Obituaries

Aug 28, 2024

Mary E. Combs, age 81 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on July 8, 1943 to Leo "Bud" and Marjorie (Groh) Steel in Defiance, Ohio. On March 27, 1965 she married Louis W. Combs, who preceded her in death on May...

Aug 27, 2024

Alexander Fodor, age 85 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday evening, August 27, 2024 at his home. He was born on January 15, 1939 to Paul and Lydia (Vargo) Fodor in Beauty, Kentucky. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Air Force. On September 21, 1968 he married Patricia Ray, who preceded him in death on September 13,...

Aug 25, 2024

Dr. Jerrold John Behringer passed peacefully on August 25, 2024 in Defiance, Ohio, age 92. He is the son of John Louis Behringer and Lydia Amelia Mary Bauman Behringer. Jerry attended Defiance High School, where he played a variety of sports, with football as his favorite. When his favorite coach became a professor and coach at the College of...

Aug 25, 2024

Deborah K. "Debbi" (Holman) Ayers passed away peacefully at her residence on August 25, 2024, at the age of 74.

Debbi was born on June 12, 1950, in Defiance, Ohio, the first child of William "Bill" and Lois (Graf) Holman. Debbi married Larry Ayers on April 28, 1969. Debbi graduated in 1968 from Ayersville High School. She...

Aug 24, 2024

Russell  E. Shetler Sr., age 84 of Montpelier, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Vancrest of Hicksville. He was born on November 8, 1939 to Oliver "Ed" and Helen (Lirot) Shetler in Bryan, Ohio. Russ was a 1957 graduate of Bryan High School. On April 12, 2003 he married to Susan Alven, who preceded him in...

Aug 24, 2024

Sylvia T. Velasquez, age 65 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Saturday evening, August 24, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on August 23, 1959 to Ruben and Paulina (Angino) Martinez in Laredo, Texas. Sylvia was a graduate of Defiance High School. On August 8, 2005 she married Joe Velasquez, who survives. Sylvia was...

Aug 23, 2024

Our beloved family matriarch, Bonnie June, peacefully departed her family and friends on the morning of August 23, 2024, in order to join her loving husband of 34 years, Con, who was awaiting her arrival with their Lord and Savior. Bonnie leaves behind an irreplaceable legacy to so many who were blessed to know her as a sister, a...

Aug 22, 2024

Warren Frederick ("Fred") Barnes born January 8, 1943, passed away peacefully on Thursday August 22, 2024, at Copper Trace in Westfield, IN after a heavily fought battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Fred was the son of the late Walter and Mary (Warren) Barnes and born in Celina, OH.  He is survived by his sister Jean Sasaki (husband Hank,...

Aug 22, 2024

Robert E. Schaffer, 74, of Cecil, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Vancrest of Van Wert. He was born on December 30, 1949 to Donald and Margaret (Miller) Schaffer in Defiance, Ohio. On February 26, 1972 he married Pamela Rath who preceded him in death on May 30, 1996. Bob worked at General Motors for several...

Aug 21, 2024

Patricia  Anne Pessefall (Seibenick) passed away peacefully on August 21, 2024, at the age of 79. Patty was the beloved wife of Clifford "Cliff" or "Bud" Pessefall, Jr. Patty was born December 15, 1944, in Defiance, Ohio to Richard and Mildred (Noneman) Seibenick.

One of the greatest love stories of all time began when Patty met Cliff...

Aug 20, 2024

Michael T. McKibben, age 61 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. He was born on October 25, 1962 to the late Kenneth and Betty (Richard) McKibben in Defiance, Ohio. Mike was a 1981 graduate of Ayersville High School and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Tri-State University in 1985. On May...

Aug 16, 2024

Liam Furian Cedric Bouldrey, age 18 of Defiance, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, August 16, 2024. He was born on February 14, 2006 to Jessica Keiber in Napoleon, Ohio. Liam would have been a senior this fall at Defiance High School. He proudly played the trombone in the Defiance High School Marching Band. Liam also volunteered with the Boy...

Aug 16, 2024

Judy McGuire, 70, of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a battle with kidney disease at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio on August 16, 2024. She was reunited with her husband after 19 years apart.

Judy was born on September 28, 1953, to the late Joseph and Janice (Carpenter) Crandall. On March...

Aug 15, 2024

Linda Varano, affectionately known as "Grandma Linda", left this world August 15, 2024 at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of love and deep faith in Our Lord and Savior.

Born on July 17, 1946 to Lynn and Estella (Businger) Balser, Linda was the oldest daughter, growing up alongside her sister Wanda (Stan) Stuckey, and...

Aug 14, 2024

Ronald "Ron" Wheeler, 83, of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. He was born on November 23, 1940, to Lemon and Opal (Richardson) Wheeler in Menifee County, Kentucky.  On September 26, 1959, he married Patricia O'Keefe who preceded him in death.

Ron retired from General Motors in 1992 with 28 years of service. He...

Aug 13, 2024

Gary W. Fairchild Sr., age 79 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on December 24, 1944 to the late Orville and Edna (Ellis) Fairchild in Portsmouth, Ohio. On June 11, 1966 he married Cheryl Hall, who survives. Gary worked at General Motors in Defiance...

Aug 12, 2024

Philip Carl Panning, 69, Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, and Man of Faith

Phil Panning, aged 69, passed away peacefully on August 12th, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. A devoted husband to Cathy and a cherished father, Phil found his greatest joy in spending time with his family.

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Aug 12, 2024

Carol E. Schuette, age 79 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born on May 19, 1945, to the late Eldon and Fay (Thrasher) Manon in Bryan, Ohio. Carol was a 1963 graduate of Defiance High School. On June 11, 1966,...

Aug 12, 2024

Paul R. McCusty, 75, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on June 26, 1949 to the late Paul and Elizabeth (Grundstrom) McCusty in Boston, MA. Paul was a 1967 graduate of Arch Bishop Randall High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army...

Aug 9, 2024

Doris J. Ames, age 63, of Oakwood, peacefully passed away on  August 9, 2024 at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, with her family by her side. She was born on August 21, 1960 to Aaron and Doris Cheeseman in Reading, PA. Doris proudly served her country in the United States Army. On December 30, 2000 she married Chuck...