Obituaries

Feb 26, 2024

Emma Kay Maddock, age 77 of Defiance, passed away on Monday morning, February 26, 2024.

She was born on November 27, 1946, to John and Loretta (Lutz) Drennan in Medina, Ohio. On November 29, 1968, she married Roger Maddock who survives.

Emma grew up in Elyria Ohio. She got her bachelor's degree from BGSU in...

Feb 26, 2024

Mary Lou Missler, age 70 of Bryan, Ohio, passed away on Monday, February 26, 2024. She was born on April 10, 1953 to the late Sylvester and Marjorie (Allgire) Longsmith in Defiance, Ohio. On May 11, 1991 she married Paul Missler, who survives. Mary Lou was a faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bryan, and Defiance Eagles...

Feb 25, 2024

Vernon R. "Vern" Sweinhagen, age 76 of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was born on December 11, 1947 to the late Ralph and Clara Sweinhagen. On July 20, 1969 he married the love of his life Donna Wagner. Together they had a son Rodney who also preceded him in death. Vern...

Feb 24, 2024

Defiance, Ohio mourns the loss of a cherished wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Margaret Ann Mack, who passed away peacefully on February 24, 2024. Born on May 10, 1932, in Paulding, Ohio, Margaret was the beloved daughter of Paul and Margaret Hasch.

Margaret's life was one of enduring love and commitment. She graduated from Defiance High School...

Feb 23, 2024

Timothy J. Casarez, age 65 of Defiance, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on Friday, February 23, 2024. He was born on September 16, 1958 to the late Alfonso and Peggy (Frakes) Casarez in Napoleon, Ohio. He worked as a Truck Driver for Genova Products until his retirement in 2020. Tim enjoyed fishing, reading, spending time...

Feb 21, 2024

Diamantina Contreras, age 94 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on August 7, 1929 to the late Apolinar and Zeniada (Pena) Santos in Brownsville, Texas. On April 17, 1946 she married Ignacio Contreras, who preceded her in death on March...

Feb 21, 2024

Donald R. Gahris, age 74 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday morning, February 21, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on September 19, 1949 to Robert and Lois (Scheuerman) Gahris in Defiance, Ohio. Don was a 1967 graduate of Defiance High School, and earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo, where...

Feb 18, 2024

Elizabeth Jane Schaffer, 94 years, of Oregon, Ohio and formerly of Defiance, Ohio, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, with her children by her side on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at the Gardens of St. Francis, Oregon, Ohio, formerly the Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Home of the Aged. She had made her home there for...

Feb 17, 2024

John Henry Andrist, age 82 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024. He was born on November 9, 1941 to the late Henry and Norma (Viebauch) Andrist in Defiance. He was a 1959 graduate of Defiance High School. John proudly served our country in the U.S. Army in 1962.  In 1993, he married Sandra (Scheirer) Andrist who...

Feb 17, 2024

Betty J. Lehman, 90 of Defiance, Ohio passed from this life into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the Laurel's of Defiance.  Betty was born in Defiance on November 20, 1933 to the late Clarence A. "Lonnie" and Goldie M. (Mansfield) Floehr.  A lifetime resident of Defiance, Betty was a...

Feb 16, 2024

Janis R. Bliss-Hiler, age 78 of Defiance, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by her family on Friday, February 16, 2024. She was born on April 11, 1945 in Napoleon, Ohio to Jack and Ruth (Jennings) Bliss. Janis was a 1963 graduate of McClure Damascus High School. She married Norman A. Hiler, Sr. on November 2, 1991, who survives....

Feb 14, 2024

Enrique "Rick" Vasquez Martinez Jr., age 47 of Defiance, Ohio, went home to be with Jesus his Lord and Savior surrounded by his wife and family on Wednesday morning, February 14, 2024 at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. He was born on June 21, 1976 to Enrique and Elizabeth (Urbina) Martinez Sr. in Defiance, Ohio. On...

Feb 12, 2024

Benjamin "Ben" Rodriguez Jr., age 53 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born on August 31, 1970 to Benjamin and Virginia (Rosado) Rodriguez in Chicago, IL. Ben was a 1989 graduate of Defiance High School. On August 11, 2007 he married Leah Cripe, who survives. He worked...

Feb 12, 2024

Mark A. Wilhelm, age 54 of Continental, Ohio, passed away on Monday morning, February 12, 2024 at his residence. He was born on March 20, 1969 to the late Tom and Linda (Peterson) Wilhelm in Findlay, Ohio. Mark was a 1987 graduate of Findlay High School. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy. On May 30, 2003...

Feb 11, 2024

Thomas E. Kinder Sr., age 79 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at The Laurels of Defiance. He was born on November 3, 1944 to the late Art and Luella (Moore) Kinder in Defiance, Ohio. On September 11, 1965 he married Janis Conkright, who preceded him in death on May 27, 2023.

Tom...

Feb 10, 2024

Benjamin Lee "Ben" Huner, age 75 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born on August 1, 1948 to the late Melvin and Eleanor (Thieroff) Huner in Defiance, Ohio. Ben was a 1966 graduate of Defiance High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corp. from 1968 to 1970....

Feb 8, 2024

In the grace of our Lord, we bid farewell to Celia Ovalle, nee Montemayor, who was called to the Lord's embrace on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in Defiance, Ohio. Celia, age 92, lived a life marked by humility, a profound respect for all God's creation, and an unwavering commitment to her faith.

Celia is lovingly survived by...

Feb 3, 2024

Francis Edward "Ed" Pessefall, age 85 of Sherwood, Ohio, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 3, 2024. He was born on August 24, 1938 to the late Francis and Opal (Thrasher) Pessefall in Oakwood, Ohio. On January 24, 1959 he married the love of his life, Dorothy Coressel, who resides in Sherwood. Ed was a...

Jan 29, 2024

Earl "Ed" Brown of Ney, Ohio, passed away on Monday evening, January 29, 2024 at his residence. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 5, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at the funeral home, with Celebrant Deb...

Jan 28, 2024

Kerrie Ann Tressler, age 50 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on April 14, 1973 to Kay (Glass) and Donald "Donnie" Dodson Jr. in Paulding, Ohio. On September 28, 2011 she married Brian Tressler, who survives. Kerrie worked for several years...