Obituaries

Nov 16, 2022

DEFIANCE — Our wonderful and beautiful mother Betty Varner sadly passed November 16, 2022, at the age of 96.

She was born August 29, 1926, to Isadore and Elva (Burt) Breckler. She was a 1944 graduate of Highland-South Richland High School. In May of 1945 she married Raymond Varner. She is survived by sons, Jerry (Ginny), Dick...

Nov 16, 2022

Carol Ann Wiemken, 72, of Defiance, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Cletus and Irene (Wagner) Baker on February 22, 1950 in Defiance, Ohio. Carol was a 1968 graduate of Ayersville High School. On her birthday, February 22, 1974 she married Jerry Wiemken...

Nov 15, 2022

David O. Bidlack, age 78 of Cecil, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday morning, November 15, 2022. He was born on July 9, 1944 to the late Olan and Myrtle (Miller) Bidlack in Defiance, Ohio. On July 13, 1963 he married Sharon (Fockler) Bidlack who survives. David was a truck driver for Maxey Trucking...

Nov 11, 2022

Rosemary Casarez, age 66 of Defiance, passed away in her home with her family by her side on Friday, November 11, 2022. She was born on June 24, 1956 to the late Albert and Rose (Gutierrez) Figueroa in Lima, Peru. On October 21, 1972 she married Sarepio Casarez Jr and he survives. Rosemary was a homemaker and a loving...

Nov 11, 2022

Shirley Ann Embry Knight Crawford, age 85 of West Unity, Ohio, entered into Heaven on Friday, November 11, 2022. She was born on July 4, 1937 in Butler County, Kentucky to the late Mal and Ruby Embry. Shirley grew up in Louisville where she loved riding the bus downtown to watch movies or go skating. She was a 1955...

Nov 9, 2022

Herbert L."Herb" Mack Jr., age 79 of Ney, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Parkview Hospital Randallia in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on July 16, 1943 to the late Herbert and Ruth (Sieg) Mack in Defiance, Ohio. Herb was a 1961 graduate of Defiance High School and attended International Business College. He proudly served...

Nov 8, 2022

Roland "Rollie" C. Cameron, age 72 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on July 29, 1950 to the late Larid and Vera (Boyd) Cameron in Defiance, Ohio. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze...

Nov 8, 2022

Joseph Dallas Messerman, age 93 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on October 10, 1929 to the late Joseph and Louise (Murschel) Messerman in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Joe proudly served our country in the U.S. Air Force. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Penn State. On June...

Nov 5, 2022

David A. Riggenbach, age 74 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born on December 16, 1947 to the late Clarence and Ruth (Thompson) Riggenbach in Paulding, Ohio. David was a 1966 graduate of Paulding High School. He worked for over 44 years at General...

Nov 4, 2022

Timothy Ward, age 62 of Defiance, passed away on  November 4, 2022 at his residence, surrounded by his family. He was born on December 30, 1959 to the late Thomas and Joan  (Hohenberger) Ward in Henry County, Ohio. On April 16, 1982 he married Kathleen Mansfield and she preceded him in death on May 19, 2002. Timothy worked for...

Oct 30, 2022

Vernon L. Morehead, age 85 of Fort Wayne, Indiana, formerly of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at Evergreen Village of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He was born on September 30, 1937 to the late Paul and Florence (Doenges) Morehead in Paulding County, Ohio. On May 28, 1960 he married Sandra (Seigman) Morehead, who preceded him in...

Oct 28, 2022

Henry J. "Hank" McCartney, age  92 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, October 28, 2022 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance, Ohio. He was born on July 8, 1930 to the late Henry and Ruth (Ruppert) McCartney in Hicksville, Ohio. On August 6, 1949 he married Barbara (Merz) McCartney, who preceded him in death on May 22, 2015....

Oct 26, 2022

Gerald Allen "JJ" Mansfield, Jr., age 59 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born on June 19, 1963 to Gerald and Janice (Yeager) Mansfield in Defiance, Ohio. Jerry was a 1981 graduate of Ayersville High School. On May 31, 2014 he married Kristi (Newberry) Mansfield, who survives. Jerry was...

Oct 24, 2022

Craig Steven Rau, age 40 of Defiance, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2022 in his home. He was born on February 19, 1982 to Lisa Christine Rau of Defiance. He is survived by his son, Dakota Rau and his minor daughter, both of Defiance, his brother David King Jr. of St. Petersburg, FL, his grandmother Penelope Yoh in...

Oct 24, 2022

Janie M. Grant, age 73 of Defiance, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday morning, October 24, 2022 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on January 2, 1949 to the late Leon and Vera (Smith) Gallant in Defiance, Ohio. On October 5, 1968 she married Ronald Grant, who survives. Janie was a member...

Oct 23, 2022

Bonnie May (Shock) Nagel went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 23, 2022, after a courageous battle with Alzhiemer's.

Bonnie was born to Cecil and Ethyl Shock on September 16, 1945 in Defiance, Ohio. She met the love of her life, David L. Nagel Sr., in 1960 while cruising the streets of...

Oct 22, 2022

Erasmo Elias Jr., age 45 of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at ProMedica Defiance Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born on December 10, 1976 to Erasmo and Virginia (Salinas) Elias in Defiance, Ohio. On May 1, 1999 he married his high school sweetheart Melissa (Martinez) Elias, who survives. Erasmo worked at...

Oct 22, 2022

Stella Rose Shininger passed into eternal life on October 22, 2022 at her home.  She was born in Defiance County, Ohio on July 11, 1941, the daughter of Carl and Agnes (Boff) Singer.  She married Robert J. Shininger on August 20, 1960 at Immaculate Conception Church, Marysdale and together they raised 10 children. As a homemaker she made a...

Oct 21, 2022

Jerry Lee Baden, age 66 of Defiance, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 21, 2022 at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital. He was born on February 23, 1956 to the late Fred and Hazel (Fair) Baden in  Defiance, Ohio. On June 29, 1974 he married Lori Yaw who preceded him in death in 2002. Jerry was the dedicated and proud...

Oct 20, 2022

Charline A. Miller, age  77 of Defiance, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, October 20, 2022 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born on January 26, 1945 to the late Raymond and Coletta (Lindeman) Bruns in Lima, Ohio. In April, 1966 she married Larry Miller, who preceded her in death in 2012.

Charline worked...