USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
PIERNER
Richard P. Pierner, 65, of Delphos, died at 7 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2004, at his residence.
He was born December 24, 1938, in Green Bay, Wis., the son of the late Richard and Ruth (Pagenkopf) Pierner. On October 17, 1965, he married Ella Mae Brede, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Pierner worked as a supervisor at Continental Can company in Van Wert. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Delphos, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 886 in Van Wert, and the Van Wert Moose Lodge. He loved the Green Bay Packers and was an avid fisherman.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Kevin Pierner of Tulsa, Okla.; one daughter, Dawn Pierner of Spencerville; three sisters, Barbara (John) Choinski, Kay (Carey) Bohn and JoAnn (Robert) DuBois, and two grandchildren, Justice and Cole Pierner.
He was preceded in death by a son, Kirk Pierner.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, at Schauer & Schumaker in Green Bay, the Rev. William Schultz officiating.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Saturday, January 31, and 2-6 p.m. Sunday, February 1, at Harter & Son Funeral Home, with a closing prayer service following visitation on Sunday at 6 p.m. Calling hours at Schauer & Schumaker in Green Bay will from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 3.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Delphos, Moose Heart or the American Diabetes Association.
FALKE
Bernard M. "Bernie" Falke, 75, of Delphos, died at 1:58 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2004, at his residence.
He was born December 27, 1928, in Delphos, the son of the late Ben and Mary (Kleman Rahrig) Falke. On April 7, 1972, he married Waanataa "Nita" Fox, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Falke retired from Bockey Motor Sales. He was a member of St. John the Evangelistic Catholic Church in Delphos and graduated from Delphos St. John's High School in 1946. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3035 in Delphos and the Delphos American Legion post. He enjoyed woodworking and was an avid fan of Delphos St. John's, Delphos Jefferson and Cincinnati Reds teams and enjoyed going to Florida for baseball spring training.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Douglas (Jennifer) Falke of Columbus and Craig (Tammy) Falke of Springfield; two daughters, Tamra (Gary) Hall of West Jefferson and Lynn (Jim) Parker of Hilliard; a sister, Elda Calvelage of Delphos; a brother-in-law, Arnold Liebrecht; a sister-in-law, Helen Rahrig; nine grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, February 2, at St. John the Evangelistic Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Thomas Gorman and the Rev. David Howell officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos, with military graveside rites performed by the Delphos Veterans Council.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Saturday, January 31, and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, February 1, at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the West Central Ohio Kidney Foundation.
HARTER
Paul R. Harter Jr., 79, of Delphos, died at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2004, at his residence.
He was born February 20, 1924, in Delphos (Marbletown), the son of the late Dale Sr. and Margaret (Bodkin) Harter. He first married Elma Wright, who preceded him in death. He later married Carla (Judkin) Weaver, who survives in Delphos.
Mr. Harter was a funeral director from 1945 to the present at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos and served on a variety of church committees. He was a 50-year member of Hope Lodge 214, Free & Accepted Masons; Spencerville Chapter 169, Royal Arch Masons; Delphos Council 72, Royal & Select Masons, and Ivanhoe Commandery 54, Knights Templar. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and also belonged to American Legion Post 268 in Delphos. Other memberships include Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Toledo, Antioch Shrine of Dayton, Elks lodge, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 471 in Delphos, National Rifle Association, Okoboji Indians and a charter member and past president of Delphos Rotary Club. He was a former chairman of the board of The Commercial Bank in Delphos and served on the board for 27 years, from 1967-1994. He also was appointed by former Governor James Rhodes to the state banking board and he served for three years. Mr. Harter loved to travel, enjoyed hunting, fishing and trap shooting and had earned various trophies and awards. He loved his family and his friends. He was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes and Delphos Jefferson Wildcat fan.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Douglas (Colleen) Harter of Delphos, Douglas (Mary Jo) Weaver of Columbus and Craig (Kathy) Weaver of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two daughters, Margaret (David) Pawlicki of Maumee and Denise (Michael) Matson of Findlay, and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, the Rev. David Howell officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Delphos, with graveside military rites performed by the Delphos Veterans Council.
Calling hours are 1-9 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, and 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, where a Masonic Memorial Service will be held at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church in Delphos or Shriners Hospitals.
FOSTER
Marilyn (Castle) Foster, 54, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died Saturday, January 31, in the Intensive Care Unit of Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born July 23, 1949, in Louisville, Ky., the daughter of Irma Laidig and George Castle, both of Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Foster formerly worked for Essex Wire and Don Hall's Factory restaurant, both in Fort Wayne.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a daughter, Tina (Brian) Baxter of Van Wert; one son, Jeremy Foster of Fort Wayne; a sister, Jeanette (Charles) Hite Jr. of Wilmington, N.C.; a granddaughter, Raegan Baxter of Van Wert; one grandson, Reed Baxter of Van Wert, and two stepgrandsons, Zach Baxter of Convoy and Kyle Baxter, serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 4, at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, 4017 Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, at the funeral home.
NOFER
Francis A. Nofer, 88, of 12307 Convoy Heller Road, Van Wert, died at 3:18 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home.
He was born July 17, 1915, in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Charles and Martha (Gund) Nofer. On November 20, 1937, he married Ruth Martha Etzler, who died January 2, 2002.
Mr. Nofer was a retired farmer and a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Van Wert. He was a 1933 graduate of Wren High School.
Survivors include three sons, Robert (Dixie) Nofer and Thomas (Marjorie) Nofer, both of rural Ohio City, and William Nofer of Farmdale; a sister, Mamie (Chalmer) Smitley of Berne, Ind.; six grandchildren, Barbie, Sandy, Bill Jr., Christian, Matthew and Dana Nofer, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert George Nofer and Henry Nofer.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, January 9, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Van Wert-Decatur Road, with Duane Morrissette officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 8, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert.
WARD
Juanita M. Ward, 77, of Lima, died at 10:40 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born January 25, 1926, in Paintsville, Ky., and daughter of the late Charles W. and Norma V. (Conley) Ferguson.
Ms. Ward retired from Ex-Cello-Textron after 35 years of service.
Survivors include two sons, Larry (Shirley) Ward of Wheaton, Ill., and Carl Ward of Lima; three sisters, Mildred King of Staffordsville, Ky., Bonnie Picklesimer of Lima and Jewell Sole of Paintsville, Ky., two grandchildren, John and James Ward, and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, January 9, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Thursday, January 8, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Ms. Ward to the Christian Appalachia Project.
LINK
Mathew G. Link, 49, of Delphos, died at 4:48 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004, at his residence in Phoenix, Ariz.
He was born February 1, 1954, in Lima, the son of Charles and Barbara (Altman) Link, both of whom survive in Quincy, Mich. He was not married.
Mr. Link worked for Dana Corporation in Lima. He was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, was a jack of all trades and enjoyed fishing. He was a past member of Eagles Aerie 471 in Delphos and a member of St. John the Evangelistic Catholic Church in Delphos. He graduated from Delphos Jefferson High School in 1972.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a son, Jarred Polser; one daughter, Amanda (Chris "Bud") Kuhlman of Ottawa; a sister, Christine (Frank) Wulfhorst of Delphos; two brothers, Mark (Nancy) Link and Chad (Tammy) Link, both of Columbus, and two grandchildren, Kenna Jade and Hayden Christopher Kuhlman.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 10, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, with Father Thomas Gorman officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 9, at the funeral home, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:45 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Link to the American Leukemia Society.
