Obituaries

Oct 25, 2023

William F. "Bill" Rieke, age 98, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born on September 13, 1925 to Ferdinand and Vera (Harrow) Rieke in Paulding, Ohio. He was a 1943 graduate of Oakwood High School. He proudly served our country in Iwo Jima in the U.S. Army as an Air...

Oct 25, 2023

Robert  H. "Bud" Cereghin Jr., age 84, peacefully passed away on Wednesday afternoon, October 25, 2023 at his home in Defiance, surrounded by his family. He was born on February 22, 1939 to Salome (Gustwiller) and Robert H. Cereghin Sr. in Defiance, Ohio. Bud was a 1957 graduate of Defiance High School. On October 17, 1959 he married Joan...

Oct 24, 2023

Floyd A. Culver, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 surrounded by his family at his residence in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on April 13, 1941 to Floyd R. and Dorothy (Schwilk) Culver in Bucyrus. On August 14, 1965 he married Ann Schaffer, his surviving spouse.  He earned his Bachelor's Degree from The Ohio State University...

Oct 24, 2023

Clifton G. Wolf, age 90 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Hospice of NW Ohio in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was born on September 12, 1933 to Richard and Florence (Brecth) Wolf in Highland Township, Ohio. Clifton was a 1951 graduate of Holgate High School. On August 10, 1952, he married Helen Yackee, who preceded...

Oct 20, 2023

Julie M. Van Curen, 1/30/1940 - 10/20/2023 of Sherwood, Ohio has left this world. Julie was known for her amazing cooking and baking skills. She was a bookkeeper until her retirement. She was the wife of the late James Van Curen Sr. Her son James Van Curen Jr. survives as does her grandchildren; Zachary (Kay) and Isabella Van Curen....

Oct 20, 2023

Rob F. Prough, 80, of Defiance, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Brookview Nursing Center in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on January 22, 1943 to Douglas and Vera (Johnson) Prough in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On November 4, 1983 he married JoAnn Perry, who survives. Rob proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam...

Oct 18, 2023

Rodger (Rod) G. Martin, age 78, of Defiance, Ohio passed away Wednesday October 18th, 2023, at The Laurels of Defiance.  He was born on May 29, 1945, to Gerald and Elizabeth (Rea) Martin in Defiance, Ohio.

Rod was a 1963 graduate of Ayersville Local High School where he was a member of the 1961 State Championship Basketball...

Oct 18, 2023

Alsace Trevino-Ramon, 33, of Defiance, passed away on  Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on May 3, 1990 to Steve Ramon and Patricia "Trish" Trevino in  Defiance. As a teenager, Alsace worked at Tom's Donuts and Wendy's. Alsace was a member of St Mary Catholic Church.  She had a heart...

Oct 17, 2023

Azura Skye Yant, daughter of Megan F. Weisenburger and Austin T. H. Yant of Defiance, was silently born on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Azura is survived by her grandparents, Jennie and Craig Weisenburger, Julia Snyder and Thomas Yant, all of Defiance, great-grandparents; Peggy McGladdery, Sheri (Mark) Cereghin, Linda and Jack...

Oct 13, 2023

Leslie John "Les" Guelde, 61, of Paulding, passed away on Friday October 13, 2023 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, Ohio. Les was born on August 16, 1962 to Herman and Jean (Webb) Guelde in Paulding, Ohio. He was a 1980 graduate of Defiance High School. Les worked as a coordinator for Campbell Soup Company in Napoleon, OH for...

Oct 12, 2023

Defiance, Ohio mourns the loss of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and proud Navy Veteran, Jonas Joseph Mack, who peacefully passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Born in Ney, Ohio on March 19, 1930, Jonas's life was a testament to resilience, love, unwavering dedication to his family, country, and his deep faith, instilled in him by his parents,...

Oct 7, 2023

Donald Lee "Casey" Adkins, age 88, of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at his residence. He was born on February 17, 1935, to King and Celia Adkins in Pikeville, Kentucky. Casey proudly served in the US Army. He worked for General Motors in Defiance for over 25 years. On June 15, 1957, he married Joann Singleton,...

Oct 5, 2023

Cheri L. Collins, age 68 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. She was born on December 27, 1954 to Fred and Mary Jane (Stuut) Ruess in Kalamazoo, Michigan. On April 29, 2006 she married Kenneth Collins, who survives.

Cheri proudly earned her Associate's Degree from Northwest State Community College, and...

Oct 5, 2023

Edna J. Beardsley, 89, of Hicksville, Ohio, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on November 22, 1933 to Charles and Margaurite (Mawhorr) Vogelsong in Defiance County, Ohio. On November 13, 1952 she married James Lee Beardsley, who preceded her in death. Together they...

Oct 4, 2023

Marion W. Hammer, age 98, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Born in Jewell, Ohio on August 12, 1925, Marion was the son of Carrol P. and Hazel M. (Hollabaugh) Hammer. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1943 and received a degree in Business from Defiance College...

Oct 4, 2023

Adron Combs, age 82 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on November 24, 1940 to the late Arvel and Ogie (Handshoe) Combs in Elmrock, Kentucky. On June 19, 2000 he married Leta Hutchins, who survives. Adron was a member of First Baptist Church in Bryan, Ohio. He...

Sep 30, 2023

Pamela Lively, 77, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023 in Bowling Green, Ohio. She was born on December 7, 1945 to Don Burroughs Jr. and Viola (Krause) Burroughs. She graduated from Jewell High School as Valedictorian of her class. She married Richard Michael on August 29, 1964 and they were together until his untimely death...

Sep 28, 2023

Glen E. Schlachter, age 75 of Defiance, passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on May 4, 1948 to Virgil and Audrey (Spitler) Schlachter in Tiffin, Ohio. In 1966 Glen graduated from New Riegel High School, and later that year he married Susan Reinhart. He...

Sep 24, 2023

Carol L. Henschen, 71, of Defiance, passed away Sunday, September 24, 2023 at her home with her children at her side. Carol was born on November 2, 1951 to Carl and Mary (Osborn) Wittenmyer in Bowling Green, Ohio. She was a 1969 graduate of Bowling Green High School. Carol worked as a clerk for several retail stores in the...

Sep 21, 2023

Frank J. Morawski, age 68 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born on August 17, 1955 to the late Frank and Joann (Daddino) Morawski in Chicago, Illinois. On June 28, 2005 he married Victoria Suntken, who survives. Frank owned and operated "Healthy U" in Defiance for several years. He was...