Obituaries

Nov 22, 2024

Douglas A. Reineke, age 70 of Defiance, passed away on Friday, November 22, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on November 9, 1954 to the late Karl and Mildred (Rymers) Reineke in Defiance, Ohio. Doug was a graduate of Defiance High School and a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He worked for Dinner Bell Foods for...

Nov 22, 2024

Dr. Lynn Peters passed away two months shy of his 100th birthday.  He was a man with deep roots in Defiance, born in the Defiance Hospital in 1925 to Ralph and Lorna Lynn Peters.  Lynn graduated from Defiance High School as valedictorian in 1941.  He graduated from Oberlin College in 1944 summa cum laude in chemistry.  Drafted in 1944,...

Nov 22, 2024

Larry G. Rankin Sr. age 83 of Defiance, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, November 22, 2024 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. He was born in Toledo, Ohio on January 14, 1941 to the late James and Ethel (Felzer) Rankin. On August 3, 1963  he married Ann Pahl who survives. Larry was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. He worked...

Nov 21, 2024

It is with great sadness that the family of Robert L. "Bob" Sanders announce his peaceful passing on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He arrived on September 21, 1942 in Bolivar, Missouri to John and Della (Boyce) Sanders. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce L. Sanders. They were married on...

Nov 19, 2024

Juanita Joyce (Brown) Dow, 88, of rural Ney, OH, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

Joycie, as many knew her by, was born in her parent's farmhouse on June 26, 1936 to Merl and Phyllis (Peterson) Brown. She was the oldest of 8 children. Joycie attended the Ney school that used to sit on the corner...

Nov 18, 2024

Nathan Daniel Ripke passed away unexpected Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.

Nathan, son of Daniel and Mary (Howard) Ripke, was born Aug. 4, 1987, in Bryan, Ohio. Growing up, he was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. Throughout his career, he was known for his hard work, dedication and eagerness to excel. Nathan graduated from...

Nov 18, 2024

Helen Doris "Dorie" Brown, age 82 of Defiance, died on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Trustwell Living at Kingsbury Place surrounded by her family.

She was born February 19, 1942, to Nelson and Opal (Hiller) Matson. She married her best friend John Frederick "Fred" Brown February 17, 1961. He proceeded her in death on December 7, 2020....

Nov 18, 2024

James "Snuffy" Dean Smith, age 75 of Ney, Ohio, passed away at home on Monday, November 18, 2024. He was born on May 19, 1949, to the late Robert and Mary (Matthews) Smith in Detroit, Michigan. Jim proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972 and for two additional years in the Reserves. On December 26, 1969,...

Nov 18, 2024

Juan Campos Jr., age 78 of Defiance, passed away at home with his family by his side on Monday, November 18, 2024. He was born on January 12, 1946 to the late Maria (Concenico) and Juan Campos Sr. in San Antonio, Texas. On May 27, 1994 he married Maria Garza, who survives. Juan was a member of Defiance Moose...

Nov 18, 2024

Helen L. Carroll, age 82 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by her family on Monday, November 18, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on July 8, 1942 to the late Benjamin and Lucyle (Hendershot) Hamman in Defiance, Ohio. Helen was a 1960 graduate of Continental High School and was a member of Moose Lodge #2094. Helen...

Nov 17, 2024

Ruth E. Strable, age 79 of Cecil, Ohio, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on August 16, 1945 to the late Lester and Lodilla (Herr) Schmunk in Defiance, Ohio. Ruth was a 1963 graduate of Defiance High School. On June 9, 1962 she...

Nov 15, 2024

Joan Katherine Figley, age 94 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 15, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on October 21, 1930 to the late Ernest and Gladys (Brown) Grawbarger in Defiance, Ohio. Joan was a 1948 graduate of Defiance High School. She was married to D.G. "Toad" Melia for several years. In 1970...

Nov 12, 2024

Our beloved Nancy Kay Wheeler left us peacefully on November 12, 2024, at BridgePointe Health Campus in Vincennes, Indiana. Nancy was the daughter of Ray and Glenna Hayward of Stroh, Indiana. In school she was active in 4-H and choir. She also began what would be a 50-year membership of the Order of the Eastern Star, following in her...

Nov 12, 2024

Helen J. Simonis, 91, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 26, 1933 to the late John and Anna (Klima) Meyer in Junction, Ohio. On June 1, 1957 she married Louis A. Simonis, who survives. Helen was a former member of St. Isidore The...

Nov 12, 2024

Carolyn Grace Schudel, age 86 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center surrounded by her family. She was born on March 21, 1938 to the late Norman and Grace (Dunlap) Rothenberger in Napoleon, Ohio. Carolyn was a 1955 graduate of Napoleon High School. On September 22, 1956 she married...

Nov 11, 2024

George E. Newton, 94, of Defiance, passed away at CHP Defiance Area Hospice Center surrounded by his family on Monday, November 11, 2024.

George was born in Defiance on November 28, 1929, the son of Earl and Blanche (Myers) Newton. On April 29, 1950 he married Phyllis Wasserman. She preceded him in death on June 17, 2019. ...

Nov 10, 2024

Shirley J. Cramer, age 83 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at University of Toledo Medical Center. She was born on January 31, 1941 to the late Eli and Geraldine (Willitzer) Font in Defiance, Ohio. In 1958 she married the love of her life, Thomas Plummer Sr. who preceded her in death in 1986. Shirley has...

Nov 9, 2024

Mary A. Vogel of Defiance, peacefully passed away on her 92nd birthday, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 9, 1932 to the late Harry and Emma (Schroeder) Meyer in Wauseon, Ohio. Mary was a 1950 graduate of Ridgeville High School. On May 16, 1953 she married...

Nov 9, 2024

Rosa A. Villarreal, 80, of Butler, Indiana, passed away on November 9, 2024, at the Laurels of Dekalb.

She was born on January 18, 1944, to the late Romualdo and Maria (Fonseca) Villarreal in Pharr, TX. Rosa met Victor Gomez, Sr. in 1960, and they were together for 26 years until he passed in 1990.

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Nov 4, 2024

USMC Veteran Keith D. Eberle, 86, of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, November 4, 2024. Keith joined the United States Marine Corps on June 28, 1957 and proudly served until being honorably discharged on July 5, 1959. Keith is the seventh of seven brothers to proudly serve their country.

Keith was a brave...