Obituaries

Jan 22, 2026

Charles R. "Charlie" Miler Sr., age 72 of Napoleon, Ohio, passed away on Thursday morning, January 22, 2026 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on January 30, 1953 to Harmon and Mary (Stitsel) Miler. On February 14, 2002 he married Tammy (Shackelford) Miler who survives. Charlie worked for over 25 years at General Motors...

Jan 22, 2026

Brenda Ann Clady, age 69, of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

She was born in Defiance, Ohio, on November 9, 1956, to the late Eugene Porter and Opal (Williams) Greiner. Brenda was a 1975 graduate of Defiance High School.

Brenda was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,...

Jan 21, 2026

Linda L. Dempsey, 80, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, January 21, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born in Adrian, Michigan on May 5, 1945 to the late Furman and Marian (Fetzer) Ladd. On August 24, 1963 she married Russell C. Dempsey who preceded her in death on May 20,...

Jan 20, 2026

Mary Jo "Josie" Dowler, age 80 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Defiance, Ohio on November 7, 1945 to the late Thomas and Dorothy (Diehl) Lawson. On October 8, 1966 she married Gary L. Dowler who survives. Josie proudly earned her Bachelor's degree in...

Jan 18, 2026

Elizabeth L. "Betsy" Hileman, age 72 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on July 31, 1953, to the late Robert and Jane (Thomas) Boehm. Betsy was a 1971 graduate of Defiance High School and earned...

Jan 17, 2026

Cathy Lee Clellan Spears, age 72 of Paulding, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026 leaving behind her earthly remains to be greeted by her family in heaven. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on December 2, 1953 to the late John Thomas and Sarah Jane (Simkins) Clellan. Cathy was a 1972 graduate of Defiance High School and...

Jan 14, 2026

Laurel Ann Minck, age 85 of Paulding, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday evening, January 14, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Paulding, Ohio on April 28, 1940 to the late Richard and Illa (Aten) LaFountain. Laurel earned her Associates degree from Northwest State Community College and worked as an office associate for German...

Jan 14, 2026

Shirley A. Adcock, age 90 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday morning, January 14, 2026 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. She was born in Defiance, Ohio on July 21, 1935 to the late Florence (Ott) and Victor F. Mekus Sr. Shirley was a 1953 graduate of Defiance High School and on February 6, 1970 she married Lawrence "Larry"...

Jan 14, 2026

Dorothy M. Kennedy, age 88 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance.

She was born in Wooster, Ohio on September 30, 1937 to the late Roy and Marjorie (Shisler) Emerling. Dorothy was a 1955 graduate of Wooster High School. She worked as a Supervisor at Maumee Valley Vending Company in...

Jan 10, 2026

Antonio David Laker-Sierra, age 2 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on May 12, 2023 to Jeremy Sierra and LeAnn Laker in Toledo, OH. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church. Antonio enjoyed interacting with his sisters and his family, being outdoors and chasing...

Jan 9, 2026

Albert John Seimet, age 78, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026 at 8:03 pm in the exceptional care of St. Rita's Mercy Hospital in Lima, Ohio. After a long battle with various illnesses, it was finally time to see if the fishing is better on the other side.

Al or "Butch" as his siblings and parents...

Jan 9, 2026

Bernard "Butch" Harold Sines, 95, of Defiance, passed away on  January 9, 2026 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Butch was born on October 31, 1930 to Harold  and Mildred (Leeth) Sines in Evansport, OH. He always said "He was the trick not the treat".

On February 20, 1954 he married Anna Mae Schaffer, who...

Jan 5, 2026

Lyle G. McLaughlin, age 95 of Defiance, Ohio, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026 at Northcrest Nursing Facility in Napoleon, Ohio. He was born in Salmon, Idaho on December 9, 1930 to Elmer and Olive (Montgomery) McLaughlin. On March 27, 1976 he married  Delores (Maiers) McLaughlin who preceded him in death. He proudly served his country in the...

Jan 5, 2026

John Anthony Willitzer Jr., age 70 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on March 15, 1955 in Defiance, Ohio to the late John A. and Rose (Reynolds) Willitzer. John was a 1974 graduate of Defiance High School. He proudly served 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corp. from...

Jan 4, 2026

Ronald Holbrook, age 86 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on May 22, 1939 in Allen, Kentucky, the son on of William and Ruby (Frazier) Holbrook. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran, serving in Germany. He worked for Western Union, General Motors, Defiance Beverage Company,...

Jan 3, 2026

Bonnie Lee Karzynow, 86, of Jewell, passed away surrounded by her family on January 3, 2026, at her home.

She was born on June 30, 1939, to Russell and Martha (Bruns) Short in Napoleon, OH. She was a 1957 graduate of Jewell High School. Bonnie was a secretary for many years at Jewell Grain Co. at the...

Jan 2, 2026

Lavon Edward Bishop, 92, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Glenn Park in Defiance, Ohio. Lavon was born on August 21, 1933 to Harold and Mildred (McDonald) Bishop in Miami County, Ohio. He married Alice Miller on July 5, 1953 at the Church of the Brethren, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Lavon was a member of the...

Jan 1, 2026

Lois "Jean" McKay, 88, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday morning, January 1, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on April 24, 1937 to the late Delmar and Ruth (Parks) Partee in Defiance, Ohio. She was married to James Roehrig in 1957, and in 1987 she married Raymond McKay who preceded her in death...

Dec 31, 2025

Patricia H. "Pat" Wirick, age 91 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance. She was born on July 8, 1934 in Defiance, Ohio to the late Linus and Anna (Weber) Froelich. On October 22, 1955 she married John B. Wirick Sr. who preceded her in death in 2017. Pat was a 1952...

Dec 31, 2025

Donald "Don" A. Keeterle, 97, of Defiance, went to be with his loving Savior while peacefully sleeping on Wednesday afternoon, December 31, 2025. He was born on November 19, 1928 to the late Herman and Ulita (Vondran) Keeterle. On September 3, 1955 he married Valetta Batt, who preceded him in death on December 9, 2018. Don was a longtime...