Obituaries

Jun 12, 2018

Joan M. Zinn, 87 died at 8:15 pm, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at the James Cancer Hospital. She was born

April 5, 1931, in Oil City, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Harold and Mabel (Harris) McNamara. On

June 17, 1950, in Convoy, she married Robert W. Zinn who preceded her in death on September...

Jun 12, 2018

Linda L. Ralston, 71, of Van Wert, Ohio, passed away 5:56 AM Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at Lima Memorial Hospital. She was born December 9, 1946 in Van Wert, Ohio to the late Robert E. and Lillian M. (Wagoner) Eversole.

A 1965 graduate of Van Wert High School, Linda went on to marry the love of her...

May 29, 2018

John L. Hileman, 77, of Rockford, Ohio passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio, where he had been a patient. John was born on February 2, 1941, in Van Wert County, Ohio, the son of Isaac R. and Wilma (Swoveland) Hileman, both of whom preceded him in death. John graduated from...

May 28, 2018

Janet Elaine (Sowers) Poling Ray, 92, of Troy and, formerly, of Van Wert entered heaven on May 28, 2018.  Janet was a homemaker, secretary with Eaton Corporation (Aeroquip), worked at the Van Wert Times-Bulletin newspaper, and also worked at the Continental Can Company as a young woman.  She was a devoted wife, loving mother, adoring grandma, supporting aunt, trophy-winning...

May 28, 2018

Ruth A. Speakman, of Delphos, went to meet her Lord and Savior Monday morning May 28, 2018.  She was born May 16,1955 in Van Wert, OH to her parents George “Tom” & Jennie L. (Foster) Speakman who are both deceased.

Surviving are 3 sisters, Gina Speakman, Van Wert, OH, Linda Speakman, Delphos, OH, and Emma (Doug) Fosnaugh,...

May 27, 2018

Allen R. Pardon, 68, of Van Wert, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2018 surrounded by his loving family at his lake house in Burr Oak, Michigan. He was born March 22, 1950, in Romeo, MI, to Dwight John Pardon and Irene (Glass) Oakley, who both precede him in death.

A fully disabled veteran, Allen served with the...

May 22, 2018

Coralie Eileen Severn Wilson, 92, of Van Wert, died May 22, 2018, at Hearth & Home of Van Wert.  She was born in Van Wert to Dane S. and Grace V. (Dreyer) Severn.  In 1946 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, she married Robert (Bob) Warren Wilson.  They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2016 just weeks...

May 20, 2018

Deanna Kay Oechsle, 71, was called home to the Lord on Sunday morning May 20,2018.  She was born June 7, 1946 in Van Wert County, Ohio to James E. & Betty (Youtsey) Allen who preceded Deanna in death.  On June 6, 1967 she married Larry Paul Oechsle who survives.  Other survivors are a daughter Lori Lynn Straley, a grandson...

May 12, 2018

Richard “Dick” G. Preston, 86, of Van Wert, Ohio died at 8:15 PM on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.  He was born June 8, 1931 in Paulding County, Ohio to the late Eldon and Mildred (Mead) Preston.  On September 3, 1949 he married the former Virginia (Woebbeking) and she survives ofm  Van Wert....

May 10, 2018

Melvin A. Maas, 84, of Van Wert, Ohio, went to his Heavenly home at 10:42 p.m. Thursday, May 10, 2018 in Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born July 2, 1933 in Menno, South Dakota to the late Edmund and Hedwig (Schamber) Maas. On June 7, 1957, Mel married Carol Hershberger and she survives.​

​Mel is survived by...

May 9, 2018

Joseph W. Sauer, 77, of St. Petersburg, Florida, formerly of Pickerington, OH, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Woodside Hospice Center in Pinellas Park, Florida. He was born August 30, 1940, to the late Joseph W. and Clara E. (Wippel) Sauer.

A 1958 graduate of Aquinas High School, Joe was raised in Columbus Southend. He worked...

May 5, 2018

John E. Lugabihl, 56, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at the Van Wert In-Patient Hospice, where he had been a patient for a short time.  He was born on December 13, 1961, in Celina, Ohio, the son of James E. and Carol (Hites) Lugabihl, who survive in Elida, Ohio.  John graduated from...

May 4, 2018

Robert “Bob” L. Exline, Sr., 79, of Van Wert, Ohio died at 3:18 PM on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.  He was born May 9, 1938 in Van Wert, Ohio to the late Charles W. and Mildred L. (Richards) Exline.  On April 21, 1963 he married the former Cheryl “Cheri” D. Runnion.

Apr 30, 2018

Joan Rager, 90, of Van Wert, Ohio died at 3:45 AM on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice.  She was born November 12, 1927 in Van Wert, Ohio to the late Leo and Elizabeth (Roessner) Ross.  On April 12, 1947 she married Glen C. Rager and he preceded her in death on June 12, 2009.

Apr 28, 2018

Luanne (Ritchie) Metzger, “Grandma LuLu”, 65, of Van Wert, OH, went to join her Lord and Savior at 6:58PM, Saturday April 28,2018, to experience eternal life where she can have the sun on her face and work in her yard with her beautiful flowers. That was her love- Her happy place.  She was born June 24, 1952 in Van...

Apr 26, 2018

Thomas M. Avery, age 70, of Rockford, Ohio, died early Thursday morning at Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio.  He was born May 23, 1947, in Van Wert, Ohio,  the son of Richard P. and Mary (Provci) Avery, both who have preceded in death.  He graduated from Parkway High School in 1965, and on September 16, 1972, married the love...

Apr 21, 2018

Marjorie L. Brodbeck, 75, of Willshire, Ohio, passed away early Saturday morning, April 21, 2018,  at Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Ohio, where she was a patient.  She was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on May 11, 1942, the daughter of Charles and Norma (German) Zizelman.  Marjorie graduated from Rockford High School, and on July 1, 1961, she married...

Apr 20, 2018

Barbara Jean (Burch) Long died peacefully in Fort Wayne, Indiana on April 20, 2018. She was 86.

Barbara was born on June 18, 1931 at the Brown family farm in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio.  As the eldest of seven daughters, and sister to two brothers, Barbara developed a deep sense of and dedication to her family. ...

Apr 19, 2018

William Allen “Bill” Feasby, 79, of Van Wert died at 4:58 PM, Thursday, April 19, 2018 at Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  He was born August 7, 1938 in Van Wert to the late William J. and Evelyn L. (Harden) Feasby.  On August 5, 1996 he married Alice (Rempfer) and she survives.

Bill is also survived by...

Apr 19, 2018

Garry D. Miller, 76, of Van Wert, passed away Thursday morning, April 19, 2018 at Hearth and Home in Van Wert.  He was born August 14, 1941 in Grover Hill, Ohio to the late Samuel E. and Rheba (Thomas) Miller.  On June 17, 1962 he married C. Cleona (McClure) and she survives of Van Wert.

He is...