Obituaries

Jun 5, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Edward S. Leland, 71, of Van Wert, died at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert.

He was born June 11, 1939, in Saginaw, Mich., to the late Betty (Brown) Leland and Ward Leland. His wife, Patricia Ann (Opliger) Leland, survives. The couple was married...

Jun 5, 2011

"Bud" Forrest Emerson Hayes, 88, of Rockford, Ohio, died Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Community Health Professionals Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center. Bud was born July 2, 1922 in Mercer County, Ohio to Forest and Ellen (Foor) Hayes. On September 8, 1946, he married Betty Karnehm, who survives in Rockford. Surviving in addition to his wife, Betty, are three children:...

May 30, 2011

KENNETH DALE HICKS, SR., 72, of Fort Wayne, passed away Monday, May 30, 2011, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born June24, 1938, in Harrisburg, Ill., he was the son of the late Richard and Dena (Colbert) Hicks. He was a retired Veteran of the U.S. Navy. He also retired from Magnavox, where he worked as a Quality Control Engineer....

May 29, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Edwin Dale "E.D." Purk, 83, of Van Wert, died at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, May 29, 2011, at the Van Wert Co. Hospital, Van Wert.

He was born May 5, 1928, in Allen County, Ind., to the late Agnes C. (Beauchot) Purk and Harley O. Purk. His wife, Ruth (Heath) Purk, died Aug. 25, 1990....

May 28, 2011

Marjorie Ann Ayers, 68, of San Diego, California, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, died at 1:30 a.m., May 28, 2011, in San Diego. She was born May 27, 1943 in Van Wert County, Ohio, to Ford E. & B. Carol (Manley) Ayers. She had lived the past 40 years in San Diego, after leaving Rockford. She had worked in several gift...

May 21, 2011

CONVOY, Ohio - Margaret "Peg" M. Beard, 78, of Convoy, died at 9:35 a.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Van Wert County Hospital.

She was born July 11, 1932, in Van Wert, Ohio, to the late Mary Esther (Caris) Dunlap and Berl Dunlap. Her husband, Carl William Beard, is deceased.

Survivors include:

Children - Penny (Mark)...

May 21, 2011

CONVOY, Ohio - Harold R. Etgen, 76, of Convoy, died at 3:13 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, Van Wert.

He was born Jan. 29, 1935, in Van Wert County, Ohio, to the late Mary Etgen and A.J. Etgen. His wife, Rosanna (Purk) Etgen, survives of Convoy.

Other survivors include a son:...

May 21, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Herbert D. Kephart, 89, of Van Wert, died at 3:25 a.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Venice Regional Hospital, Venice, Fla.

He was born Oct. 29, 1921, in Elida, Ohio, to the late Minnie (Carr) Kephart and Ross Kephart. His wife, E. Louise (McGannon) Kephart, survives of Van Wert, Ohio. They were married Nov....

May 20, 2011

Rita Anne Strukamp, 50, Rockford, died Friday, May 20, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. at Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford. She was born July 19, 1960, in Van Wert, Ohio, to Elmer and Virginia (Houser) Strukamp. Surviving are her mother: Virginia Strukamp, Rockford; two sons: Chad Strukamp, Rockford, and William Black, Celina; one daughter: Alyssa Black, Rockford; Life Long Companion: Robert...

May 17, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Colleen M. Clark died Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

Colleen was born in Van Wert on March 22, 1930, to Forrest G. and Wave A. Oswalt who preceded her in death. She was married to Dan Clark on Jan. 24, 1953, in Van Wert, and he passed away on Sept. 28, 2010.

Survivors include...

May 15, 2011

GREENVILLE, Ohio - Eileen M. Brotherwood, 85, of Greenville, formerly of Convoy, Ohio, died at 7:56 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville.

She was born July 21, 1925, in Northfleet, Kent, England, to the late Minnie (Crowhurst) Potter and Robert George Potter. Her husband, P. James Brotherwood, died Jan. 7, 1993. They...

May 9, 2011

Harry Lee Long, 70, of Rockford, Ohio, died on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 10:18 p.m. at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio, where he was a patient. He was born September 6, 1940 in Rockford, to Ross E. and Lucille (Caywood) Long. On April 29, 2000, he married Roberta K. (Birdie) Houser, and she survives in Rockford....

May 4, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Lois Jean Davies went to be with her Lord and Savior at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at Hearth & Home in Van Wert, Ohio.

She was born on Dec. 4, 1922, in Van Wert, to J. Herbert and Bernice (Ringwald) Davies, the eldest of five daughters. She taught fourth grade at Anthony...

May 4, 2011

Richard Lee Wiseman, son of Waldo Wiseman and Violet nAC.e Girod, was born on June 13, 1939, in Decatur, Ind. He was reborn as a Child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism. On Dec. 2, 1979, he publicly confessed his faith and was confirmed into the Lutheran Church where he received the precious gift of the Lord's...

May 2, 2011

EVANS, Ga. - Mr. Kenneth Dale Robey, 78, loving husband, father and grandfather, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 2, 2011.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert, Ohio with Rev. S.T. Adkins officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:30...

May 1, 2011

Carl R. Thatcher, 89, of Van Wert, died at 8:28 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born October 29, 1921, in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Harvey G. and Esther (Baker) Thatcher. He married Eloise (Carlo) Thatcher, who survives in Van Wert.

Mr....

Apr 29, 2011

VAN WERT, Ohio - Besse C. Adams, 87, of Van Wert, died at 4:40 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2011, at Hearth & Home in Van Wert.

She was born July 28, 1923, in Paulding County, Ohio, to the late Loma (Endsley) McClure and Clyde McClure. Her husband, Rudy Z. Adams, died Aug. 19, 2010.

Survivors include her...

Apr 29, 2011

Vera Anita (Wilson) McElfresh, 58, of Bluffton, Indiana, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, died Friday, April 29, 2011, at 12:03 a.m. at Lutheran Hospital Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She was born on September 9, 1952, to David J. and Louverna (Hensley) Wilson. Surviving are six brothers: James Wilson, Celina, Ohio, Henry (Imy) Wilson, Mark Center, Ohio, Otto Wilson, Celina, Ohio, David (Lina)...

Apr 23, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Anthony R. "Tony" Clouse, 67, of Knoxville, died at 6:25 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the Ft. Sanders Medical Center in Knoxville from complications of cancer diagnosed in 2009.

He was born July 25, 1943, in Van Wert, Ohio, to Marge H. (Severn) Clouse, who survives in Van Wert, and Regis W. Clouse, who...

Apr 23, 2011

Bessie G. Kraner, 82, of Ohio City, died at 10:55 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Ind.

She was born September 15, 1928, in Fort Wayne, the daughter of the late Noble H. and Hazel Faye (Corwin) Judge. On December 24, 1947, she married Dick J. Kraner, who preceded her in...