Obituaries

Jul 21, 2016

Debora A. Thatcher, 61, of Van Wert, died at 7:57 a.m. Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice. She was born Dec. 25, 1954, in Lima, Ohio, to Elizabeth (Carder) Wolford, who survives of Van Wert, and Duane Wolford, who survives of Van Wert.

Her husband, Ben Thatcher, who also survives of Van Wert.

Other...

Jul 20, 2016

Richard W. "Beakie" Hoffhines, 84, of Rockford died Wednesday morning, July 20, 2016 at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford. He was born on November 11, 1931 to Donald and Elizabeth (Smith) Hoffhines in Rockford, Ohio. He graduated from Rockford High School in 1950, and on August 13, 1952, he married Sharon Joan Cryer. She preceded in death on...

Jul 17, 2016

Jacquelyn Brittsan, 52, of rural Harrison, Michigan, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2016, after complications from an off road vehicle accident. Jacquelyn was born Feb. 2, 1964, in Warren, Michigan, the daughter of Fred Kenneth and Theresa Ann (Toth) Lowry. Jacquelyn graduated in 1982 from Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Indiana. On Aug. 19, 2000, in Branch County, Michigan, Jacquelyn...

Jul 12, 2016

John “Johnny” Walker passed away unexpectedly on July 12, 2016. Beloved husband of Martha; Ex-husband of Evelyn; Father of Ken (Judy), Douglas, Lisa (Chuck) and Wayne (Anna); Stepfather of Connie Huffman and Douglas Droll (Karen); Thirteen grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Johnny and Martha were married on March 7, 1993.

A member of the Canadian Merchant...

Jul 11, 2016

John E. Franke, 73, of Grover Hill, passed away at 6:40 a.m. Monday, July 11, 2016, at Van Wert Manor.

He was born February 3, 1943, in Van Wert, the son of Erwin and Phyllis (Miller) Franke, who both preceded him in death. On April 8, 1977, he married Alberta L. (Taylor) Franke, who survives.

Other survivors...

Jul 8, 2016

Marilyn Sue Bartz of Van Wert, passed away with family by her side at 2:15 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2016, at Vancrest of Convoy, Ohio. She was born Sept. 24, 1927, in Van Wert, to Manota (Thompson) Edwards and Kenneth B. Edwards. Her parents preceded her in death.

Her husband, Verne Cadell Bartz, died Nov. 17, 2014. They...

Jul 8, 2016

Scott M. Bowen, 59, of Rockford, Ohio, died Friday, July 8, 2016, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. He was born in Van Wert, Ohio, on March 9, 1957, the son of Jack and Patricia Sue (Trisel) Bowen, both who have preceded in death. Scott graduated from Parkway High School in 1976, and on August 29, 1980, he...

Jul 7, 2016

Nora Marie (Hirsch) Scott passed away at 3:15 a.m. July 7, 2016, at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born Aug. 6, 1926, to Louis J. and Goldie Mae (King) Hirsch in Van Wert County, Ohio. She was raised by her loving aunt, Mary J. Hirsch, who preceded her in death. On Jan. 16, 1948, she married Paul...

Jul 3, 2016

Marilyn L. Karst, 64, of Van Wert, passed away at 10:46 a.m. Sunday, July 3, 2016, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born December 21, 1951, in Lima, the daughter of Leonard and Imogene (Reindel) Elwer, who both preceded her in death. She married Jack Karst, who survives in Van Wert.

Other survivors...

Jul 1, 2016

Berneice Alice (King) Davis, a long-time resident of Van Wert, Ohio, passed peacefully at 8:00 am on the morning of July 1, 2016 at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice. She was blessed by the company of many friends and family and was surrounded by her loved ones when she passed.

Born on February 12, 1929 at home in...

Jun 27, 2016

Cathy S. Ebel, 62, of Convoy, passed away at 3:55 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne. She was born September 24, 1953, in Fort Wayne, the daughter of Howard Presar, who preceded her in death, and Barbara (Quisno) Presar, who survives in Van Wert. On November 24, 1973, she married Earl Erick...

Jun 27, 2016

Douglas F. Kuhn, 45, of Willshire, Ohio, formerly of Rockford, Ohio, died unexpectedly on Monday, June 27, 2016 at his residence. He was born December 18, 1970, in Celina, Ohio to Vernon and Vera Louise (Myers) Kuhn. He graduated from Parkway High School in Rockford and had attended St. Frances College in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Doug was employed by Eaton...

Jun 26, 2016

Paula "Polly" O. (Etzler) Koenemann died at 2:20 am Sunday, June 26, 2016 at the Van Wert County Hospital.

She was born September 21, 1918 in Convoy Ohio to Martha (Muntzinger) Etzler and Fred Etzler. She married Robert (Bob) Koenemann on November 16, 1941. He preceded her in death in 2007.

She is survived by her children:...

Jun 25, 2016

Helen Iona Hurless, 94, of Rockford died at 5:25 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford, Ohio. She was born on October 18, 1921 in Mercer County, Ohio, the daughter of John Asa Logan and Martha Luella (Raver) Book. On June 22, 1940, she married John Rutledge, and he preceded in death on...

Jun 25, 2016

Wayne H. Compton, 95, of Van Wert, Ohio, passed at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, surrounded by his family at Vancrest in Van Wert. Wayne was born in Haviland, Ohio, on June 17, 1921, the son of H. E. and Iris (Miller) Compton.

On November 24, 1942, he married Mary (Horine) Compton, who survives.

Wayne and...

Jun 23, 2016

Betty L. Hayes, 91, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 4:51 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford, where she was a patient. Betty was the daughter of Charles and Ella (Stickle) Karnehm and was born on August 1, 1924 in Miami County, Ohio, near Piqua. She had lived in Rockford for the past...

Jun 23, 2016

Franklin L. Mitchell, 66, of Van Wert died Thursday, June 23, 2016, at his residence. He was born May 22, 1950, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Franklin L. and Anna (Dumschatt) Mitchell, both who preceded him in death.

He was formerly married to Linda Mitchell, who survives in Van Wert.

He is also survived by his children,...

Jun 20, 2016

Joan L. (Sowers) Gunsett, 91, of Convoy died Monday morning, June 20, 2016, at her residence.

She was born Aug. 3, 1924, to Homer and Beulah (Harper) Sowers, both preceded her in death.

She married John Gunsett on July 21, 1946. He died Feb. 25, 1997.

Joan is survived by sons, Gary Gunsett of Convoy and...

Jun 18, 2016

Troy Jones, Jr., 67, of Mendon, died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, June 18, 2016, at the In-Patient Hospice in Van Wert, Ohio. He was born on March 29, 1949 in Jellico, Tennessee, the son of Troy and Ruby (Fuson) Jones Sr. On September 23, 1968, he married Sharon Unger who survives in Mendon. Troy was a carpenter and retired...

Jun 17, 2016

Marjorie M. Pifer, 94, St. Marys, Ohio, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2016 at 7:10 am. She was born in Chattanooga, Ohio, to Bertha (Leinninger) and LeRoy Pifer, both deceased. Marjorie lived for most of her life in Columbus, Ohio. Marjorie was preceded in death by Sisters: Bea, Ruby, Glenda, and Donna Pifer, Twyla Pifer Dudley; brother, Gerald Pifer...