Obituaries

Gary L. Mast

Gary L. Mast

Oct 19, 2026

Gary Mast, age 80 of Cecil, Ohio, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Monday, October 19, 2026.

He was born in Defiance County to the late Gerald and Susan (Kern) Mast. On October 24, 1970, he married Marjorie Curtis, the love of his life. Together, they built a life in Cecil, Ohio, where they raised their four children: Gary...

Virginia L. Retcher

Virginia L. Retcher

Oct 15, 2026

Virginia "Ginny" Retcher, age 64, of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening, October 15, 2026 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital.

She was born in Lafayette, Indiana on April 27, 1962 to the late Kenneth and Betty Jo (Compton) Hancock. Ginny was a 1980 graduate of Tinora High School. On April 23, 1988 she married the love of her life Randy...

Cindy L. Newman

Cindy L. Newman

Oct 13, 2026

Cindy L. Newman, age 70, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital.

She was born on February 17, 1956 to the late James and Nancy (Brewer) Eitniear. On April 27, 1974 she married Wayne S. Newman, who survives.

Cindy was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and was the heart and soul of her family....

Diana A. Harmon

Diana A. Harmon

Oct 12, 2026

Diana A. Harmon, age 70, of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, October 12, 2026 at Ohio Health Doctor's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

She was born in San Juan, Texas on November 22, 1955, to the late Rumaldo and Maria (Fonseca) Villarreal. On October 9, 2003, she married Claude Harmon, who survives. Diana worked as a nurses...

Patty Ann Linebrink

Patty Ann Linebrink

Oct 10, 2026

Patty Ann Linebrink, 88, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born on August 31, 1938 to the late Loren and Bernice (Franz) Thieroff in Defiance, Ohio. She was a 1956 graduate of Defiance High School. On February 22, 1958, she married Jerry Fisher, who preceded her on January 4,...

Sharon Kay Walker

Sharon Kay Walker

Oct 9, 2026

Sharon Kay Walker, age 80 of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Friday, October 9, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born in Napoleon, Ohio on May 16, 1946 to the late Elmer and Mary (Nicholls) Sweinhagen. Sharon was a 1964 graduate of Defiance High School. On September 25, 1965 she married John...

Sherry Branham

Sherry Branham

Oct 8, 2026

Sherry Branham, age 74, of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at Steel Health & Rehab in Defiance, Ohio.

She was born on March 31, 1952 in Pikeville, KY to the late Billy and Clara (Mullins) Belcher. On November 4, 1968 she married Dean Branham who preceded her in death.

Sherry worked for several years...

Maryann Delphine Thanasiu

Maryann Delphine Thanasiu

Oct 6, 2026

Maryann Delphine (Olszewski) Thanasiu

10/30/1956 - 10/06/2026

Beloved daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. She lived simply and loved deeply.

At peace in Heaven's end zone, forever in our hearts.

In loving memory of Maryann. Maryann was born in Toledo, Ohio and was called home in the city of Defiance, Ohio. She loved Michigan and the 49ers, snowmen, and anything to do with the ocean....

Michael Allen McCullough

Michael Allen McCullough

Oct 5, 2026

Michael "Mike" McCullough, 64, passed away at home unexpectedly on Monday, October 5, 2026. He was born on April 30th, 1962 in Bowling Green, Ohio. Mike had an avid love of cooking and was a cook for over 30 years.

In his free time Mike enjoyed fishing and being "Pay Pay" to his grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. On...

Phyllis K. Lero

Phyllis K. Lero

Oct 4, 2026

Phyllis K. Lero, age 70, of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday evening, October 4, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born in Weston, West Virginia on May 1, 1956 to the late Herbert and Lydia (Donaldson) Sprouse. On May 19, 1979 she married George Lero, who survives.

Phyllis dedicated much of her life...

Ferrel “Cork” Wesley Lee Jr.

Ferrel “Cork” Wesley Lee Jr.

Oct 3, 2026

Ferrel “Cork” Wesley Lee, age 80, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at The Laurels of Defiance.

