Obituaries

Jan 3, 2018

Orville C. Kiessling, 93, of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on August 21, 1924 to Conrad and Corabelle (Lampman) Kiessling in Defiance. Orville proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during WWII from 1942 to 1945. On June 15,...

Dec 30, 2017

Mark Lynn Partee, 67, of Defiance, suddenly passed away on Saturday, December  30, 2017. He was born on October 7, 1950 to Virgil and Betty (Lang) Partee in Richland Township. Mark served our country in the U.S.Army. He worked at General Motors in Defiance over 45 years, retiring in 2015. Mark was an active member of  N. Mount Zion...

Dec 30, 2017

Donald  Leroy Russell, 66, of Defiance, passed away on  Saturday December 30, 2017 at his residence. He was born in Paulding on September 16, 1951 to Donald N. and Leah (Stemen) Russell.   Don was a graduate of Grover Hill High School class of 1969.  He worked as a house painter with his dad while in high school and later...

Dec 29, 2017

Roberta Ann Schmunk, 86, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2017 at Kingsbury Place, Defiance OH.   She was born on July 31, 1933, in Defiance OH, the daughter of Charles Peter and Nancy Jane (Herr) Schmunk.

Roberta grew up in Defiance and graduated from Defiance High School in 1951.  She then went to Bowling Green...

Dec 28, 2017

John R. "Jack" Kohout, 80, died Thursday, December 28, 2017, at the Laurels of Defiance.

He was born on June 15, 1937, in Defiance, the son of Theodore Virgil and Valeria (Mekus) Kohout. He was a graduate of Defiance High School in 1955 and The University of Notre Dame in 1960. He was an aeronautical engineer, working...

Dec 28, 2017

Robert "Glenn" Poston, 71, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on April 21, 1946 to Solomon and Carrie (Sluss) Poston in Castlewood, VA. On July 1, 1967 he married Gloria (Greiner) Poston, who resides in Defiance.  Glenn worked at Johns Manville for 44 years, retiring in...

Dec 28, 2017

Mary B. "Bernie" Shannon, 95, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on  Thursday, December 28, 2017 at Brookview Healthcare Center. She was born on December 18, 1922 to George and Bridget (Smith) Hetz in Defiance. She was a proud graduate of Defiance High School. On September 28, 1946 she married George E. Shannon, who preceded her in death on September...

Dec 28, 2017

Ruth E. Gray, 91, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at Twin Rivers Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on January 22, 1926 to Orville and Christine (Groh) Heilshorn in Junction, Ohio. Ruth was a 1944 graduate of Defiance High School, she earned the Linhardt Award, and was a member of DHS Hall of...

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...