Obituaries

Feb 27, 2025

Nathan T. "Nate" Ziegler, age 38 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on June 23, 1986 to Thomas and Laura (Gilgenbach) Ziegler in Defiance, Ohio. Nate was a 2005 graduate of Defiance High School and Four County Career Center, and graduate of Lincoln Technical Institute of...

Feb 27, 2025

Arthur Ray "Sonny" Miller, age 88 of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on December 19, 1936 to the late Roy and Margaret (Smith) Miller in Defiance, Ohio. Art proudly served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1954-1957. On...

Feb 27, 2025

Warren L. Hart, age 77 of Ney, Ohio, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Thursday morning, February 27, 2025. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on May 24, 1947 to the late Olen and Doris (Crawfoot) Hart. Warren proudly served our country in the Air Force and Air National Guard. On January 24, 1970 he married...

Feb 25, 2025

On Tuesday, February 25th, Kyle Christopher DeVeaux, 19, entered into eternal life.

Kyle was born on April 21, 2005, in Columbus, Ohio.  He loved his family, friends, cats, anime (especially Hatsune Miku), video games, the beach, and spending the summer swimming. Kyle was a person with developmental disabilities & autism, & he advocated for fellow disabled people....

Feb 25, 2025

Marlene Rose Shafer, 87, of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Tuesday morning, February 25, 2025 at The Meadows of Ottawa.

She was born to the late Rudolph and Regina (Bauer) Romes on May 6, 1937 in New Bavaria, Ohio. She was a 1955 graduate of Holgate High School. On May 19, 1974  she...

Feb 24, 2025

Pablo Esparza "Paul" Briseno Sr., age 84 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born in Waelder, Texas on April 29, 1940 to the late Tomas and Florentina Briseno. On July 15, 1962 he married Amparo Huijon, who preceded him in death on September 7, 2011.

Feb 24, 2025

John W. Shotwell, age 84 of Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, passed away on Monday evening, February 24, 2025.

He was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on October 17, 1940, to the late Harold and Marian (Wheeler) Shotwell. On December 5, 1987, he married Patricia Beck, who survives.

Although John's father died when he was just two years...

Feb 23, 2025

Mery M. Gollihue, 81, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at home surrounded by her family. Maggie was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky on May 9, 1943 to the late Esaw and Leona (Monhollen) Partin. She was married for several years to James Lee Gollihue, who preceded her in death in 2010. Maggie treasured her time spent...

Feb 22, 2025

Paula Jo Lewis, age 62 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at her home in Defiance, Ohio. She was born on December 26, 1962 to Joseph and Jean (Ingersoll) Domingo. Paula was a 1977 graduate of Pioneer North Central High School. She worked at Allied Moulded Products in Bryan, Ohio for several years. She enjoyed helping...

Feb 20, 2025

Bruce Wayne Miles, 70, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away Thursday, February 20, 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 1, 1954 in Bryan, Ohio, the son of Clystal and Hazel (Dennison) Miles. He married Theresa Phipps on September 24, 2009.

He was a 1972 graduate of Continental High School. Bruce worked at...

Feb 20, 2025

Joyce Lynn (Sanderson) Heilshorn, 82, won her long battle with dementia when she was welcomed into the loving arms of her Savior at 5:15am on February 20, 2025 at Genacross Lutheran Care Facility in Napoleon, Ohio.

She was born in Columbus, Ohio, on September 30, 1942 to George H. Sanderson and Betty Lou (Kelley) Sanderson. She was...

Feb 20, 2025

James J. Mehring, age 54 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on July 30, 1970 to the late Victor and Mary (Schmunk) Mehring. James was a 1988 graduate of Defiance High School. On July 1, 1995 he married LeeAnn Blair, who survives.

James...

Feb 19, 2025

Robert L. Polasek, age 78, passed away peacefully on the evening of February 19, 2025 at Defiance Hospice Center with his family at his bedside.  He was born to Steve and Bessie (Sochor) Polasek on February 8, 1947 in Defiance, Ohio.

Robert, known to many as Bob, dedicated his life to his loving family. He proudly served...

Feb 19, 2025

Cory Garon Castillo, 47, passed away on February 19, 2025, in his home after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was a fighter, and he fought hard till the very end.

Cory was born in Defiance to Vicky and the late Bobby Castillo. He was a 1997 graduate of Defiance High School where he played on the...

Feb 18, 2025

Jeannette D. Burnett, age 83 of Delphos, Ohio, formerly of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at St. Rita's Mercy Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. She was born in Lima, Ohio on June 10, 1941 to Floyd and Mary (Parks) Purdy. On May 10, 1960 she married James Burnett who preceded her in death in 1999....

Feb 18, 2025

Mary A. Frisinger, 84, died Tuesday, February 18, 2025 in her home surrounded by loved ones.

A lifelong resident of Defiance, Mary was born on May 10, 1940, the daughter of Robert L. and Emma (Oelfke) Brinkman. She was a 1958 graduate of Defiance High School and married Craig T. Frisinger on October 11, 1958.

...

Feb 17, 2025

Dorothy J. Trowbridge, age 82 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Monday, February 17, 2025 at her home. She was born on August 21, 1942 to the late Walter and Nettie (Applegate) Chaney in Brown County, Ohio. Dorothy was a 1960 graduate of Greeneview High School in Jamestown, Ohio. On September 7, 1963 she married Jack...

Feb 14, 2025

Karl G. Zimmerman, age 86 of Defiance, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025 at his home in Defiance, Ohio. He was born in Wauseon, Ohio on May 24, 1938 to Robert and Mary (Moore) Zimmerman. He attended Wauseon High School and was a former member of the Moose Lodge #2094 and the Wauseon Historical Museum Society at the...

Feb 13, 2025

David Ysasaga, age 71 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. He was born in Levelland, Texas on May 9, 1953 to Arcadio and Antonia (Ramos) Ysasaga. David was a 1971 graduate of Defiance High School and worked as a mechanic at Sailgon for several years. He enjoyed...

Feb 13, 2025

Walter J. Polasek, age 85, passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife on the morning of February 13, 2025. He was born to Steve and Bessie (Sochor) Polasek on September 25, 1939.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years Darlene (Short) Polasek, two children; Ben (Susan) Polasek and Jodi (Rodney) Barnes, three...