Obituaries

May 17, 2018

Sarabell F.Knipp, 86, of Defiance, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 17, 2018. She was born on June 5, 1931 to Howard and Mae (Durham) Hammon in Defiance. On June 5, 1949 she married L. Leroy Knipp, who preceded her in death on February 8, 2013. Sarabell was an active member of...

May 16, 2018

Nettie A. Johnston, 94, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on June 29, 1923 to Arthur and Sophia (Cordes) Brandt in Defiance. Nettie was a 1941 graduate of Defiance High School. On April 8, 1944  she married Harlo Johnston, who preceded her in death on April 26,...

May 16, 2018

Marie E. Hostettler, 102, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at her home in Defiance. She was born on October 23, 1915 to Samuel and Amelia (Batt) Wisda in Defiance County. On July 1, 1935 she married Daniel Hostettler, Sr., who preceded her in death on March 31, 1975. Marie was a faithful member of...

May 15, 2018

Ruth Fritz Ruth L. Fritz, 93, of Defiance, passed away Tuesday morning, May 15th, 2018, at Glenn Park of Defiance. She was born in Defiance County, Ohio on December 2, 1924. She was the daughter of the late Eugene and Elizabeth (Herbert) Hasselschwert. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and past member of St. Isidore Catholic Church...

May 14, 2018

Clarence J. Rozevink, 91, of Wauseon, Ohio, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018 at Fairlawn Haven Care Center in Archbold, Ohio. He was born on July 29, 1926 to Jacob and Sarah (Wagner) Rozevink in Defiance. Clarence proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during WWII. In 1947 he married Wilda (Switzer) Rozevink, who preceded him in...

May 13, 2018

Sharon Kay Agnes (Ludwig) Kroeckel, 74, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2018 at home surrounded by her family.

Sharon was born June 1, 1943 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to her parents Leonard Ludwig and Lenora (Smith) Ludwig Allgire. She was a 1961 graduate of Defiance High School. On February 16, 1962...

May 12, 2018

Philip Furnas Philip Furnas, son of Paul and Dorthe (Smith) Furnas was born in Piqua, Ohio on October 7, 1946. He graduated from Newton High School in Pleasant Hill, Ohio in 1964. He continued his education at Defiance College obtaining his Bachelors of Science degree in Education in 1968 and his Masters of Education at Saint Frances College, Fort Wayne...

May 11, 2018

Daniel W. Bakle, 80, of Defiance, passed away on May 11, 2018 at CHP Hospice. He was born on April 22, 1938 to Vaughn and  Otillia (Johanns) Bakle in Defiance, OH. Daniel served in the U.S. Army from 1956-1964. Daniel worked as a mechanic for Zachrich Trucking, Keller Trucking, Rath Builders, John Henry Kauser and Charles Kauser. On October...

May 10, 2018

Sheryl M. Borgelt Sheryl M. Borgelt, 44, of rural Defiance, went to her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 10th, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Clovis, New Mexico on February 1, 1974, she was the daughter of the late Viola (Smith) and Michael Hobbs who survives her of Defiance. She was the wife...

May 10, 2018

Kaycee Rae Spencer, 2, of Defiance, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at Promedica  Defiance Regional Hospital. She was born on November 25, 2015 to father, Wesley Spencer and mother, Emily (Baker) Spencer in Defiance.

Kaycee was such a happy little girl who loved everyone and everything.  She especially loved animals, puppies and bubbles. Kaycee...

May 10, 2018

Darlene Wagner, 76, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at St. Luke's Mercy Hospital in Maumee, Ohio. She was born on October 13, 1941 to the late William and Orene (Williams) Giles in Cynthiana, Kentucky. On September 12, 1959 she married Leonard J. Wagner, who preceded her in death on February 14, 2007. Darlene was a...

May 9, 2018

Robert "Bob"  E. Kubica, 74, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on November 29, 1943 to Leo and Martha (Kohaney) Kubica in Bay City, Michigan. On June 27, 1961 he married Kay (Cannon) Kubica, who resides in Defiance. Bob proudly served our country in the...

May 8, 2018

Thomas W. "Tom", "Doc"  Diemer, 64, passed away on May 8th at 8:17pm surrounded by his wife and girls. He was the owner/operator of Auglaize Computer Services and retired from GM in 1987.

Tom was born on October 1, 1953 to Donavon "Babe" and Violet "Vi" Diemer in Defiance, Ohio and graduated from Holgate High School in...

May 7, 2018

James Banks, 70, of Defiance, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on September 28, 1947 to Jasper and Helen (Calahan) Banks in Cincinnati, Ohio. On August 6, 1966  he married Julia (Amanns) Banks, who resides in Defiance. James proudly served our country in the U.S. Army...

May 6, 2018

Betty Kathleen Hackworth, 58, of Napoleon, passed away on  Sunday, May 6, 2018 at her sisters house in Cecil. She was born on September 13, 1959 to Joe and Deloris (Patrick) Hackworth in Defiance, OH.  Betty worked for Campbell's Soup.  She enjoyed crochetting, reading, spending time with her grandchildren and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball. Betty is survived...

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...