Obituaries

Apr 20, 2023

Virginia E. Mast, 97, Defiance, Ohio, died on Thursday, April 20, a few hours before her 98th birthday.

She was born on April 21, 1925, in Emerald Township, Paulding County, Ohio.  She was the daughter of Elsworth James Ankney and Coletta (Burkmire) Ankney.  She was married on June 30, 1947, to Donald Mast of Defiance County.

Apr 20, 2023

Kenn W. Sawmiller, age 71 of Defiance, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 20, 2023. He was born in Shelby County, Ohio to the late William and Doris (Burmeister) Sawmiller on November 26, 1951. Kenn proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy for 23 years and was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service...

Apr 20, 2023

Roger Theodore Westrick, age 81 of Defiance, Ohio entered eternal rest ­­on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Roger was born on July 3rd, 1941 in Defiance Ohio to Vincent and Florence Westrick. He graduated from Jewell High School in 1960 and proudly served our county in the U.S. Army from 1963-1965. He was...

Apr 20, 2023

Lorraine C. Strickland, age 87 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on January 26, 1936 to the late Alva and Hazel (Miller) Rawlins in South Webster, Ohio. On October 18, 1952 she married Herbert J. Strickland, who preceded her in death on September 6, 1999....

Apr 19, 2023

Jerry E. Curtice, age 82 of Bryan, Ohio, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born on June 24, 1940 to the late Cecil and Josephine Curtice in Toledo, Ohio. Jerry was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bryan, Ohio, and Bryan Eagles #2233. He worked at Ohio Art...

Apr 18, 2023

William M. Harader, age 84 of Punta Gorda, Florida, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Mercy New Life Hospice Center in Lorain, Ohio. He was born in Defiance on April 11, 1939 to the late Bernard and Viola (Engel) Harader. Bill was a 1957 graduate of Ayersville High School. He proudly served our country...

Apr 18, 2023

David Lee Rush, age 84 of Cecil, Ohio, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

David was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 31, 1938 to Erwin and Margaret (Bienz) Rush. He was a graduate of Paulding High School. In 1950 his parents moved him and...

Apr 18, 2023

Donald R. "Don" Overmeyer, age 94 of Defiance, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Glenn Park of Defiance. He was born in March, 1929 to the late Leo and Agnes (Stump) Overmeyer in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Don was a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Ft. Wayne, IN. He graduated from Purdue University in 1951 with...

Apr 18, 2023

Howard M. "Junior" Neff  Jr., age 79 of Defiance, passed away on  Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Mercy Hospital of Defiance. He was born on May 13, 1943 to the late Howard and Loretta (Wisda) Neff in Defiance, Ohio. On April 8, 1967 he married Sharon Schwab, who survives. Junior was a faithful member of St. John Catholic Church...

Apr 17, 2023

Bruce H. Ramsey, 69, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at The Laurel's of Defiance. He was born on April 19, 1953 to Robert and Margaret (Harris) Ramsey in Randolph County, Indiana . On December 10, 1992 he married the love of his life Le'Ann Barnett.

Bruce was a member of Ayersville United Methodist...

Apr 16, 2023

Sarah J. Wolfrum, age 62 of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at ProMedica Defiance Hospital. She was born on September 18, 1960 to the late George and Berta (Smith) Morris in Defiance, Ohio. She was a 1978 graduate of Defiance High School. On May 11, 1985 she married Mark Wolfrum, who survives. Sarah was a...

Apr 15, 2023

Melvin (Lewie) Hageman Jr., 72, of Defiance, passed away on  April 15, 2023 at the his residence. He was born on July 5, 1950 to Melvin "Red" and Marie (Spangler) Hageman in Defiance.  On  May 15, 2012, he married Tina (Leatherman) Hageman who survives in Defiance. Lewie was a 1968 graduate of Ayersville High School and had several tech...

Apr 14, 2023

Walter E Snyder, 93, of Defiance, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Friday, April 14, 2023. Walter was born on May 24, 1929, in Prairie View, Kansas, to Albert and Thelma E. (Smith) Snyder. On October 21, 1950, he married Phyllis Albert and they started a family together. On October 14, 1978, Walter married...

Apr 13, 2023

Sharon Kae Andrist, 78 of Defiance passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday,  April 13, 2023 at the CHP Defiance Area Hospice Inpatient Center.

Sharon was born June 24, 1944 to Leland "Nute" and Barbara  (Olinghouse) Mansfield. She was a graduate of Defiance High School in 1963. She resided in Sherwood ,Ohio for many years and...

Apr 12, 2023

Deloris M. Weber, 90, of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. She was born on August 23, 1932 to Dale and Caroline (Wurm) Amspaugh in Payne, Ohio.  On November 3, 1956 she married William E. Weber who preceded her in death on August 6, 2015. Deloris was a member of St Mary...

Apr 12, 2023

Cindy A Zipfel, 65, of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at her residence. She was born on February 5, 1958 to Donald and Joyce (Patton) Shain in Louisville, Kentucky.   On September 11, 1976 she married Paul Zipfel who survives.

Cindy was a Class of 76 graduate of Defiance High School and in 1990...

Apr 10, 2023

Helen Jean Weigandt (née Fuller) passed on her 89th birthday, April 10th 2023, in her home surrounded by family. Born in Hartsburg, Ohio Helen grew up in Oakwood and was a proud graduate of Oakwood HS. Helen is preceded by her beloved parents- Harry and Marie, the owners of Fuller's Nursery, and her sister Judy Figley.

Helen...

Apr 9, 2023

Eugene J. Batt, age 84 of Defiance, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at his residence. He was born on February 25, 1939 to the late Alphonse and Helen (Justinger) Batt in Hicksville, Ohio. On February 11, 1961 he married Margaret Burkhart, who survives. Gene was a faithful member of St. John's Catholic...

Apr 9, 2023

David M. Zedaker, age 72 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on July 16, 1950 to the late Richard and Angela (Burkmeyer) Zedaker in Defiance, Ohio. David proudly served our country in the U.S. Marines. On August 22, 1969 he married Jane Peffley who survives....

Apr 7, 2023

Benjamin R. Esquibel Sr., age 84 of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Friday morning, April 7, 2023 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on May 12, 1938 to the late Jose and Maria Esther (Rodriquez) Esquibel in Shepherd, Michigan. Benjamin proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and National Guard. On September 3, 1960...