Obituaries

May 5, 2018

David Michael "Mike" Short, 65, of Defiance OH, departed this world for the next on May 5, 2018 from his home in Defiance, Ohio.

Mike was born in Whittier, California on November 17, 1952 and grew up in southern Indiana and northwest Ohio. He married Marilyn (Potts) Short on March 22, 1974.

A 1971 graduate...

May 4, 2018

Ralph R. Johnson, 84, of Oakwood, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018 at his home in Oakwood, Ohio. He was born on February 14, 1934 to Virgil and Grace (Fitzwater) Johnson in Paulding, Ohio. In February, 1986  he married Alice (Ward) Johnson, who resides in Paulding.

Ralph was an active member of Auglaize Chapel Church, the...

May 4, 2018

George W. Fortman, 86, of Defiance, formerly of Continental, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Friday, May 4, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on March 23, 1932 to Cornelius and Blanche (Myers) Fortman in Columbus Grove, Ohio.George was a 1955 graduate of Miller City High School. In 1955 he...

May 3, 2018

Leo "Lee" J. VanVlerah, 72, of Defiance, passed away at CHP Defiance Area In-Patient Hospice Center on Thursday, May 3, 2018 in Defiance. He was born on May 13, 1945 to Leo and Dorotha (Kennedy) VanVlerah in Defiance.  Lee was a 1963 graduate of Ayersville High School. On February 16, 1978 he married Sharon Hayden who resides in Defiance. ...

May 3, 2018

Frederick A. Gebhart, 80, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Thursday,  May 3, 2018 at Twin Rivers Care and Rehabilitation Center in Defiance.

He was born on December 24, 1937 to Harley and Dorothy (Wilhelm) Gebhart in Henry County. Fred owned and operated his lawn care business in Holgate, Ohio for several years. He is survived by...

May 2, 2018

M. Louise Sindelar, 94, of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday evening, May 2, 2018 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on May 7, 1923 to Joseph and Eleanor (Russin) Birosh in Medera, Pennsylvania. Louise graduated from John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio.  On October 22, 1949 she married Richard F. Sindelar, who preceded her in death...

Apr 29, 2018

Helen E. Heller Andrews, 94, of Defiance, passed away peacefully with her family on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on February 23, 1924 in Columbus, Ohio to Ferd and Vera (Harrow) Rieke. She grew up on a farm in Paulding County. Helen was a 1941 graduate of  Auglaize-Brown High School...

Apr 28, 2018

William R. Barnett, 95, of Melbourne, Florida,  passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at his home in Florida. He was born on December 3, 1922 to Earl and Alphus (Keenan) Barnett in Champaign, IL. On June 6, 1947 he married Sara Ann (Max) Barnett, who resides in Florida. William proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy during...

Apr 28, 2018

Tracy Lynn Booth, 43, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the CHP Defaince Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on October 15, 1974 to William Ransome and Joanne (Kozey) Crabtree in Fairview Park, Ohio. In 2002, Tracy married Matthew Booth, who survives in Defiance, Ohio.

Tracy was a member of North Mount...

Apr 24, 2018

Linda A. Miller, 75, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday morning, April 24, 2018 at Flower Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio. She was born on November 29, 1942 to Florian and Mildred (Mack) Hasselschwert in Defiance. On June 6, 1964 she married James E. Miller, who resides in Defiance.

Linda was a faithful member of St. John Catholic...

Apr 23, 2018

Clare Wischmeyer Fiser, 80, of Defiance died peacefully on Monday, April 23, 2018.

She was born on August 18, 1937 in Bryan, Ohio to Clarence J. and Bessie (Strup) Wischmeyer. Clare graduated from Bryan High School in 1955 and earned her RN degree from Mercy School of Nursing in Toledo.

Clare practiced nursing until staying...

Apr 22, 2018

Daniel J. Delarber, Jr., 59, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on November 7, 1958 to Daniel and Betty (Mast) Delarber in Defiance. On September 28, 2013 he married Jody (Reimond) Delarber, who resides in Defiance. Dan was an active member of St. John...

Apr 20, 2018

Kenneth Eugene Grunden, 68, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, April 20, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area In-Patient Hospice Center with his family by his side. Ken was born on November 20, 1949 to Richard and Marie (Brown) Grunden in Defiance. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1969. On October 25, 1986 he married Beth Wilhelm and she...

Apr 19, 2018

Carolyn J. "Caro" Mansfield, 76, of Defiance, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, April 19, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on November 20, 1941 to Herbert and Alice (Peck) Uetterling in Defiance. On August 27, 1961 she married Gary H. Mansfield, who resides in Defiance.

Caro was a faithful member of...

Apr 16, 2018

Gerald Louis "Gerry" Held, 87, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Monday,  April 16, 2018  at his beloved home at Glenn Park of Defiance. Gerry and Rosalie (Kaiser-Clark)were married on February 2, 1985 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Defiance.

Gerry was born April 26, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of George F. Held and Anna...

Apr 15, 2018

Daniel Lee Schlosser, 70, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 6:38 am at Flower Hospital in Toledo, Ohio.

Daniel was born on September 29, 1947 to Harold E. and Mary E. (Swisher) Schlosser in Defiance, Ohio. He graduated from Ayersville High School, class of 1965. He was employed at Johns Manville and Dinner...

Apr 14, 2018

Daniel L. Bauer Daniel L. Bauer, 63, of Defiance, passed away Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on October 18, 1954, he was the son of the late Vernon and Velma (Osborn) Bauer. Dan was a 1973 graduate of Ayersville High School. He was the husband of Lori (Hesselschwardt)...

Apr 12, 2018

Carol A. Wardlow, 69, of Clyde, Ohio, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Stein Hospice Care Center in Sandusky, Ohio. She was born on November 30, 1948 to Lonnie and Ruth (Brooks) Creech in Miami, Florida. She was married to Ronnie Wardlow, who preceded her in death in 1999.  Carol was a member of The Shiloh...

Apr 11, 2018

Joseph Barta Joseph Everette Allan Barta, 31, of Defiance, passed away Wednesday, April 11th, 2018. Joe was born in Wise, Virginia on January 11, 1987, he was the son of Amie (Barta) Green. He was employed at the Campbell Soup Co. Napoleon. He will be missed by his mother Amie Green of Defiance, grandmother Anita Barta of Defiance, grandfather John...

Apr 11, 2018

George E. Sawyer, 97, born on July 26, 1920 in Bar Mills, Maine, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born to Kenneth and Doris (Wilson) Sawyer, and on January 23, 1942 married Bridget T. "Betty" (Kogut) Sawyer, who preceded him in death in 1995.

George...