL, two sons, Ted (Kris) Schenkel of Warsaw, John (Lisa) Schenkel of North Webster, three grandchildren, and a sister, Florence Schmalzried of Bippus, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and three brothers.

Services will be held 10:30AM Thursday, September 15, 2005 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 860 Cherry St., Huntington, IN, 46750. Burial will follow in St. Johns United Church of Christ Cemetery in Bippus, IN with Military Honors. Friends may call 4-8PM Wednesday at the Mishler-Eastlund Funeral Home, Harris Chapel, 7458 E 1000 N, Syraucse, IN 46567.

Memorials may be given to Haskell Indian Nations University, 155 Indian Ave., Lawrence, KS 66046.