Obituaries

May 1, 2024

Terry S. Elberson 82, of Bonita Springs, Florida died on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. Terry was born on October 11, 1941 in Fort Wayne, IN a son of the late Elwood L. and Jean (Pressler) Elberson. He had been a resident of Bonita Springs since 2017 coming from Fort Wayne.

Terry was...

Apr 30, 2024

Amy (Horn) Wildermuth Eitniear, age 62 of Sherwood, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on August 27, 1961 to Robert and Beth (Getts) Horn in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1986 she was married to Raymond "Butch" Wildermuth until his death in 2005....

Apr 30, 2024

Gary D. Siler, age 69 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on March 14, 1955 to Cletus and Ethel (Bushong) Siler in Defiance, Ohio. Gary was a 1973 graduate of Defiance High School. On May 27, 1977 he married Christine "Tina" Morris, who survives....

Apr 29, 2024

Melvin Lee Hoch, age 88 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 29, 2024 at the Laurels of Defiance. He was born on September 4, 1935 to Carl and Mary Gail (Wolford) Hoch in Bluffton, Ohio. On January 22, 1956 he married Phyllis Scott, who preceded him in death on July 1, 2020. Melvin was a faithful member...

Apr 28, 2024

Nicholas Mason Haver, age 16 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on October 2, 2007 to Thomas and Melissa (Hill) Haver in Maumee, Ohio. Nick was a Sophomore at Tinora High School, where he played football and was a member of FFA. He loved to work on vehicles, especially his...

Apr 28, 2024

Irene G. Zipfel, age 98 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on December 2, 1925 to the late Francis and Anna (Siler) Sheets in Defiance, Ohio. Irene was a 1944 graduate of Jewell High School. On April 21, 1947 she...

Apr 22, 2024

Fred H. Gruber, age 83, son of Janet and Fred W. Gruber, born February 16, 1941 in Waynesburg, Ohio died April 22nd, 2024 peacefully at CHP hospice after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Fred was a proud graduate of Ohio University.  It was there that he and Nancy Ann Gruber (Russell) met in the band and later married. ...

Apr 22, 2024

Lela G. Runyan, age 92 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on August 19, 1931 to the late John and Martha Scott. Lela was a graduate of Defiance High School. On March 20, 1955 she married Audus R. Runyan, who preceded her in...

Apr 20, 2024

David S. "Dave" Kellermyer, age 82 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born on December 8, 1941, to the late Lake and Gertrude (Grether) Kellermyer in Defiance, Ohio. Dave was a 1960 graduate of Defiance High School, and received his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio University in...

Apr 18, 2024

Rogelio "Roy" Presas, 83, was born in Texas on September 4th, 1941, and fell asleep peacefully in death, Thursday morning April 18th, 2024, at a hospice center located in Defiance, Ohio.

He enjoyed working many different jobs throughout the years, but mainly worked at Johns-Manville of Defiance as a maintenance supervisor for almost 25 years. He had...

Apr 18, 2024

Lewis E. Allen, 71, of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born on January 1, 1953 to Harold and Eleanor (Leser) Allen at Bay City , Michigan. Lewis worked for GM Powertrain for 35 years until his retirement in 2014.  He was a member of the Defiance AmVets #1991 and Eagles...

Apr 16, 2024

Phillip K. Winkler, age 77 of Cecil, Ohio, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on  Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at his home. He was born on March 14, 1947 to Phillip and Mary (Dennison) Winkler in Springfield, Ohio. Phillip attended South High School in Springfield, Ohio and proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967. On...

Apr 15, 2024

Judy Bower, age 74 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Monday evening, April 15, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born on December 15, 1949 to the late Ivan and Florence (Hammons) Bower.

Judy, or "JB" as many knew her, was a remarkable individual with a deep passion for sports, particularly...

Apr 13, 2024

Victor L. Ledbetter, age 67 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on December 20, 1956 to Clyde and Annabell (Relyea) Ledbetter in Defiance, Ohio. Victor was a 1975 graduate of Defiance High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy during the Iranian Crisis. On April...

Apr 13, 2024

Michael F. "Mike" Foy, Jr., age 49 of Celina, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St. Rita's Mercy Medical Center in Lima, Ohio. He was born on October 19, 1974 to Michael and Lillian (Emanuel) Foy in Newark, New Jersey. Mike was a 1993 graduate of Pinelands High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army...

Apr 12, 2024

Eileen A. "Granny" Michael, 98, of Sherwood, passed away peacefully in her home on April 12, 2024, in Sherwood, OH. She was born on April 21, 1925, to Alva and Blanche (Fockler) Schaffer in Defiance, OH. In 1942 she married Philip Michael, who preceded her in death on August 5, 1980. Eileen was a housewife and homemaker and also...

Apr 11, 2024

Charles W. Hardy, age 88 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on July 15, 1935 to the late Andrew and Mary (Cooley) Hardy in Defiance, Ohio. Charles attended Poplar Ridge Church of the Brethren. He was a lifelong farmer and lived on the homestead all...

Apr 10, 2024

Kevin J. Decker, age 75 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center, after an extended illness. He was born on September 9, 1948 to James and Mary (Hohenberger) Decker in Defiance, Ohio. On July 17, 1971 he married Diana Ordway, who survives.

Kevin proudly served our country...

Apr 9, 2024

John Anthony "Jack" Willitzer, Sr., age 92, passed away early morning on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at his home in Defiance. He lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Tim Hutson. Born on September 1, 1931 to the late Joseph and Helen (Hart) Willitzer in Independence, Ohio. He and his family lived in the old homestead built by...

Apr 8, 2024

Sherrell L. Meyer, 82, of Defiance, passed away on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Glenn Park surrounded by her family. She was born on April 8, 1942 to Muriel Fillman and Charles Volkert in Defiance. On June 22, 1963 she married Raymond J. Meyer who preceded her in death. She was a member of St Isidore Catholic Church (previously...