Cork was born on September 7, 1946, in Saginaw, Michigan, to the late Ferrel Wesley and Effie Bell Lee.

He was a 1964 graduate of Defiance High School. Cork later returned to school and graduated as...

Miguel "Mike" Sanchez Jr.

Miguel "Mike" Sanchez Jr.

Sep 30, 2026

Miguel “Mike” Sanchez Jr, age 81, of Defiance, peacefully passed away, on September 30, 2026, at Promedica Toledo Hospital with his family by his side.

He was born on November 24, 1944, to the late Miguel Sr and Elevinia (Perez) Sanchez in San Antonio, Texas. Miguel was a 1963 graduate of Columbus Grove High School and a proud Army service member...

Ann L. Bidlack

Ann L. Bidlack

Sep 27, 2026

Ann Lynn Bidlack, age 74, of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born in Defiance, Ohio on March 26, 1952 to the late Charles R. and Wilma J. (Eitniear) Bidlack, and was a 1970 graduate of Defiance High School.

Ann was a faithful member of St....

David Leo "Dave" Steel

David Leo "Dave" Steel

Sep 27, 2026

David Leo Steel, age 77, of Cecil, Ohio, passed away on Sunday morning, September 27, 2026.

Dave was born on April 4, 1949 in Defiance, Ohio. He was the late son of Leo "Bud" and Marjorie (Groh) Steel. Dave proudly served in the United States Army where he served two tours in the Vietnam War. He earned several commendations, including two...

Connie Elaine Kellermyer

Connie Elaine Kellermyer

Sep 26, 2026

Connie Elaine Kellermyer, 83, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Blake Hospital in Bradenton.She was born in Defiance, Ohio on September 18, 1943 to the late Wilfred and Georgia (Maschler) Dirr. Connie was a graduate of Defiance High School. On September 20, 1964 she married David Kellermyer who preceded her in death...

Shirley Ann Beiswenger

Shirley Ann Beiswenger

Sep 24, 2026

Shirley Ann Beiswenger, age 87, of Archbold, peacefully passed away on September 24, 2026 at Fairlawn Haven Assisted Living & Retirement Community in Archbold, OH.

She was born on August 18, 1939 to William Humphries and Lena Greer in Findlay, OH. On August 11, 1968 she married William Beiswenger and he preceded her in death on November 6, 1987. Shirley worked...

Jerry Lynn

Jerry Lynn

Sep 23, 2026

Jerry Lynn peacefully passed away at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born on April 5, 1948 in Glasgow, Kentucky to Kenneth and Georgia (Simpson) Lynn.

He graduated from Defiance High School in 1966. He married his wife Sharon in 1972 and retired from General Motors in 2007.

Jerry was a faithful member of St....

Beverly J. "Bev" George

Beverly J. "Bev" George

Sep 20, 2026

Beverly J. "Bev" George, age 95 of Defiance, peacefully passed to her heavenly home on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Trustwell Living, Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio.

She was born on April 11, 1931 to the late Clarence and Louise (Hall) Weber. She graduated from Defiance High School in 1949, and in November, 1951 she married Ernest F. George, who preceded...

Skyyea Amber "Skidge" Kessinger

Skyyea Amber "Skidge" Kessinger

Sep 14, 2026

Skyyea Amber Kessinger, 31, of Archbold, Ohio, peacefully passed away at her home on Monday, September 14, 2026, surrounded by her family.

She was born on June 3, 1995 to Kendavid and Kerrie (Barker) Kessinger in Toledo, Ohio. Skyyea was a 2015 graduate of Four County Career Center. She enjoyed writing stories and collecting stuffed animals, especially unicorns. Skyyea loved music...

Michael "Mac" A. McCarthy

Michael "Mac" A. McCarthy

Sep 11, 2026

Michael Anthony "Mac" McCarthy, 69, of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on September 11, 2026.

Mac was born on October 30, 1956 to Philip and Barbra (Brokaw) McCarthy in Defiance, Ohio. He was a 1975 graduate of Defiance High School and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1975-1979, where he was stationed in Cape Canaveral, Florida. On September 21, 1991...