USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
BRUNK
Rita S. Brunk, 65, of Delphos, died at 2:20 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born February 23, 1938, in Delphos, the daughter of the late Walter and Gertrude (Matson) Fair.
Ms. Brunk was a real estate agent for 30 years with Yocum Realty of Delphos and was, for many years, a Million Dollar Club salesperson. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos, the Delphos Ladies Club (formerly Lioness Club), Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary 296, Eagles Auxiliary 471 and United Methodist Women and Prayer Chain.
Survivors include a daughter, Kimberly (Dan) Hohman of Van Wert; two sisters, Rose Mary Settlage of Lima and Lois (Wilbur) Markward of Delphos; one brother, Donald (Betty) Fair of Lima, and a granddaughter, Kylie Hohman.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Rolland Fair, and one sister, Beth Ann Knebel.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 12, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, the Rev. David Howell officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
SWOVELAND
Fern Leah Swoveland, 87, of 133 Boyd Ave., Van Wert, died at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, February 15, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born August 30, 1916, in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Martin and Olivia Jane (Finkhousen) Oechsle. On August 30, 1936, in Wren, she married William Dorse Swoveland, who survives in Van Wert.
Mrs. Swoveland retired as manager of the Sears catalog office in Van Wert. She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Van Wert, where she had served as superintendent of the Junior Sunday School and sang in the church choir. She was a 1934 graduate of Wren High School.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Linda Gunn of Portsmouth, N.H., and two grandchildren, Matthew and Cameron Gunn.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Marvin Franklin Oechsle, Albert Oechsle and Leroy Oechsle, and two sisters, Princess Oechsle and Ester LaRue.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 18, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Van Wert, the Rev. Kenyon Kaehr, Rev. Ron Fruth and Rev. Dr. Edward Jillson officiating. Burial will be in Evangelical Protestant Cemetery in Harrison Township.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Health Professionals in Van Wert.
SHENK
Zela Belle Shenk, 89, of Elida, died at 10:10 a.m. Sunday, February 15, 2004, at the home of Robert and Cretora Hilty, with whom she resided since 1999.
She was born September 14, 1914, in Allen County, Ohio, the daughter of the late Menno and Emma (Brunk) Shenk. She never married.
Miss Shenk was a member of Pike Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., had accepted Christ Jesus as her savior early in life and was faithful to the Lord until her death.
She is survived by many cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Laurel Shenk.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, at Sharon Mennonite Church in Elida, with local brethren officiating. Burial will be in Pike Mennonite Cemetery in Elida.
Calling hours are from 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Sharon Mennonite Church for Missions.
Arrangements were handled by Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos.
EVANS
Thomas L. Evans, 84, of Van Wert, died Sunday, February 15, 2004, in Tucson, Ariz.
He was born December 1, 1919, in Venedocia, the son of the late David Bebb and Hannah H. (Evans) Evans. He was married to Grace H. Shumaker, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Evans retired from Teleflex Corp. in Van Wert after 25 years of service. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of American Legion Post 178 and Voiture 154, 40 et 8, both in Van Wert.
Survivors include two sons, Dr. James L. (Karen) Evans of Tucson and Ronald E. (Bong) Evans of Salem, N.H.; a daughter, Margaret A. (Ken) Cross of Middle Point; one brother, David (Grace) Evans of Venedocia, and four grandchildren, Christina Evans, Meghan Thatcher, Stephen Evans and Ashely Evans.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Job Stagner officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point, with military graveside rites performed by the combined honor guards of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 in Van Wert.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 19, at the funeral home, where a 40 et 8 memorial service will be conducted at 7:45 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor's choice.
KEYS
Betty "Jo" (Vogt) Keys, 70, of Van Wert, died at 4:13 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
She was born January 27, 1934, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late Eugene E. and Dorothy M. (Crawford) Vogt.
Ms. Keys retired in 1996 from Findlay Industries in Ohio City. She was a former member of American Legion Auxiliary 178 and the Women of the Moose, both in Van Wert.
Survivors include a daughter, Lisa (Jake) Shoop-Trisel of Van Wert; six grandchildren, Samantha Jo Trisel, Jennifer Casey, Jon Trisel, David (Kim) Trisel, Sherri (Dan) McClure and Jill (Jim) Toney; nine great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. There will be private burial services held.
Calling hours are 2-7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor's choice.
LESHER
Ruth J. Lesher of Van Wert died at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital.
She was born in Easton, Pa., the daughter of the late John and Emma (Behm) Schaible. She married Harry E. Lesher, who survives.
Mrs. Lesher was a homemaker. She attended the Spencerville Church of Christ and belonged to the Order of Eastern Star in Phillipsburg, N.J., and Daughters of the Nile in Fort Wayne, Ind. "She was a kind and loving person who loved her family and friends."
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Richard E. (Barbara) Lesher of Ocala, Fla.; two daughters, Marie R. (Charles) Violet of Spencerville and Jean C. (Gene) Wilson of Van Wert; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at a later date at Spencerville Cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert Community Health Professionals/Visiting Nurses or a local charity of donor's choice.
Arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
MINNIG
Eugene J. Minnig, 92, of Fort Jennings, died at 7:53 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2004, at Paradise Oaks in Cloverdale.
He was born September 5, 1911, in Delphos, the son of the late Joseph and Margaret (Hesseling) Minnig. On September 27, 1948, he married Thelma Crede, who survives in Fort Jennings.
Mr. Minnig was retired from St. Marys' Foods in Delphos. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army from 1942-1946, and belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3740 in Ottoville and the Fort Jennings American Legion Post. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Deborah Lewis of Van Wert and Margaret Mowery and Christin Sybert, both of Fort Jennings; a sister, Coelestine Brockman of Fort Jennings; one brother, Kermit Minnig of Delphos; seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, one sister, a grandson and one great-grandson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ottoville, with Father Tony Borgia officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery in Fort Jennings.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos, where a VFW service will be held at 7:30 that evening and a parish wake service at a time not listed.
