Obituaries

Dec 30, 2023

Rebecca "Becky" Isabela  Perez, age 53, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday,  December 30, 2023 at Flower Hospital in Toledo, surrounded by her family. She was born on July 15, 1970 to Frank and Christine (Ortiz) Contrez in Hicksville. On December 21, 1988 she married Juan "Alex" Perez who survives. Becky worked as a custodian for Bud's Restaurant in...

Dec 28, 2023

John F. Yeoman passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 28, 2023 surrounded by his loving family.  He was born in LaPorte, Indiana to Ralph and Ruth (Garner) Yeoman on August 17, 1936.  He attended Hanna High School and graduated in 1954.  He worked on the family farm before deciding to work in the medical field. He attend Gary Methodist/Indiana...

Dec 27, 2023

Terrance James "Dinger" Haydinger, age 79 of Defiance, passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday morning, December 27, 2023 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on April 8, 1944 to Richard and Agnes (Haas) Haydinger in Patterson, New Jersey. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army. Terry earned his Bachelor's degree from Defiance College...

Dec 26, 2023

Paul C. Schmidt, age 70, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at his home in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on February 13, 1953 to Maurice Schmidt and Mary Eileen (Schroeder) Schmidt in Lima, Ohio. Paul worked for several years as a truck driver for Bryan Truck Line and advanced to dispatch.  He...

Dec 23, 2023

Merl E. Hahn, 98, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at the Laurels of Defiance. He was born on March 25, 1925 to Earl and Iva (Eitniear) Hahn in Defiance, OH.  In 1950 he married Anna Marie Shartzer, who passed away in 2000. In 2001 Merl married Rose Lang-Roehrig, who preceded him in death in 2016....

Dec 23, 2023

Kenneth H. Morris died at his home peacefully in Temperance, MI on Saturday, December 23, 2023. He is now one of God's Brightest Angels.

Ken was born on August 8, 1933 in Defiance, Ohio, the son of Fredrick (Dick) and D'Nell (Fout) Morris who preceded him in death. He was a 1951 graduate of Defiance High School...

Dec 22, 2023

Pauline Ellen Coressel, 92, of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday evening, December 22, 2023 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, OH. She was born on November 14, 1931 to the late Paul "Skip" and Agnes (Mohr) Skiver in Defiance, OH. Due to Pauline's mother passing away when she was only two years old, and her father remarried when...

Dec 19, 2023

Carl H Kruse, 87, of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on May 15, 1936, to Carl and Ruth (Taylor) Kruse in Paulding, Ohio. On May 4, 1963, he married Lavonna King who survives in Defiance.

Carl worked as a Millwright for General Motors and was a...

Dec 18, 2023

Mary Hernandez, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the age of 71, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on September 16, 1952, in Defiance, Ohio, Mary was the daughter of the late Lupe and Guadalupe (Garza) Basquez.

Mary is survived by her two loving...

Dec 18, 2023

Philip Amos Frederick Sr., age 67, of Defiance, died peacefully in his home on Monday December 18, 2023. He worked as an Operator for Johns Manville for 28 years. Phil was a lifetime member of the Amvets, APA association, and a member at the Eagles. He loved to play pool and played in leagues for 25 plus years. Phil...

Dec 17, 2023

David Paul Westrick, 67, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at his home. He was born on December 15, 1956, to Walter and Elnora (Bunke) Westrick in Defiance, OH. David worked as a Diesel Mechanic for GM for 47 years. He married Patricia Sandys on February 24, 1984. David loved playing with his granddaughter Rory. In...

Dec 17, 2023

Gary Alan Mack, 63, of Cecil, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at the Paulding County Hospital. He was born on December 24, 1959 to Paul and Betty (Taylor) Mack in Defiance, Ohio.  On September 4, 1984 he married Anita Rigg who survives in Cecil. Gary served in the US Army for twelve years before retiring and kept...

Dec 14, 2023

Josefa "Chepa" Hernandez, age 88 of Miamisburg, Ohio, formerly of Defiance, passed away peacefully at the Ohio Hospice of Dayton on Thursday, December 14, 2023. She was born on March 31, 1935 to Simon and Clarita (Guevarra) Garcia in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Josefa worked as a teacher's assistant for Head Start and a migrant program. She served...

Dec 13, 2023

Paul E. Bockelman, age 95, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance. He was born on April 28, 1928 to the late William and Alma (Baden) Bockelman in Defiance, Ohio. He was a graduate of Jewel High School. On April 28, 1962, he married the love of his life Dorothy Hutchins, who...

Dec 12, 2023

Mable R. Spangler, age 90 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Trustwell Living Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. Born May 13, 1933, the daughter of Charles J. and Pearl (Schliesser) Baker. She and her siblings were raised in a two family house, built by their great-grandfather in 1881.

Mable attended and graduated...

Dec 9, 2023

Richard W. "Rich" Hammons, age 74 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on September 21, 1949 to Donald and Elvira (Brown) Hammons in Phoenix, Arizona. Rich proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He worked at several warehouse locations in the area. Rich helped hang...

Dec 9, 2023

Michael W. Wagner, age 78 of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Englewood Healthcare Center in Ft. Wayne. He was born on April 25, 1945 to Harold and Violet (Gerber) Wagner in Defiance, Ohio. Michael was a 1963 graduate of Defiance High School. On October 7, 1978 he married Carol Gee, who survives. Michael...

Dec 6, 2023

Billy Don Cantrell, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at his home in Napoleon, Ohio. He was born on March 19, 1942 to the late Clifford and Imel Faye (Justice) Cantrell in Fedscreek, Kentucky. Billy proudly served our country in the U.S. Army  during the Vietnam War. On July 6, 1964 he married Janet Burris, who...

Dec 6, 2023

Edward W. "Ed" Stephens, age 83 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at St. Anne Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on July 15, 1940 to the late Carl and Lura Lucille (Phillips) Stephens in Defiance, Ohio. Ed proudly served our country in the U.S. Army and earned his Bachelor's degree from Defiance College....

Dec 5, 2023

Irvin Allen Adams, age 85, passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday afternoon, December 5, 2023. He currently lived in Defiance, Ohio but was a longtime resident of Houma, Louisiana.

He was born on September 30, 1938 to Jack E. Adams and Olita R. Adams in Houston, Texas. Irvin is an Air Force Veteran, and retired...