Obituaries

Mar 11, 2026

Burl E. Klingler, 79, of Defiance, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born in Paulding, Ohio on April 7, 1946 to the late Alva and Anna Klingler. On June 2, 1972 he married Debra Helms, who preceded him in death.

Burl is a proud...

Mar 11, 2026

Marilyn J. Olivo, age 74 of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at ProMedica Defiance Hospital. She was born in Lima, Ohio on July 9, 1951 to the late Robert and Susanna (Schroeder) Smith. Marilyn worked for over 40 years at Johns Manville until her retirement in 2017. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic...

Mar 10, 2026

Elvira "Elle" Naomi Pryor (née Jimenez), 79, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. Elle was born on July 1st, 1946 in Bryan, Ohio, to Antonio Jimenez and Mercedes Jimenez, who preceded her in death. She was a proud graduate of Bryan High School and later attended the University of Toledo. She spent much of her...

Mar 10, 2026

Ronald L. Clyburn, age 70 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at The Gardens of Paulding. He was born on August 27, 1955 to Bill and Velma (Lang) Clyburn in Defiance, Ohio. Ron is survived by his son, Eric Clyburn of Pennsylvania, and his sister, Lynn (Greg)  Wonderly of Sherwood, Ohio. A private burial will be...

Mar 9, 2026

Earl Douglas Rose, age 67 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born in Pikeville, Kentucky on June 20, 1958 to the late Earl and Virginia (Johnson) Rose. On May 23, 1979 he married Cathy Mansfield, who preceded him in death on March 18, 2021. Earl worked as the Head Furnace...

Mar 8, 2026

Royal Justus Hofacker, 90, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 8, 2026 surrounded by loved ones at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born in Paulding, Ohio on September 25, 1935 to the late Charles and Iva (Taylor) Hofacker. On December 23, 1986 he married Janet Sherrick who survives. Royal is a proud veteran of the U.S....

Mar 6, 2026

Stephen Lee Juette, a beloved son, brother, and uncle, age 78 of Defiance, passed away on Friday evening, March 6, 2026 in Edgerton, Ohio. Steve was born in Lima, Ohio on May 14, 1947 to the late Howard and Jeanne (Parrish) Juette. He was a long time resident of Defiance and a 1965 graduate of Defiance High School. Steve...

Mar 6, 2026

Joanne Murphy, age 87 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 6, 2026 at her residence, with her family by her side. She was born in Cherry Creek, New York on September 22, 1938 to the late Loren and Rose (Saxton) Manning. After graduating from high school, Joanne earned her Associate's degree from Rochester Business Institute in Rochester...

Mar 6, 2026

Gail J. Olson, 83, of Defiance, passed away at 3:16 am on Friday, March 6, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Angola, Indiana on November 12, 1942 to the late George and Leola (Kiles) Cassel. On January 16, 1965 she married Webster Olson who survives. Gail was a...

Mar 5, 2026

Keith D. Steffan, 76, passed away unexpectedly in his home in Defiance, Ohio, on March 5, 2026. He was born on July 18, 1949 to Clarence and Phyllis (Unverferth) Steffan in Lima, Ohio.

Keith was known for his sense of humor, quiet nature, and took great pride in his children and grandchildren.

Keith graduated from...

Mar 3, 2026

Randa J. Gale, age 71 of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday morning, March 3, 2026 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, Ohio. She was born in Portsmouth, Ohio on August 31, 1954 to Ralph and Rose (Guerin) Brown. Randa is a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. She loved her career as an...

Mar 3, 2026

Larry James Fillinger, 79, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, at CHP Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 7,1947, to the late Ralph Walter and Anna Margaret (Lero) Fillinger in Defiance, Ohio. On June 29, 1973, he married Rebecca Killion who survives.

Larry was a member of the...

Mar 2, 2026

Henry D. "Hank" Gerken, age 94 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance. He was born on December 21, 1931 to the late Frank and Catherine (Damman) Gerken in Fulton County, Ohio. Henry was a 1950 graduate of Napoleon High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army from...

Mar 1, 2026

Sandra K. Peek, age 76 of Ney, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at her home. She was born on July 22, 1949 to the late Dean and Maude (Jubenville) Perry in Bryan, Ohio. On October 14, 2008 she married Joe Peek who survives.

Sandra was a nurses aide at Twin Rivers Nursing Home, and...

Feb 27, 2026

Jeff Duryea, 63, Defiance, Ohio, passed away Friday, February 27, 2026, at Community Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice, Defiance, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born July 21, 1962, in Findlay, Ohio, to Jerry Duryea and Betty (Reichenbach) Whitaker. Jeff retired from Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio. He enjoyed taking cruises in his military trucks...

Feb 24, 2026

Dr. William H. Richter of Defiance passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, where he was surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on March 26, 1946 to the late George and Martha (Smith) Richter. William proudly served our country in the U.S. Air Force from 1979-1981 (Active Duty)....

Feb 24, 2026

Harold "Gene" Eugene Raub, age 60, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026, in his Defiance home. He was surrounded by his beloved family and pets while lying comfortably in his own bed.

Harold was born in Zanesville, Ohio on January 12th, 1966, to Harold "Butch" Edwin Raub and Betty Watson. He was a 1984 graduate...

Feb 22, 2026

Timothy Lynn Schwiebert, age 76 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2026 surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on November 27, 1949 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a 1969 graduate of Ridgeville High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot from 1969-1973 during the Vietnam War. Tim...

Feb 20, 2026

Frank E. Tressler Sr., age 81 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026 at Canal Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Akron, Ohio. He was born on May 31, 1944 to the late Clarence and Grace (Woodruff) Tressler in Findlay, Ohio. On July 21, 1967 he married Barbara Goble who preceded him in death on April...

Feb 17, 2026

Robert Louis 'Bob' Grimes passed away at Kingsbury Place in Defiance on February 17, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Defiance on September 10, 1937, the middle child of the late Cleo Quinton Grimes and Virginia Mary (Bauer) Grimes.

Bob was a 1957 graduate of Defiance High School. After graduation, he enlisted in...