Obituaries

Dec 27, 2017

Elmina M. "Ellie" Backhaus, 70, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at Twin Rivers Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on April 28, 1947 to Anton and Wilamina (Lineau) Wiemken in Defiance County. On February 28, 1966 she married Carl Backhaus, who preceded her in death in December, 2003. Ellie was a member of...

Dec 25, 2017

Marvin L. Widmer, age 92, joined his heavenly home on December 25, 2017. He was born December 6, 1925 in Defiance to the late Virgil (Bud) and Helen (Rhamy) Widmer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. In his senior year of Defiance High School he was employed by Christ Diehl Brewing Company for part time office work....

Dec 25, 2017

Gene Baldwin, 83, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017 at his home in Defiance. He was born on November 2, 1934 to Wilbur and Kathryn (Feeney) Baldwin in Defiance. Gene proudly served our country in the U.S. Army.  In June, 1988 he married Donna (Eis) Baldwin, who resides in Defiance. Gene was a member of...

Dec 24, 2017

Mary A. Seibert, 65, of Ayersville, passed to the arms of Jesus on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born in Napoleon, Ohio on September 6, 1952 to Charles F. and Marcella R. (Gunter) Rice. Mary graduated from Ayersville High School in 1970. In 1970 she attended Bowling Green School of Practical...

Dec 22, 2017

Frank Gudakunst Franklin 'Junior' Gudakunst, 90, of Defiance, passed away December 22, 2017 at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, FL. Frank was born in Fostoria, OH on Oct. 1, 1927 to the late Forest Franklin Gudakunst and Ada Vivian Strohl. He attended Grover Hill High School. He was raised by his grandparents Frank S. and Adeline McClure Gudakunst. He married...

Dec 22, 2017

Patricia S. Bragg (Hoover) 64 of Defiance, Ohio passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 22, 2017. She was born on March 17, 1953 in Napoleon, Ohio. She was daughter of the late Betty McPherson. On July 21, 1972, she married Roy Roger Bragg. They celebrated 45 years of marriage this year. Together they raised 4 daughters and an adopted son....

Dec 22, 2017

David John Fraley, 49, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, December 22, 2017 in Punta Gorda, Florida. He was born on June 26, 1968 to Carl and Sharon (Cole) Fraley in Findlay, OH. On June 26, 1997 he married Vivian (Hughes) Fraley, who resides in Defiance. David was co-owner of Kenley Enterprise, and was a Journeyman Tool and Die...

Dec 22, 2017

Harold E. "Shorty" Walters, 90, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Friday, December 22, 2017 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on June 26, 1927 to Donald and Lena (Ducatt) Walters in Defiance.  Shorty was a 1945 graduate of Ayersville High School. In 1949 he married H. Imogene (Hammer) Walters, who preceded him in death...

Dec 22, 2017

Douglas Russell (Rusty) Ziegler left this earthly world to go fishing in the "big" lake on December 22, 2017, after a valiant battle with ALS.

He was born on April 26, 1950 in Defiance, Ohio.  He was the son of Douglas B. and Nellie Jean (Gares) Ziegler.

Rusty is survived by his Mom and care-giver,...

Dec 21, 2017

Timothy Scott Dumire 41 of Defiance, Ohio passed away unexpectedly on Thursday December 21, 2017. Born February 21, 1976 in Defiance to Randy Dumire and the late Deborah (Shepherd) Dumire. He is survived by his loving wife of 13 years Amber Dumire (Bragg), three wonderful children Brayden 12, Kyndra 9, Shay 3 and his brother Josh (Karla) Dumire. He is...

Dec 20, 2017

Mary Davis Reeves, 92, of Defiance, passed away on  Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Great Lakes Hospice, Defiance. She was born on May 10, 1925 to Bert and Amy (Whitaker) Davis in Defiance. On August 2, 1947 she married John Koehler Reeves, who preceded her in death in 1987. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Defiance....

Dec 20, 2017

Susan J. Plummer, 75, of Wellington, Ohio,  passed away on  Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Elyria University Hospital in Elyria, Ohio. She was born on April 9, 1942 to Lawrence and Georgia (McCullough) Velliquette in Defiance. Susan was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. She  earned her Associate's Degree and worked as a nurse for several...

Dec 20, 2017

Betty B. Hill, 88, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at her residence. She was born on August 5, 1929 to Paul and Molly (Spears) Creed in Cranes Nest, VA. On January 4, 1946  she married Henry Hill, who preceded her in death in 2005. Betty was a member of Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church....

Dec 19, 2017

Keith Lee Rychener, 73, of Defiance, passed away on  Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Valencia Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lakeland, Florida. He was born on August 25, 1944 to  Lawrence and Irene (Murphy) Rychener in Pettisville, OH. Keith was a proud Army veteran who served our country in Korea during the Vietnam War. Keith was a member...

Dec 19, 2017

Curtis Blanchard, 76, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on  Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at Ebeid Hospice Residence in Sylvania, OH. He was born on March 13, 1941 to Orland and Dorothy (Folk) Blanchard in Defiance. On June 13, 1970 he married Eleanor (Heidepriem) Blanchard, who preceded him in death on January 15, 2014.

Curtis was a member...

Dec 18, 2017

Edward Ray Nester, 56, of Defiance, passed away on  Monday, December 18, 2017 at his residence. He was born on May 24, 1961 to Robert and Josie (Dalton) Nester in Bryan, OH. He was a 1979 graduate of Fairview High School. On June 5, 1993 he married RoxAnn (Antoine) Nester, who resides in Defiance.

Ed owned and...

Dec 18, 2017

Lucille C. (Foss) Blosser, 94, born June 1, 1923 in Defiance, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was the wife of the late Hershel Blosser, mother of Patricia Rosell of St. Louis, and Mary Jo (Rick) Bailin of Perrysburg, grandmother to five granddaughters: Amy (Brian) Kielbasa, Chrissy (Ryan) Duchscher, Lisa (Gareth)...

Dec 17, 2017

Virginia Rose Wilhelm, 87, of Defiance,  passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at her daughter's home in Defiance. She was born on January 11, 1930 to Joseph and Ruth (Kleinhenn) Delarber in Defiance. On June 30, 1951 she married Cletus F. "Mike"  Wilhelm, who preceded her in death on October 2, 2004.

Virginia was an active...

Dec 15, 2017

Michele Sue Curtis, 62, of Antwerp, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She was born on March 2, 1955 to James and Joann (Ripke) Harris in Williams County, Ohio. On March 24, 1975 she married Thomas Curtis, who preceded her in death on March 26, 2016. Michele loved being with...

Dec 15, 2017

Eileen M. Rohlf, 76, of Defiance, passed away on  Friday, December 15, 2017 at her home in Defiance. She was born on November 3, 1941 to John and Dorothy (Degler) Zinser in Defiance. On April 8, 1961 she married Philip Rohlf, who resides in Defiance. Eileen was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. Her life centered...