Obituaries

Jan 1, 2022

Guadalupe Benavidez Aguirre "Lupe", 78, of Van Wert passed away at 8:12 AM on Saturday, January 01, 2022 at Defiance Hospital Emergency Room. She was born on April 06, 1943, in Nixon, TX, to the late Ramon and Herlinda (Trigo) Benavidez. On January 07, 1961, she married the love of her life, Armando G. Aguirre, who passed away on...

Dec 30, 2021

Carl Eugene Speelman, 86, of Van Wert passed away at 10:15 PM on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. He was born on March 12, 1935, in Van Wert, to the late Elmer and Mable (Smith) Speelman. On July 03, 1954, he married the love of his life, Rosalyn (Fisher) Speelman. Together, they shared...

Dec 30, 2021

Cletus W. Schmidt, 83, of Rockford passed away on December 30, 2021 at Van Wert Health. He was born on April 12, 1938, in Coldwater, Ohio the son of the late Vincent Schmidt and Elvira (Ontrop) Schmidt. On October 18, 1961, he married the former Irene Kuether, who survives. Cletus was a 1956 graduate of Fort Recovery High School....

Dec 29, 2021

Daniel G. Frantom 72 passed away at Defiance Hospice Center on December 29, 2021. And entered the gates of heaven after almost a year long fight with cancer. He was born April 11, 1949, in Ohio, he was adopted by Delbert Frantom and Marie (Wurst) Frantom at the age of 3. Both, who proceed him in death. He married...

Dec 29, 2021

Richard P. Horner, 92, of Van Wert, passed away December 29, 2021. He was born April 1, 1929 in Muncie, IN to Verta Scrogham and Harry Horner, both deceased. He married Carolee Schnelker on September 4, 1954, and she survives in Van Wert. He was a Korean War veteran and worked at Federal Mogul until he retired in 1990....

Dec 29, 2021

Robert H. Baker, 81, passed away Wednesday December 29, 2021 at Van Wert Hospital. Robert was born to Delmer and Bessie (Parrish) Baker on September 26, 1940 in Paulding County. He was a graduate of Van Wert Highschool and later joined the United States Army National Guard. He married the love of his life, and partner for over 59...

Dec 28, 2021

Mary J. Hanson, 72, of Haviland passed away on December 28, 2021 at Parkview Medical Center in Ft Wayne. She was born on August 29, 1949, in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of the late Roy Anthony and Mary Jeanette (Laing) Hahn. She married Paul Hanson, who survives. Together, they shared many years of memories. Mary was a homemaker. Mary...

Dec 25, 2021

Julia A Connor, 80, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Christmas Morning, December 25, 2021 at Parkview Hospital Randallia. She was born on December 06, 1941, in Wren, to the late Harvey and Marjorie (Worthington) Brown. Julia attended Wren High School and went on to retire from Aeroquip. She was a member of the The Ridge Church in Fort Wayne...

Dec 24, 2021

Dawn M. Minyoung, 62, of Van Wert, passed away at 5:25 PM on Friday, December 24, 2021 at Van Wert Health. She was born on September 24, 1959, in Toledo, Ohio. Dawn enjoyed playing bingo. Surviving are her children, Josh Minyoung and Amanda Minyoung, both of Van Wert; and her grandchildren, Zachariah, Courtney, Kyler and Gabriel. Services will be...

Dec 24, 2021

Rodrigo J. "Jesse" Martinez, 66, of Van Wert passed away on Friday, December 24, 2021 at Van Wert Health. He was born on April 29, 1955, in Hondo, Texas, the son of the late Leandro and Georgia (Rodriguez) Martinez. Jesse retired from Mattel Corporation in Ft. Wayne after many years of service. He had formerly attended White Horse Church in...

Dec 22, 2021

Edwin Dean Long, 83, of Rockford passed away after a short illness at Mercy Health St. Rita's Medical Center on December 22, 2021. He was born on July 10, 1938, in Rockford, the son of the late Ross and Lucille (Caywood) Long. On August 10, 1963, he married the former Karen R Collins, who passed away on December 25, 2018....

Dec 19, 2021

Brenda J. Cullen, 67, of Van Wert passed away at 5:50 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Mercy Health- St. Rita's in Lima, Ohio. She was born on March 30, 1954, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Elvin Arnold and Erma Ruth (Voyles) Height. She married David L. Cullen, who survives. Together, they shared over 31 years...

Dec 18, 2021

Betty Jane Gilgenbach passed away at her home Saturday, December 18, 2021. She was born on July 21, 1930, in Leipsic, Ohio to Edwin and Margaret (Winkler) Selhorst who both preceded her in death. She married Milferd Gilgenbach in 1949, he also preceded her in death in 2002. She was a graduate of Leipsic High School. She was a longtime...

Dec 14, 2021

Van Wert Alice " Allie" Kuhlman, 85, passed away under hospice care on December 14, 2021. Allie lived her life by these few words, "As God's very own daughter in Christ Jesus, you bloom in God's garden." She was born May 4, 1936 in Wapakoneta, Ohio to the late Ben and Viola (Bishop) Doseck. She married Calvin Jacobs in...

Dec 13, 2021

Larry R. Jewell, 76, of Van Wert, passed away at 4:53 PM on December 13, 2021 at Van Wert Health Emergency Room. He was born on May 01, 1945, in Haviland, the son of the late Cecil and Ruth (Goeltzenleuchter) Jewell. On November 12, 1979, he married Pam Schaffner. Larry enjoyed black powder rifle shooting and was an avid fisherman....

Dec 12, 2021

Van Wert Bonnie L. Coburn, 64, passed away December 12, 2021 after a short battle with cancer. She was born May 13, 1957 to the late Charles and RaeDean (Tyler) Benner. She later married the love of her life and best friend for over twenty three years, James "Paul" Coburn. Bonnie was a graduate of Van Wert High School...

Dec 10, 2021

H. Franklin VanHorn, 92, of Columbus, formerly of Van Wert, passed away at 8:02 PM on Friday, December 10, 2021 at Grant Medical Center. He was born on July 20, 1929, in American Township, to his late parents, Herbert and Candace (Desenberg) Van Horn. On September 10, 1950, he married the love of his life, S. Lorene Brentlinger. Together, they...

Dec 9, 2021

Van Wert Eva G. Braden, 83, passed away peacefully at her home, Thursday December 9, 2021, surrounded by the love of her daughters. She was born August 15, 1938 to the late Glen and Laura (Foote) Entrekin. Eva worked for many years at the Van Wert County Hospital where she worked in finance. Eva attended St. Marks Lutheran Church...

Dec 9, 2021

Marilynn J. (Foust) McCracken, 100, of Van Wert, passed away at 1:05 PM on December 9, 2021, at Vancrest of Delphos, four days prior to her 101st birthday. She was born on December 13, 1920, in Convoy, Ohio, the daughter of the late James Elmer and Helen (Welch) Foust. On January 20, 1939, she married William David McCracken, who...

Dec 5, 2021