Obituaries

Apr 5, 2019

Margaret R. Keller-Free, 91, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2019 at her residence in Kingsbury Place, Defiance, OH. She was born on April 30, 1927 to Linus and Anna (Weber) Froelich in Defiance, OH.  On June 10, 1950 she married Richard G. Keller who preceded her in death on December 11, 1981.  Margaret then married Robert...

Apr 4, 2019

Rita Claire (Clark) Weber, age 94 of Defiance, died on Thursday, April 4, 2019 after a short illness at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was surrounded by family and friends during her passing. Rita was born on July 13, 1924 in Paulding, Ohio, and was a graduate of Paulding High School. She was a clerk at J.C....

Apr 1, 2019

Marion R. Mekus Marion R. Mekus, 90, of Defiance, passed away Monday evening, April 1st, 2019 at the Kingsbury Place in Defiance. She was born in Paulding County on February 27, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Lucille (Reed) Gutman. On June 19, 1947 she married married Albert Mekus, who died September 18, 2016. They were...

Apr 1, 2019

John K. Johnston, age 69 of Jewell, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2019 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. He was born on August 4, 1949 to the late Charles and Marilyn (Young) Johnston in Reading, Pennsylvania. On January 4, 1969  he married Jacqueline (Disheaux) Johnston, who resides in Jewell, Ohio.

John worked at General Motors in Defiance...

Mar 31, 2019

Gerald Friesner Gerald "Fly" Friesner, 73, of Oakwood, OH , passed away Sunday, March 31st, 2019 at St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo after a brief illness. He was born in Middlepoint, OH on July 21, 1945, to the late Dwight Friesner and Datha (Fox) Stanz. He was a 1964 graduate of Elida High School, an Army veteran and a member...

Mar 31, 2019

June I. Burke, 96, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday morning, March 31, 2019 at Twin Rivers Care Center in Defiance. She was born on August 12, 1922 to George and Lilly (Bayshore) Lamb in Paulding, Ohio. On January 8, 1949 she married Howard F. Burke, who preceded her in death on March 1, 2017. June was a faithful...

Mar 31, 2019

Diane S. Thornell, 68, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Sunday evening,  March 31, 2019 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on April 28, 1950 to Maurice and Clara (Darris) Louagie in Van Wert County, Ohio. Diane was a 1968 graduate of Crestview High School. On October 4, 1969 she married Robert Thornell, who resides...

Mar 28, 2019

Mark G. Shomsky, 60, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday morning March 28, 2019 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, surrounded by his family and with his wife by his side. He was born on March 16, 1959 to Albert and Jean (Chanavier) Shomsky in Detroit, Michigan. On September 29, 2009 he married Nicole (Sholl) Shomsky, who resides...

Mar 28, 2019

Susan P. (Meister) Bockelman, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2019 surrounded by her family. Born on September 12, 1932 to the late Clyde and Ethel  Meister in Whitehouse, Ohio. She married William C. Bockelman on March 10, 1951. Susie was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who loved spending time with her family during the holidays,...

Mar 25, 2019

Calvin D. Weber, 68, of Holgate, died March 25, 2019 at the Elkhart, Indiana General Hospital.  He was born in Hicksville, Ohio on November 16, 1950 the son of John Franklin & Zelma (Werst) Weber.  He married June Trowbridge and she preceded him in death in 2008.

Calvin is survived by two daughters, Mary Weber of Texas,...

Mar 22, 2019

Ned A. Speiser Of Sherwood passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at Parkview Regional Medical Center on Friday, March 22, 2019, following a 16 month fight against lymphoma.  Born on December 4, 1943, to Murl and Beryl (McFeeters) Speiser, he grew up on the family farm in Delaware Township. He proudly lived in Defiance County his entire...

Mar 22, 2019

Ray Kelly Meade, 66, of Defiance, passed away on  Friday, March 22, 2019 at Toledo Hospital. Ray was born on August 28, 1952 to Kelly and Marie (Marcum) Meade in Wise County , VA.  He was a 1972 graduate of Ayersville High School.  Ray served his country in the Army from 1972-1978. On October 28, 2007 he married Darlene...

Mar 19, 2019

Garnet M. McCoy Garnet M. McCoy, 87, of Defiance, passed away Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 at her son's home. She was born in Garret, IN on September 3, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Edna (Zuber) Worden. She was a Hicksville High School graduate and lived in Defiance since 1950. She retired from the Campbell Soup...

Mar 19, 2019

Donald William Krumel, 95, of Defiance, died peacefully at 8:05 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at Ebeid Hospice Residence, Sylvania, surrounded by his family. He resided at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio since 2013. Prior to 2013, Don was long-time resident of Defiance. Donald was born on March 16, 1924, in Defiance County to Joseph and Margaret Krumel. He...

Mar 17, 2019

Marlene A. Wisda Marlene A. Wisda, 66, of Defiance, passed away Sunday, March 17th, 2019 at the Country Inn, Paulding. She was born in Defiance, on August 1, 1952, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Leona M. (Hoeffel) Wisda. Marlene was a 1970 graduate of Defiance High School. She had worked at K-Mart and Sears. She was...

Mar 14, 2019

Patrick "Mike" Brown, 54, of Oakwood, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at his home in Oakwood, Ohio. He was born on December 9, 1964 to Darwin and Carol (Bussing) Brown in Paulding, Ohio. Mike was a 1983 graduate of Paulding High School. He worked as an administrative assistant at NW Ohio Community Action in Defiance. Mike was...

Mar 13, 2019

Juanita F. Rosebrock, 98, of Defiance, passed away on  Wednesday morning, March 13, 2019 at her home in Defiance with her family by her side. She was born on February 5, 1921 to George and Marie (Colbe) Hoops in Hamler, Ohio. She graduated from Hamler High School, and worked as a seamstress.  On March 22, 1941 she married Bertram...

Mar 12, 2019

Tito Carrasquillo, Sr., age 92 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

He was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico on March 1, 1927 to the late Nicasio Carrasquillo and Lucinda Berrios.  Tito was married for over 67 years to  Eva Perez Carrasquillo, who resides in Defiance. He worked at General Motors...

Mar 11, 2019

Larry C. Bostelman, 68, of Defiance, passed away on  Monday evening, March 11, 2019 at his residence in Defiance. He was born on February 13, 1951 to Carl and Esther (Gerken) Bostelman in Wauseon, Ohio. Larry worked as a grounds keeper for Sauder's in Archbold for several years until his retirement. Larry continued his passion with mowing and landscaping,...

Mar 8, 2019

Gary J. Lewis, 60, of Defiance, passed away on Friday,  March 8, 2019 at the CHP Defiance Area Hospice Inpatient Center, Defiance, OH. He was born on December 10, 1958 to John and Laura (Schomburg) Lewis in Defiance, OH.

Gary worked as a Laborer for Defiance Metal Products, and was a member of The Fellowship Club in...