With full hearts and deep gratitude, we celebrate the life of our mother, grandmother, and great Memaw, Mary Etta (Ronk) Chase, 96, of Franklin, and formerly of Ladoga, Crawfordsville and Lafayette. She passed away peacefully Friday, April 17, 2026, at Otterbein Franklin Seniorlife Community in Franklin.
She was born April 7, 1930, in Ladoga, to Paul and Maude (Kessler) Ronk. Mary Etta married the love of her life, Marion Emery Chase, on April 2, 1949; he preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2013.
She graduated as Salutatorian of her class in 1948 from Ladoga High School. Mary Etta served as an administrative assistant for Crawfordsville High School, where she thoroughly enjoyed working with the students and later assisted professors in the department of engineering at Purdue University. It was there she gained a greater perspective of the world by working side by side with professors from all over the world.
When she retired, she and Marion drove their fifth wheel to Alaska through Canada by way of the Alaskan highway. She still talked about this excursion as a “trip of a lifetime!” She was always a hard working member to the churches she belonged to. In the early years at Ladoga Christian Church, where she served as church secretary, and later after moving to Lafayette at Brady Lane Church of Christ.
Mary Etta enjoyed sewing, making clothing for her children, crafts, and oil panting on canvas as well as china painting. Her children and grands have been the thankful recipients of many of these works of art, which they cherish.
Mom’s life wasn’t always easy, but you would never know it by the way she carried herself-with strength, grace, and an unshakable faith if God. Her strength became one of her greatest gifts to all of us. She taught us how to be strong, how to love deeply, and how to keep the faith even when life was hard. She loved fiercely and she showed that love to her family in a thousand meaningful ways through her stories, her encouragement, or simply the way she lived. We all felt seen, valued, and cherished. Her grandchildren especially want to thank her for her love, stories, traditions, and laughter, which they will carry with them and share with their families. They are at peace knowing she has been reunited with their dear Grandpa.
Survivors include her children, Karen Koenig (Joe) of Columbus, Indiana, Alan Chase (Susan) of Leesburg, Florida, and Kimberly Van Ostran (Brad) of Lafayette; six grandchildren, Kristen Fossum (Mark) of Palm Harbor, Florida, Joseph Ryan Koenig (Katrin) of Decatur, Georgia, Jessica Reynolds of Lafayette, Christopher Chase (Dominic) of Lafayette, Jennifer Chase of Indianapolis and Bryan Van Ostran of Lafayette; eight great-grandchildren, Ethan Medcalf, Bryce Van Ostran, Reagan Fossum, Lucas Fossum, Lucy Koenig, Sara Chase, Marcus Chase and Parker Chase.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sister Ruth Johnson; and brother James Ronk, as well as most of her close friends, except for Mercedes Roots, 96, who has been a dear and faithful friend since high school.
Chaplain Deb Baker will conduct a service at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Wright Chapel at Otterbein Franklin Seniorlife Community, 1070 W. Jefferson Street, Franklin. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday, April 25 at the chapel. Burial will follow the service at Ladoga Cemetery in Ladoga.
The family request memorial contributions be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Indiana Chapter, 8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd. Suite 201, Indianapolis, IN 46240 or the International Bipolar Foundation, 1050 Rosecrans Street, Suite M, San Diego, CA 92106 or at www.ibpf.org.
Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com.
