Former Chesterton resident Camille Taschner Morgan, 96, died Friday, February 27, 2009, at Summer Trace nursing home in Carmel, Indiana.

She was born on September 10, 1912 in Hamburg, Germany. In 1914 her father was called to serve his country, Austria, in World War I. He was taken Russian prisoner and was listed as lost, never to be found. Camille’s mother, Marie Rinken Taschner, then decided to return to her family on the island of Sylt, Germany, in the North Sea. There, and in Austria, Camille received her early schooling.

On September 4, 1923, in Hamburg, she and her mother boarded the vessel Reliance bound for New York. They joined her uncle, Peter Rinken, and his family in Chicago, where she attended school and worked until she married.

On June 27, 1936 in Chicago, she married Milan Morgan, who preceded her in death in 1982. The couple moved to Chesterton in 1941.

While also raising her family, Camille worked with her husband at Morgan Construction Supply Co. at Ninth and Broadway in Chesterton. She also served as translator and secretary for Coronel Wentworth of Furnessville. In 1969, they retired to Dune Acres. In 1996, she joined her daughter in Carmel, Indiana.

She is survived by two daughters, Juliet M. Ratchford, husband Roy Ratchford, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Pamela J. Welker of Carmel, Indiana. Three granddaughters survive; Lucinda Bordonaro (husband Frank), Camilla Fortune (husband Jack), Milah Sutton (husband Ryan), and two great-grandchildren also survive. One baby daughter, Pamela Gale Morgan, born February 27, 1944, preceded her in death.

Camille had a zest for life, vivacious personality, and deep interest in world events. She will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Services will be held later at White-Love Funeral Home with burial in the Chesterton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army of Indiana.

Posted 3/5/2009