Stratford Area Deaths
Sheila Bentley
Sheila Elizabeth Bentley, 75, died July 20. She taught for the Huron-Perth Separate School Board for many years and was an active member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. She was the wife of 57 years to Fred Bentley of Stratford. She is survived by her children Susan Haveman and her husband Harry of Walkerton, Margaret Sarino and her husband John of Mississauga and Christopher Bentley and his wife Lisa of Burlington. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church on Friday, July 25 at 11 a.m.

Edma Brubacher
Edma Brubacher, 97, died at Greenwood Court on July 20. She was one of eight children of George and Lucinda Fusee and was born in Winchester. She moved to Stratford after the First World War. She graduated from the Stratford Normal School in 1930 and taught in Bridgeport. She did missionary work in Lebanon and after marrying Elgin Brubacher, the couple was posted to Nigeria in 1940. Her husband died three years into their ministry but she continued her work for 40 years, speaking across North America once she retired. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held at Elgin Missionary Church, which was named after her husband. Interment in Stayner Union Cemetery.

Maudie Chipp-Smith
Maudie Chipp-Smith, 85, of Stratford died July 21. She was the wife of the late Sidney Chipp-Smith who predeceased her in 2003. She is survived by her children Eva Hayes and her husband Ivan of Shakespeare, Brian and his wife Florence of Dresden, Edward and his wife Joan of Toronto and Adrian and his wife Heather of Beaverton. A funeral service was held at W.G. Young Funeral Home. Interment in Avondale Cemetery.

Mildred Schaefer
Mildred Johanna Schaefer, 91, of Spruce Lodge died July 22. She was born in Logan Township, the daughter of the late Michael Haggarty and the former Margaret White. She and her late husband Albert Schaefer farmed in Ellice Township, retiring to Church Street in Stratford. She was involved with the Red Cross Homemakers and the Gadshill Women’s Institute. She was a lifelong member of the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and the CWL. She is survived by her son Kenneth Schaefer. A visitation will be held at W.G. Young Funeral Home on Friday, July 25 from 3-5 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church on Saturday at 11 a.m. Interment in Avondale Cemetery.

Gregory Valcke
Gregory Joseph Valcke, 58, of Stratford, died at his home on July 18. He was the husband of the former Catherine Walsh whom he married in 1985. He was born in Windsor, a son of Dolores Valcke and the late Andrew Valcke. He graduated with a professional engineering degree from the University of Windsor. He was an engineer with Chrysler Canada in Windsor until the late 1970s and then spent the next 25 years at Fram in Stratford, carrying many titles but best known as manager of manufacturing engineering. He developed his first patent in 2000. He owned and operated Crescent Hill Gallery on Ontario Street for eight years. He retired from Fram in 2005 and began Valcke Consulting Services. His love for baseball began when he was a boy and continued until his final weeks as he continued to play slo-pitch. A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.

Murray Vollmershausen
Murray Junior Vollmershausen, 67, of Stratford died at the Stratford General Hospital on July 20. He was born in Woodstock, a son of the late Wilfred Vollmershausen and the former Stella Kipp. He was employed with the City of Stratford for 35 years until his retirement in 2000. He was the husband of the late Dorothy (Weber) Vollmershausen who predeceased him in 2004. He is survived by his children Kevin Vollmershausen of Langley, B.C. and Leanne Vollmershausen of Stratford. He is also survived by his partner Carroll Atwell. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter Laurie Lynn Vollmershausen. A funeral service will be held at W.G. Young Funeral Home on Friday, July 25 at 1 p.m.