Obituaries

Jul 7, 2025

Helen Janette Sauber, age 88 of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Monday July 7, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on November 11, 1936 to Herman and Elsie (Gordon) Arend in Paulding, Ohio. Helen was a 1954 graduate of Paulding High School. On July 9, 1955 she married Robert...

Jul 6, 2025

Murlan  R. Miller, age 90, of Defiance, passed away on  July 6, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center with family and friends by his side. He was born in Defiance on October 4, 1934 to the late Arthur F. and Minnie E. (Elling) Miller. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance and attended...

Jul 5, 2025

Sally Jo Gerken, age 73 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on June 18, 1952 to the late Dean and Joanna (Hostettler) Strahm in Defiance, Ohio. Sally was a graduate of Defiance High School and proudly earned her Bachelor's Degree from Defiance College. She worked as a...

Jul 4, 2025

On July 4, 2025, Orla Junior Friend, age 104, passed away peacefully at Vancrest Nursing Home in Holgate, Ohio, and went on his long awaited journey home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Junior was born on December 27, 1920, to Orla and Emma (Trietsch) Friend in Putnam County, Ohio.  He met Sarah Cline, the love...

Jul 3, 2025

Jody Lee Kaiser entered the Heavens surrounded by his loved ones after a brief battle with cancer on July 3, 2025. He was 54.

Jody was born to Margaret (Hoeffel) and Donald "Willie" Kaiser on September 26, 1970 in Defiance, Ohio. He had a 40 year career in auto mechanics and stood out from the crowd with...

Jul 3, 2025

William "Bill" Frank Warren Sr., age 98 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at The Laurels of Defiance.

He was born on June 28, 1927 to Frank and Edith (Fuller) Warren in Williams Co., Ohio. On June 13, 1954 he married  Bessie Lee Farris. Bill had a strong connection to The Lord. He was...

Jul 2, 2025

Marilyn Mae (Grussing) Purdy, age 90, formerly of Ann Arbor, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 2, 2025 in Defiance, Ohio.

Marilyn was born April 21, 1935 in Paulding County, Ohio to Robert and Elverta Grussing. She married Robert (Dean) Purdy on September 16, 1956 who proceeded her in death as did her brother...

Jul 2, 2025

Ervin L. "Erv" Hastedt, age 89 of Mark Center, Ohio, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born in Henry County, Ohio on October 31, 1935 to William and Mathilda (Helmke) Hastedt. On January 31, 1959 he married Veronica Kunesh who survives. Erv proudly earned his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering...

Jul 1, 2025

Phyllis Rose (Heilman) Clemens, 87, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. She was born on November 3, 1937, in Defiance, to LaVern (Heidepriem) and Cassius Heilman. On July 6, 1957, she married Ken Clemens.

Phyllis dedicated her life to her family as a devoted stay-at-home mom, caretaker and later worked part-time as her daughters...

Jul 1, 2025

Helen Ann Day, age 63 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. She was born in Montpelier, Ohio on July 15, 1961 to Helen (Richards) and Lyle Steel Sr. On August 1, 1988 she married James Day, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Helen proudly earned her Bachelor's degree and worked as an LPN...

Jun 30, 2025

Dorothy Eva (Bouffard Temple) Engelhaupt

Dorothy Eva (Bouffard Temple) Engelhaupt, age 82 of Defiance, passed away in the early morning hours of June 30, 2025. Dot departed this world, but not the hearts of her family and friends.

Dorothy, often called Dot or Dottie, was born on March 27, 1943 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to...

Jun 30, 2025

Donald "Don" L. Miller, age 89 of Defiance, passed away Friday, June 27, 2025 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. Don was born on May 16, 1936 to Harold J. and Beatrice (Bowsher) Miller in Defiance. He was a 1954 graduate of Defiance High School. On July 27, 1957 he married the "Angel" of his life, June Cereghin who...

Jun 29, 2025

Douglas A. Beardsley, age 74 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on October 16, 1950 to Earl and Betty (Curtzwiler) Beardsley in Holgate, Ohio. Douglas proudly served his country in the US Navy. He worked for several years at General Motors until his retirement. On February...

Jun 28, 2025

Jackie "Jack" Dean Suman, age 77 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday June 28, 2025 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born on March 18, 1948 to Floyd and Ellen (Bebout) Suman in Decatur, Indiana. On July 22,1966 he married Anita Sue Smith and she survives. Jack worked as an Electrician for GM Powertrain for 33 years retiring in...

Jun 27, 2025

Steve Michael Branham, age 42 of Oakwood, Ohio, passed away on Friday June 27, 2025 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born on April 25, 1983 to Bobby and Ok (Nam) Branham in Defiance, Ohio. He was a 2001 graduate of Defiance High School. Steve was a member of Rock Church in Oakwood. He had a true passion...

Jun 24, 2025

Timothy "Tim" Gerken, age 69 of Montpelier, Ohio, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Tuesday morning, June 24, 2025.

He was born on November 22, 1955 in Wauseon, Ohio to Victor and Elaine (Rupp) Gerken. Tim was a 1974 graduate of Defiance High School. On February 21, 1998 he married Deborah Bowen who survives.

Jun 21, 2025

Donald Frederick Jagow, age 78 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born on July 3, 1946 to Howard and Lotus (Donner) Jagow in Flint, Michigan. On December 27, 1970 he married Nikki Maas who preceded him in 2004. On August 9, 2008 he married Mary Freeland who survives. Don...

Jun 20, 2025

Shirley A. Deitrick, age 82, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on February 18, 1943 to Leon and Vera (Smith) Gallant in Defiance. Shirley was a 1961 graduate of Stryker High School. In 1964 she married Ronald Deitrick who preceded her in death in 1975. Most...

Jun 19, 2025

David Paul Gomez, age 60 of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025  at the University of Toledo Medical Center, surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born in Defiance, Ohio on February 8, 1965 to Concepcion R. and Margaret (Arellano) Gomez.

David graduated from Defiance High School in 1983, during which time...

Jun 18, 2025

Delbert Duane Diemer, age 91 of Defiance, passed away peacefully at Glenn Park of Defiance on June 18, 2025. Delbert was born in New Bavaria, Ohio to Sylvia and Florian Diemer. He was a graduate of Holgate High School where he was a standout baseball player. He was recruited to play for the Toledo Sox in 1953, an affiliate...