Obituaries

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...

Jun 16, 2025

Donna Bell (Wolf) Crockett passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, with her children by her side. She was born on October 10, 1933 in her grandparents home on Kinner Road near Ayersville to Alva and Florence (Blanchard) Wolf. She grew up in Pleasant Bend where there were lots of kids at...

Jun 15, 2025

Jeremy Lee (Hand) VanVlerah, age 37 of Cecil, Ohio passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital from injuries sustained in an accident. He was born on May 20, 1988 to Mike and Debbie (Van Arsdalen) Hand in Toledo, Ohio. Jeremy was a 2007 graduate of Hilltop High School. On October 28, 2017 he married Tess...

Jun 15, 2025

Joyce Bok, 89, of Sherwood passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday June 15, 2025 at the Gardens of Paulding. She was born August 27, 1935 of Olen J. and Lois (Scott) Glick in Paulding OH.

She attended Emmett School single-room schoolhouse, later graduating Valedictorian from Sherwood Delaware High School in 1953. She then earned her...

Jun 15, 2025

Sandra J. Hall, age 73 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Advanced Specialty Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. She was born on January 25, 1952 to William and Ethel Miller in Grafton, West Virginia. On December 12, 1970 she married Troy Hall, who preceded her in death in 2022. The beloved Memaw cherished spending time with...

Jun 14, 2025

Joan M. Paxton, age 88, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Kingsbury Place Assisted Living.

She was born in New Bavaria, Ohio on September 18, 1936, to the late Milton and Hazel (Thomas) Cummins. On October 1, 1960, she married the late Teddy "Ted" Paxton, the love of her life, at St....

Jun 13, 2025

Bruce Allen Davenport, Sr., 82, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the CHP Defiance Area Hospice Center surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on May 29, 1943 to Roy and Mable (Lawson) Davenport in Appalachia, Virgnia. On December 28, 1974, he married Diane Hardy, who survives.

Bruce served his...

Jun 12, 2025

Jennifer Ann Bustamante, 55, of Bryan, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the Cleveland Clinic.

She was born on May 18, 1970 to Bobby and Clara (Caperton) Sloan in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jennifer worked as a candy cook for Spangler Candy Company. On November 17, 2012, she married Alex Bustamante Sr. who survives. Jennifer was an...

Jun 12, 2025

Sherry Jean Snow, 68, of Defiance, passed away on  Thursday, June 12, 2025 at the CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on March 28, 1957 to Gene and Nellie (Stock) Heil in Defiance.   She was a graduate of Defiance High School Class of 1975. On December 3, 1983 she married Jim  Snow who survives. She was...

Jun 10, 2025

Mercedes Angela Thompson entered the gates of heaven on June 10, 2025. Mercedes is survived by her mother, Dorothy Smith; stepfather, Rodney Smith; brother, Robert Thompson( Tracie Howard); special niece and pride of her life, TeAnna "Te" Thompson; best friend of 50 years, Rebecca Steinhauser; half-brother, Jason Thompson (Nina); honorary sister, Rachel Moore(Rev. Dwight); honorary brother, Jonathan Steinhauser (Jessica...

Jun 10, 2025

Bonnie J. Boff, age 68 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at The James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She was born on November 14, 1956 to Lowell and Wilma (Burk) Speiser in Defiance, Ohio. Bonnie was a 1974 graduate of Tinora High School. On June 14, 1975 she married...

Jun 9, 2025

Vickie Lynn (Donley) Joice of Defiance, and recently from Bryan, Ohio, died on Monday, June 9, 2025 at Mercy Toledo Heart and Vascular Center, where she had been a patient since May 31st after a tragic fall in her home causing serious injuries and life ending complications.

Vickie was born on November 5, 1958 to Leo and...

Jun 9, 2025

Edna Mae Ruscigno, age 93 of Archbold, Ohio, passed away on Monday evening, June 9, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Edna was born on October 1, 1931 to John and Evelyn (Walford) Hesketh in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. On September 13, 1952 she married Richard Ruscigno who preceded her in death. Edna is survived by her loving...

Jun 8, 2025

Tammy Taylor, 66, of Defiance, passed away at her home with her family and friends by her side on June 8, 2025.

Tammy was born on June 4, 1959. She was originally from Ironton, Ohio and later as a young child, her family moved to Defiance, Ohio. At the age of 18, she married her soul mate,...