Obituaries

Dec 12, 2024

Lavonna L. Kruse, age 90, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Thursday morning, December 12, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born in Marion, Indiana on May 21, 1934 to the late Roy and Wilma (Rissler) King. Lavonna was a 1952 graduate of Defiance High School. On May 4, 1963 she married Carl H. Kruse who preceded...

Dec 8, 2024

Philip D. Bauer, age 83 of Bryan, Ohio, a beloved son, brother and friend, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Born to William and Mary (Michael) Bauer in Ney, Ohio, Philip lived a life marked by dedication, hard work and unwavering faith. He peacefully joined his Lord and Savior at the age of 83, after a lengthy illness...

Dec 8, 2024

Leon B. Jones, 87, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024 surrounded by his family at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born in 1937 to Clyde and Ada (Fluckiger) Jones in his grandparent's home in Berne, Indiana. He grew up on a farm near Willshire, Ohio. Leon graduated from Willshire High School in 1955,...

Dec 8, 2024

Paul B. Roehrig, age 92 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Defiance, Ohio on August 12, 1932 to the late Olin and Veronica (Cupp) Roehrig. Paul proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1952. He served in the time of reconstruction of Germany after...

Dec 7, 2024

Marty J Kennedy (August 4, 1950-December 7, 2024) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones. Preceding him in death were his parents, Mike & Betty Kennedy, and brother, Pat Kennedy.

Marty attended Defiance High School until joining the United States Army in 1967, where he served as a Sergeant in the 583rd ordinance company...

Dec 6, 2024

Johanna K. Diehl, of Defiance, was born June 23, 1934 in North Canton, Ohio to William and Florence Kobel (Black). She died Friday, December 6, 2024, in Defiance, at Mercy Hospital. Johanna was raised in North Canton alongside siblings Judy, Mary, Marjorie, and Bill. Johanna attended North Canton High School, in the Class of 1952, and went on to...

Dec 4, 2024

Lawrence J. Livolsi, a resident of Defiance for the past 20 years, passed away on December 4, 2024. Mr. Livolsi was originally from Queens, New York, where he lived for 51 years.

Mr. Livolsi came from a musical family dating back generations. At the age of 4, Mr. Livolsi began seriously studying the piano and by the...

Dec 2, 2024

John Richard Stevenson, 88, of  Powell, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, December 2, 2024.

He was born on March 7, 1936 in Adrian, Michigan to the late Leland and Evelyn (Wheaton) Stevenson. John proudly graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in Business Administration. He served in the military with...

Dec 2, 2024

With a heavy heart we mourn the passing of Don Lichty. Don was born April 24, 1950 in Defiance to E. Ward and Joyce (King) Lichty. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1968. He married his high school sweetheart, Dwyn May and this year celebrated their 55th anniversary. Don worked at Defiance Truck Sales and Service, retiring from...

Dec 1, 2024

Thomas Ray Bailey, 73 years, of Defiance, Ohio passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at CHP Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center.

Tommy was born on April 7, 1951 in South Williamson, Kentucky to the late Ralph and Ethel Bailey. He married the love of his life, Peggy Cooper on July 23, 1968. Tommy worked at Johns...

Nov 28, 2024

Sue Ann Sohn, 80, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on November 28, 2024, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on May 6, 1944, to Byron and Bertha (Hall) Sproul in Defiance, OH. She graduated from Defiance High School and earned a Bachelor's degree from Defiance College. Sue taught at Paulding Elementary School...

Nov 26, 2024

Marcia Ellen (Field) Scott passed away Tuesday, November 26th at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Marcia was born on January 20th, 1950 in Princeton, IN. After graduating from Haubstadt High School in 1968, she started her nursing career at Welborn Baptist Hospital in Evansville, IN, graduating in 1971.

Marcia married Richard K. Scott in 1973,...

Nov 25, 2024

James "Jimmy" Eric Greene, born on August 3rd, 1968, in Paulding, Ohio, left his earthly home on November 25th, 2024, in Defiance, Ohio after valiantly battling a years-long battle with cancer. Jimmy leaves behind his beloved life partner, Lynnette Begley of Holgate. His memory will be cherished by his children: Joshua Lipps of Paulding, Eric Greene of Defiance, Haley...

Nov 24, 2024

Helen L. Miller, 89, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Brookview Healthcare Center with her husband by her side. Helen was born in Defiance to the late Eugne F. and Bertha A. (Diemer) Nickel on May 29, 1935. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Defiance and went through grade school at...

Nov 24, 2024

Dearest family and friends, it is with joy and sorrow that we share with you that our father passed away on November 24th following a brief illness. You may know that he was one of 12 children born to his parents, Cula Betts and Henry Fitzenrider. As Dad would tell it, he grew up in the second poorest family...

Nov 23, 2024

J. William "Jack" Speiser, age 78, of Sherwood passed away on Saturday, November 23 at Kingsbury Trustwell Living with his family at his side. Jack was born on March 23, 1946 in Defiance, OH to Paul and Mildred (Fahy) Speiser. Jack proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 and was stationed in Korea. On April 29, 1972 he...

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...