Obituaries

Dec 14, 2019

William M. "Bill"  Sponsler, 61, of Defiance, passed away on  December 14, 2019 at his residence in Defiance. He was born on February 27, 1958 to Howard and Dolores (Anderson) Sponsler in Alliance, Ohio. Bill worked as a carpenter in the construction industry. Bill is survived by his sister, Gina Fernbaugh of Bowling Green, Ohio, two nephews, Joshua Herr...

Dec 12, 2019

Lynn R. Roehrig, 81, of Defiance, passed away on  December 12, 2019 at St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, Ohio. He was born on August 22, 1938 to Olin and Veronica (Cupp) Roehrig in Defiance, Ohio.  On April 18, 1960 he married Josephine Martinez, whom survives. Lynn was a member of member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Defiance, and the...

Dec 10, 2019

Emily S. Mull, age 31 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2019  in Defiance. She was born on July 24, 1988 to John and Susan (Karnes) Mull in Defiance, Ohio. Emily was a 2006 graduate of  Defiance High School, and was a student at  Northwest State Community College, and Owens Community College. She attended Grace Bible Church...

Dec 7, 2019

Gordon D. Scullion of Defiance, Ohio, passed away on Saturday morning, December 7, 2019 at The Toledo Hospital. He was born on March 31, 1942 to Gordon and Ethel (Rohrer) Scullion in Salem, Ohio. Gordon grew up in Salem and graduated from Salem High School in 1960. He earned his BA Degree from Ohio University in 1964 and continued...

Dec 7, 2019

Elizabeth "Betty"  Gray, 85, of Defiance, passed away on  December 7, 2019 at the Defiance CHP She was born on May 20, 1934 to Paul & Mary (Manke) Schreiber in Toledo, Ohio. She married Sam Managhan and later divorced.  Then she married L.C. Gray in 1975 and he preceded her in 1995. Elizabeth  worked as a Clerk and Receptionist ...

Dec 6, 2019

Leona  M. Horstman , age 94 of Defiance, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on April 28, 1925 to Orville and Ethel (Michael) Marckel in Defiance County, Ohio. Leona was a 1943 graduate of Defiance High School. She married her first husband, David McKeen, Jr. who passed away. On January...

Dec 6, 2019

Rose A. LaFountain, 68, of Paulding, Ohio, passed away on Friday morning, December 6, 2019 at The Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on October 25, 1951 to Donald and Barbara (VanScoder) Ankney in Defiance. On July 26, 1994 she married Thomas LaFountain, who resides in Paulding. Rose was a member of Moose Lodge #2094 in...

Dec 4, 2019

Charles Junior "Chuck" Lloyd, age 86, of Defiance, passed away early Wednesday morning, December 4, 2019 at the Laurels of Defiance. He was born on December 3, 1933 to Charles and Emma (Wagner) Lloyd in Defiance County, Ohio. On June 24, 1956 he married Marlene (Fauth) Lloyd, who resides in Defiance. Chuck was a member of the Church of...

Dec 4, 2019

Larry V. Schafer, 78, of Defiance, passed away early Wednesday morning, December 4, 2019 at his home in Defiance, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 14, 1941 to Vincent and Mildred (Beemer) Schafer in Continental, Ohio. On October 6, 1962 he married Ruth (Steffel) Schafer, who resides in Defiance.

Larry was a faithful...

Dec 3, 2019

Naomi G. Link, 86, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday morning, December 3, 2019 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance. She was born on August 22, 1933 to Jesse and Mary (Barnes) Gorrell in Paulding County, Ohio. On November 7, 1950 she married Donald A. Link, who preceded her in death in 1983. Naomi was a member of the...

Dec 2, 2019

Michael J. Relyea, age 62 of Defiance, passed away on Monday evening,  December 2, 2019 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on February 18, 1957 to Glenn and Norma (Burkhart) Relyea in Defiance. Michael was a 1976 graduate of Defiance High School. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Defiance....

Nov 27, 2019

Mary Eleanor (Hauter) Singer passed peacefully in her sleep at Brookview Nursing Center in Defiance on Wednesday, November  27, 2019, where she was faithfully attended by Linda, Tina, and many others including the caring professionals of Great Lakes Hospice. She was born May 19, 1929 at Six Corners in Hicksville, Ohio to James and Margaret Hauter, the youngest of...

Nov 24, 2019

Laurie A. Grennay, age 58 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at the Toledo Hospital. She was born on August 7, 1961 to the late Richard and Betty (Murphy) Rockey in Defiance, Ohio. On February 14, 1986 she married Jean-Paul Grennay, who resides in Defiance. Laurie worked for several years as a manager for McDonald's. She...

Nov 23, 2019

Orville F. Smith, 87, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at his home in Defiance. He was born on February 10, 1932 to Karl and Bertha (Slough) Smith in Defiance, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Ohio State University. Orville served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 until his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy...

Nov 23, 2019

Mary Ann Kosier, 90, of  Ridgeville Corners, OH passed away on, Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the Northcrest Rehab and Nursing in Napoleon, OH.. She was born on May 6, 1929 to Frank and Mary (Schindler) Miller in Defiance, OH.  In 1960 she married Darold Kosier who preceded her in death in 1986. Mary was a member of St....

Nov 22, 2019

Michael E Larson, 71, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, November 22, 2019 at the Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on November 16, 1948 to Charles Wold and Edna McFarland in Crookston, Minnesota .  Michael worked for GM Powertrain in Defiance, retiring in 2006. On November 13, 1994, he married Judy Carpenter who survives...

Nov 21, 2019

Diane M. Keasler, 64, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at her home in Defiance, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on April 11, 1955 to her biological parents, Harold and Charlotte (Schwinnen) Phipps in Van Wert, Ohio. At the age of 13, she was adopted by Richard and Eva (Mitchell) Hiser. Diane...

Nov 17, 2019

LaMar Jay Leininger, age 76 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born on May 7, 1943 to Mary (Miller) and Herbert Leininger, Sr. in Fulton County. On August 18, 1962 he married Rita (Mast) Leininger, who resides in Defiance. Jay was a truck driver, and he worked at Johns Manville...

Nov 16, 2019

Steven F. "Hollywood" Kraegel, age 66 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday evening, November 16, 2019 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on February 25, 1953 to Herman and Kathleen (Stevens) Kraegel in Wauseon, Ohio. Known as "Hollywood" by his family and friends, he worked at Campbell's Soup Company in Napoleon, and most recently at Heinze Foods...

Nov 15, 2019

William O. "Bill" Rassenfoss, age 90 of Waterville, Ohio, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Friday evening, November 15, 2019 at Story Point Senior Living Center in Waterville, Ohio. He was born on December 29, 1928 to George and Ruth (Chambers) Rassenfoss in Louisville, Kentucky. Bill proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.