Obituaries

Jul 14, 2025

Jose Luis Castillo Jr., age 43 of Bryan, Ohio, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, July 14, 2025.

He was born on April 5, 1982 in Defiance, Ohio and was a 2000 graduate of Defiance High School. He was employed by Easy Living of Bryan.

Jose is survived by his parents, Jose and Maria...

Jul 11, 2025

Linda L. Hickey, age 68, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025 at the Laurel's of Defiance She was born on September 23, 1956 to Floyd and Betty (Schaffer) Struble in Bryan, OH. Linda worked as a welder for Dana Corporation. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Defiance. Linda was a...

Jul 11, 2025

Terrance A. Hohenberger, age 79, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Advanced Specialty Hospital in Toledo surrounded by his family. Terry was born on April 13, 1946 in Defiance to Marvin O. and Betty G. (Viebach) Hohenberger. He was a 1964 graduate of Defiance High School. After high school he married and had three...

Jul 9, 2025

Celinda M. "Cindy" Pinson, age 75 of Holgate, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at home surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Weston, West Virginia, on October 27, 1949 to Leo and Helen (Crumit) Garrett. On June 17, 1972 she married Greg Pinson who survives.

Cindy was a faithful member of True...

Jul 9, 2025

Ethel M. Murphy, age 90 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, Ohio. She was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on May 8, 1935 to Alpheous and Margaret (Baird) Tate. On December 31, 1952 she married Thomas Murphy who preceded her in death on June 10, 2007. Ethel worked for several years...

Jul 8, 2025

William "Bill" S. Duerk Jr. age 68 of Defiance, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Somerset, Pennsylvania.

Bill was born on May 5, 1957 to William Sr. and Doris (Memmer) Duerk in Defiance, Ohio. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1975 and went on to get an Associates of Civil Engineering from Northwest Technical College....

Jul 8, 2025

Larry Simpson, age 72, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, after fighting multiple health issues. Larry was born in Harlan, Kentucky on September 5, 1952 to Lawrence and Etta Simpson. He graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in Dayton, OH, Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in...

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...