Obituaries

Paul Bockelman

Paul Bockelman

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...

Mable R. (Baker)  Spangler

Mable R. (Baker) Spangler

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...

Richard W. Hammons

Richard W. Hammons

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...

Michael W. Wagner

Michael W. Wagner

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...

Billy Don Cantrell

Billy Don Cantrell

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...

Edward W. Stephens

Edward W. Stephens

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....

Irvin Allen Adams Sr.

Irvin Allen Adams Sr.

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...

Fred D. Marckel

Fred D. Marckel

Dec 4, 2023

Frederick Daniel Marckel, age 93, of Ayersville, Ohio passed away peacefully at CHP Hospice Center in Defiance on December 4, 2023 from complications of pneumonia. Fred was born on October 25, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Arnold and Florence (Smolenske) Marckel. He attended Ayersville High School until his senior year and graduated from Defiance High School in...

Marlene L. (Engel)  Kopp

Marlene L. (Engel) Kopp

Dec 3, 2023

Marlene Lucille Kopp, age 87, passed away peacefully at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio on Sunday, December 3, 2023. She was born on April 7, 1936 to Ervin and Wilma (Whitney) Engle. Marlene was a graduate of Ayersville High School, class of 1954. On October 20, 1957 she married Jim Kopp who preceded her in death in January 2015....

Dennis E. (Jr.)  Mast

Dennis E. (Jr.) Mast

Dec 1, 2023

Dennis E. Mast, age 60 of Defiance, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 at Mercy Defiance Hospital. He was born on December 1, 1963 to Dennis and Mary (Eitniear) Mast in Defiance, Ohio. Denny graduated in 1982 as an honor student from Defiance High School. On December 7, 1996 he married Rhonda (Booher) Mast, who survives. Denny was...

Nancy Vasquez

Nancy Vasquez

Dec 1, 2023

Nancy Vasquez, age 45 of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 at UH Parma Medical Center in Parma, Ohio. She was born on August 1, 1978 to Manuel and Ada Perez-Vasquez in Defiance, Ohio. On February 28, 2015 she married Luis Lozada-Nieves, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Nancy was the most caring person. She was very...

Geraldine M. (Gearhart)  Funk

Geraldine M. (Gearhart) Funk

Nov 30, 2023

Geraldine M. Funk passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Glenn Park of Defiance. Geraldine was born in Defiance, Ohio on April 20, 1924 to J.I. and Blanche (Moore) Gearhart. She celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year, while surrounded by family. On April 8, 1944 Geraldine married her spouse of 73 years, Neal Funk. Geraldine was...

Christie Marie Price

Christie Marie Price

Nov 28, 2023

Christie M. Price, 46, commonly known as "Boog" by her close friends and family, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 in Traverse City, Michigan. She was born on December 6, 1976 to Michael and Connie "Sue" (Kelble) Baumle in Paulding, Ohio. Christie was employed at Royal Farms, Inc., in Ellsworth Michigan. She loved music, especially Pearl Jam and...

Joseph Matthew Farmer

Joseph Matthew Farmer

Nov 25, 2023

Joseph Matthew Farmer, age 43, passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at his home in Defiance. He was born on September 19, 1980 to William and Barbara (Mansfield) Farmer in Defiance, Ohio. Joseph was a 1999 graduate of Wayne Trace High School and was a self-employed contractor. He enjoyed 4-Wheelers and fishing, and was an avid fan of...

Patricia Kay Bok

Patricia Kay Bok

Nov 23, 2023

Patricia Kay Bok, age 86 of Defiance, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023 at The Laurels of Defiance. She was born on July 2, 1937 to Kathryn (Vail) Blosser and Lester Lee Byers in Bryan, Ohio. On June 7, 1959 she married Carl Bok Sr., who preceded her in death on September 1, 2009. Patricia was a member...

Janet M. (Houck)  Boyers

Janet M. (Houck) Boyers

Nov 22, 2023

Janet M. Boyers, age 71 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at Brookview Healthcare Center of Defiance. She was born on August 1, 1952 to the late Lester and Helen (Boff) Houck at Defiance. Jan was a 1970 graduate of Defiance High School. On January 31, 1975 she married her husband and best friend Tom...

Albert Lloyd Tennyson

Albert Lloyd Tennyson

Nov 22, 2023

Albert Lloyd Tennyson, age 81, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at his home in Defiance. He was born on September 13, 1942 to Clifford and Mary (Minton) Tennyson in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Al found love and companionship with Cheryl Tuohy. They were devoted to each other for forty years and happily married for...

Leon Bevins

Leon Bevins

Nov 15, 2023

Leon Bevins, age 77 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital with his family by his side. He was born on January 29, 1946 to Jonah Bevins and Blanch (McCoy) Roberts in Kentucky. On June 24, 1966 he married Laura B. Jude, who survives. Leon was a member of  Mt. Calvary Baptist Church...

Shirley Resendez

Shirley Resendez

Nov 14, 2023

Shirley Resendez, age 65 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 surrounded by her family at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was a dedicated wife and mother and was happily married to her husband Ricardo Resendez for 48 years.

There will be no visitation or services. Schaffer Funeral Home was honored to...

Kenneth E. "Gene" Rau Jr.

Kenneth E. "Gene" Rau Jr.

Nov 13, 2023

Kenneth E. "Gene" Rau Jr., age 77 of Antwerp, Ohio, peacefully passed away on Monday evening, November 13, 2023 at Antwerp Manor Assisted Living. He was born on March 22, 1946 to the late Clarabelle (Doan) and Kenneth Rau Sr. in Defiance, Ohio. After high school Gene proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War....