USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
BEAR
Raymond E. Bear, 83, of Delphos, died at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, October 31, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born September 30, 1921, in Jackson Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Oscar W. and Gwen A. (Evans) Bear. He married Glennadine M. Bear on July 17, 1943, and she survives in Delphos.
Mr. Bear retired from E&R Trailer Sales and Service after 20 years. He was a member of the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He enjoyed fishing and toy trains.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Steven (Robin) Bear of Delphos; one daughter, Patty Stant of Lima; three grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and one stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, John Bear, and one sister, Leona Hetrick.
Private funeral services will be conducted, with Rev. Wayne Prater officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements were handled by Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos.
LOCKERBY
Josie Wave Lockerby, 96, formerly of Big Rapids, Mich., died at 2 a.m. Sunday, October 21, 2004, at the residence of her daughter near Convoy.
She was born February 20, 1908, in White Cloud, Newaygo County, Mich., the daughter of the late Ferdinand and Lola (Rhoades) Briggs. On March 8, 1924, she married Erwin A. Lockerby, who died November 21, 1977.
Mrs. Lockerby was a homemaker and member of Third Avenue Methodist Church in Big Rapids, Mich. She volunteered for RSVP in Big Rapids and enjoyed church activities and crafts.
Survivors include a son, Danny A. (Maritha) Lockerby of Orange Park, Fla.; two daughters, Betty (Bill) Obert of Big Rapids, Mich., and Jean (Wallace M.) Wittung of Convoy; a brother, Kenneth (Ruth) Briggs of Fruitport, Mich.; 14 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by eight brothers, Thomas, Chester, Comet, Burr, Jay, Elwin, Russell and Lawrence Briggs, and two sisters, Vida Shelkey and Clarinda Briggs.
Funeral services will be scheduled at a later in Michigan.
Funeral arrangements were made by Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert.
REICHERT
Randall Dean "Zeke" Reichert, 51, of Van Wert, died at 1:12 p.m. Thursday, October 28, 2004, at his residence.
He was born May 28, 1953, in Van Wert, the son of Christopher H. (Barb) Reichert Sr. and Margie (John) Branch, both of whom survive in Van Wert. On October 14, 1972, he married Catherine Bates, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Reichert retired fro m the former Continental Can and Sonoco Fibre Drum manufacturing plant in Van Wert after 25 years of service. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 and American Legion Post 178, both of Van Wert; Van Wert Masonic Lodge and Van Wert Shrine Club. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era and served in Germany.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by three brothers, Christopher H. Reichert Jr. and Michael (Tracey) Reichert, both of Van Wert, and Dennis Branch of New Bremen; two sisters, Brenda (Garry) Bidlack and Stacy (Brett) Strick, both of Van Wert, and a great-niece, Amanda Hartman, who was being raised by Randall and Catherine in Van Wert.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, November 1, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Father Charles Obinwa officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 3, in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City, with services by the combined honors units of VFW Post 5803 and Legion Post 178.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Sunday, October 31, at the funeral home, where there will be a parish wake service conducted at 7:45 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor's choice.
SPRIDGEON
C. Evelyn Spridgeon, 90, of 538 S. Chestnut St., Van Wert, died Thursday afternoon, October 28, at her residence.
She was born July 17, 1914, in York Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Martin and Treva (Brown) Johnson. On July 26, 1936, she married Leo Leonard "Bus" Spridgeon, who died May 26, 1994.
Mrs. Spridgeon was a homemaker and a 1933 graduate of Middle Point High School.
Survivors include a son, James L. (Jean) Spridgeon of Van Wert; one daughter, Marilyn (Richard) Mohler of LaGrange, Ga.; a brother, Pete (Ruth) Johnson of Sun City Center, Fla.; one sister, Dorotha White of Venice, Fla.; four grandchildren, Kara and Kirk Spridgeon of Van Wert, Nancy Mohler Davis of Westerville and Matt Mohler of Troy, Mich.; five great-grandchildren, and 12 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Johnson, and one sister, Mary Edith Bradford.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 31, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Doug Stockton of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Calling hours are 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gardeners of Van Wert County or the Van Wert EMS squad.
STRUKAMP
Lester E. Strukamp, 76, formerly of Van Wert and Rockford, died at 2:22 p.m. Tuesday, October 5, 2004, at the Laurels of Shane Hill nursing home in Rockford.
He was born May 21, 1928, in Casella, the son of the late Henry George and Anna Marie (Ahrens) Strukamp.
Mr. Strukamp was a self-employed carpenter in the Van Wert area for many years. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert and was a missionary and comrade to the Rev. Michael O'Connal at the Soul Salvage Center in Saratoga, Ohio. He served with the U.S. Army in Germany during World War II and was a member of the "Ice House Brigade" in Van Wert.
Survivors include two sons, Karl (Robin) Strukamp and Kurt Strukamp, both of Van Wert; three daughters, Victoria Kennedy of Wittenberg, Wis., Becky (Joe Stephens) Coon of Lima and Tanya Haller of Van Wert; two sisters, Rose Griffith of South Carolina and Irene Siegel of Georgia; 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Elmer Strukamp and Bernard Strukamp, who died in infancy, and four sisters, Mildred Vagedas, Luella Cain, Dorothy Rockwood and Anna Marie Monbeck.
There will be no funeral services nor visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
BLAKE
Brett Alan Blake, 46, of Van Wert, died at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2004, from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident on Lincoln Highway east of Van Wert.
He was born May 16, 1958, in Van Wert, the son of John Blake and Dotty (Vetter) Blake, who both survive in Van Wert.
Mr. Blake attended Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert.
Other survivors include a brother, Brian (Donna) Blake of Grand Forks, S.D., and his paternal grandmother, Ida May Blake of Van Wert.
Private funeral services will be conducted, with the Rev. Raymond Feeck officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements were handled by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
MILLER
Elliana Grace Miller, 1, of Goshen, Ind., died at 1:18 p.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at James Whitcombe Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Ind.
She was born April 10, 2003, the daughter of Travis and Holly (Ransbottom) Miller.
Other survivors include paternal grandparents Gary and Deb Miller of Van Wert; maternal grandparents Bob and Mary Kay Ransbottom of Rockford; great-grandparents Helen Mace of Van Wert and Lydia Burke of Berne, Ind., and many aunts, unclues and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, October 24, at Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert, with Pastors Russ Hunsberger and W. Clark Williman officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Rockford.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Saturday, October 23, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Sunday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
