Obituaries

May 5, 2025

Zachery Daniel Billings, age 27 of Defiance, left his world too soon on Monday, May 5, 2025 at Ohio State Wexley Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on June 22, 1997 to Lance and Kimberely (Stephenson) Billings in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Zachery was a 2016 Defiance High School graduate and was a member of the choir and...

May 5, 2025

Brenda Kay (Lewis) Dotson, 68, of Defiance, Ohio, peacefully passed away while her children, husband, and sister were by her side on Monday, May 5, 2025.

Brenda was born on November 18, 1956, in Clay County, Kentucky, to Betty Louise (Killion) Lewis and Lawrence Pearl Lewis. She was the oldest of five and instinctively took on a...

May 5, 2025

John P. Taquino, age 78 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025 at home surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on June 6, 1946 to the late Claude and Bernice (Kirvin) Taquino in Schenectady, New York. John was a 1965 graduate of Defiance High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S....

May 4, 2025

Maria T. Esparza, age 66 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on April 24, 1959 to the late Charles and Anna (Ordaz) Esparza in Chicago, Illinois. Maria was a loving and caring mother and grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Maria...

May 3, 2025

David Vernon "Dave" Pollock, 78, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday May 3, 2025 at his residence. He was born on November 13, 1946 to Stanley and Beatrice (Klienhen) Pollock at Defiance, OH. On September 25, 1971 he married Norma Baden and she survives.

After high school Dave went to Barber School in Florida then worked in...

May 3, 2025

Marlene Ellen (Meyer) Tonjes passed away suddenly on May 3rd, 2025 in her home in Mark Center, Ohio.

Marlene was a 1977 graduate of Tinora High School. She was a lifetime member of the Defiance County Historical Society - AuGlaize Village where she was known for her famous ice cream recipe. Marlene enjoyed assisting with garden tractor...

May 2, 2025

Brandon Michael Stiltner, age 44 of Defiance, passed away Friday May 2, 2025 at Northcrest Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Napoleon, Ohio. He was born on December 6, 1980 to Kenneth and Cheryl (Nixon) Stiltner in Defiance, Ohio.  Brandon was an avid Ohio State football fan, collected rocks and stones, and he was a motorcycle enthusiast. Brandon is survived...

May 2, 2025

Sue Carol Feeney, age 88 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Friday morning, May 2, 2025 at Glenn Park of Defiance. She was born in Napoleon, Ohio on June 20, 1936 to the late William and Donna Marie (Schafer) Grimes. On December 11, 1961 she married Richard E. Feeney, who preceded her in death on April 29, 2007. Sue...

Apr 30, 2025

Jessica D. White, age 36 of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 surrounded by her family at Parkview Bryan Hospital.

She was born in Defiance, Ohio on December 4, 1988, the daughter of Lester Trowbridge and Vickie Sharp. On October 20, 2018 she married Seth White who survives. Jessica worked for several years at...

Apr 29, 2025

Peggy Jean Kemp, age 92, of Defiance, formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, peacefully passed away on Tuesday evening,  April 29, 2025 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. She was born in Defiance on August 15, 1932 to the late George and Mildred (Andrews) Bolley. She was a 1950 graduate of Defiance High School. In July, 1950 she married Paul...

Apr 29, 2025

Paul Ryan Wischmeyer, age 65 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Paul was born in Bryan, Ohio on July 9, 1959 to the late John and Dorothy (Sharman) Wischmeyer. He was a 1977 graduate of Defiance High School. On November 17, 2015 he married Cheryl (Zipfel) Hahn who survives.

Apr 27, 2025

Curtis A. Behlke, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly at his home on April 27, 2025. He was born and raised in Defiance, OH and graduated from Defiance High School in 1973.

Curt retired as a Carpenter Foreman with Fort Defiance Construction where he worked for over 17 years (31.5 years in Union Construction), where he was...

Apr 23, 2025

John A. Lannan Jr., age 74 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at The Laurels of Defiance. John was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 30, 1950 to Mary (Foley) and John A. Lannan Sr. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army. He had an extraordinary work ethic and worked for several different...

Apr 20, 2025

Burdette Lee "Butch" Cooper, age 83 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday at sunrise.

He was at home in his sunroom where he could watch the birds, squirrels, bunnies and an occasional stray cat. He could also keep an eye on his spring blooms, hummingbirds, and monarch butterflies. He also enjoyed his sunroom to watch...

Apr 20, 2025

Dawn C. Davis, age 61 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, April 20, 2025 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on December 29, 1963 to the late Lynn and Josephine (Martinez) Roehrig in Napoleon, Ohio. On July 7, 1984 she married Harold Jon Davis, who survives.

Dawn was...

Apr 17, 2025

Yvonne C. Heitmeyer-Thompson, age 79 of Defiance, passed away on  April 17, 2025 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, Ohio. She was born in Ottoville, Ohio on August 9, 1945 to the late Louis and Elenetta (Kramer) Boerger. On August 9, 1989 she married George Thompson, who preceded her in death on February 29, 2020. Yvonne was a member...

Apr 17, 2025

Belmar Lee Reliford, age 90 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Thursday morning, April 17, 2025. He was born in Trammel, Virginia on January 9, 1935 to the late Leon and Clara (Grizzle) Reliford. On February 20, 1960 he married Jenny Hill who preceded him in death on June 16, 2004. Belmar worked for...

Apr 13, 2025

Chad R. Shock, age 55 of Defiance, passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 13, 2025 at Fulton Co. Health Center in Wauseon, Ohio. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on March 14, 1970 to William and Bonnie (Lang) Shock. Chad was a 1988 graduate of Tinora High School. He was an employee of Defiance Metal Products for 25 years....

Apr 9, 2025

James E. "Slogo" McCorkle Sr., age 72 of Paulding, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at his home. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on June 6, 1952 to the late William and Rosie (Damon) McCorkle. James was a member of  Defiance AmVets #1991, Eagles #372, Moose Lodge #2094, VFW #3360 and UAW #211. He worked at...

Apr 7, 2025

Lawrence "Larry" Urban Wagner, age 76 of Defiance, passed away in his home surrounded by his loved ones on Monday, April 7, 2025. He was born in Napoleon, Ohio on November 18, 1948 to the late Urban and Edith (Seifert) Wagner. He attended Sacred Heart School and was a 1967 graduate of Holgate High School. Larry proudly served our...