USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
HOERSTEN
Nada L. Hoersten, 65, of Rockford, died at 12:32 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at Lima Memorial Hospital, where she had been a patient the past four weeks.
She was born May 26, 1939, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Francis and Elizabeth Lucille (Stover) Bayles. On October 12, 1957, she married John J. Hoersten, who survives.
Mrs. Hoersten retired from Huffy's Manufacturing in Celina and had also worked for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Mercer County and also as a telephone operator for the Rockford Telephone Company. She lived in Van Wert and Mercer counties all her life, was a member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Rockford and a member of the Rockford Red Hat Society.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Stephen (Tammy) Hoersten of Brownsburg, Ind., and Bryan (Maureen) Hoersten of Elyria; a daughter, Barbara Ann Hoersten of Rockford; two brothers, Gary Bayles of Willshire and Jack (Rosie) Bayles of Bronson, Mich.; three sisters, Betty (Jimmy) Miller and Sandy Anderson, both of Willshire, and Patty (Lester) Weisner of Van Wert, and three grandsons, Casey, Adam and Matthew.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at St. Teresa's Catholic Church, with Father Thomas Brenberger officiating. Burial will be in Mercer Memory Gardens in Celina.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Monday, March 28, at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Association of Mercer County or the Rockford EMS Squad.
PROFFITT
Lela Ruth Proffitt, 88, of 1126 W. Main St., Van Wert, died at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
She was born February 23, 1917, in Rockford, the daughter of the late Cary Bowen and Gertrude M. Niferd. On November 25, 1937, in Monticello, she married James Curtis Glenn Proffitt, who died December 29, 1994.
Mrs. Proffitt was a homemaker and also worked as a cook at various area restaurants. She was a member of First United Brethren in Christ Church, where she had church pianist for many years. She was a graduate of Spencerville High School.
Survivors include two sons, Curtis D. (Carol) Proffitt and Cary G. (Ellen) Proffitt, both of Van Wert; a daughter, Lana S. Drewyore of Van Wert; six grandchildren, Theresa (Dennis) Bozza, Michael (Barbara) Proffitt, Brett (Lisa) Proffitt, Natalie (Dennis) Bowen, Lisa Thomas and Tim Drewyore, and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Winona M. Proffitt, and one brother, Harold Bowen.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 25, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Ryan Clark of First United Brethren in Christ Church officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
WICKSTROM
The Rev. Karl Einar Wickstrom, 95, of Otterbein Retirement Community in St. Marys, died at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at Otterbein-St. Marys.
He was born April 4, 1909, in Springfield, Mass., the son of Finnish immigrants, the late Karl Johan (Ragvals) and Lena Gustava (Bjork) Wickstrom. On June 10, 1937, he married his loving wife, Ruth Marian Larson, who died September 23, 2003.
Rev. Wickstrom retired as pastor emeritus of First Congregational Church in Manistee, Mich., and had served for more than 50 years as minister in various United Church of Christ churches across the United States. He graduated from North Park College in Chicago and was ordained in 1941 after graduating from Andover-Newton Theological Seminary. He was an avid stamp collector, artist and golfer and loved to travel with his family.
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie R. Jones of Van Wert and Dorothy (Ronald) Dirkse of Holland, Mich.; a son, Dr. K. Ted (Pam) Wickstrom of Prescott, Ariz., and six grandchildren, Erika (Owen) Rescher, Jasen (Angie) Dirkse, Matt Dirkse, Rachel (Adam) Armstrong, Chad Wickstrom and Chase Wickstrom.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Edith Wickstrom.
A memorial service will be conducted at a later date.
Memorial contributions ma be made on behalf of Rev. Wickstrom to the Benevolent Care Fund of Otterbein-St. Marys, 11230 State Route 364, St. Marys, OH 45885.
"The power of death can hold us only if we refuse to let our loved ones go. In life and in death they belong to God. Only love can heal our hearts, so let us love them and let them go."
GRUBAUGH
Venice Grubaugh, 89, formerly of Haviland, died at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at Golden Rule Nursing Center in Richmond, Ind.
She was born June 16, 1915, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Edward and Evah (Proxmire) Finegan. On March 10, 1939, she married T. Lynn Grubaugh, who died April 19, 2004.
Mrs. Grubaugh was a school teacher for the Melrose, Grover Hill, Fort Wayne City and Van Wert County school systems. She retired in 1976. Locally, she attended Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert and later Ravinia Park Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Bowling Green State University and St. Francis College in Fort Wayne. She had served on the Paulding County Board of Education, was a life member of the National Educational Association and the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and belonged to the Van Wert Woman's Club, Paulding County Retired Teachers Association, Van Wert County Retired Teachers Association, was a Delta Kappa Gamm (honorary teachers society) member and belonged to the National Association for the Mentally Ill of East Central Indiana.
Survivors include two sons, P. James (Maureen) Grubaugh of Haviland and Donald G. (Julie) Grubaugh of LaOtto, Ind.; a daughter, Sue Lynne (Ray) Raby of Richmond, Ind.; two sisters, Katherine Miller of Milledgeville, Ga., and Joe Ann Finegan of Rockford; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, and one stepgreat-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul O. and Gordon G. Finegan, and a sister, Agnes Croy.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Charles McMahan Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Blue Creek Cemetery in Paulding County.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 25, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ravinia Park Baptist Church in Richmond, Ind.
FOSTER
Evelyn E. Foster, 90, formerly of Van Wert, died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at Hawthorn Court Nursing Home in Paulding.
She was born September 29, 1914, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late William "Bill" and Golda (Davis) Priddy. At the age of 3 she was adopted by Ira and Nellie Royer, who also preceded her in death. On March 24, 1933, she married Elmer Earl Foster, who died September 20, 1992.
Mrs. Foster was a retired housekeeper at Van Wert County Hospital. She attended Wesley United Methodist Church in Van Wert.
Survivors include a son, William "Bill" (Noemi) Foster of Grover Hill; one daughter, Eileen Kay (Max) Kochensparger of Paulding; one stepsister, Pearl (Don) Sollberger of Huntsville, Ala.; eight grandchildren, Kathy (Jay) Denny and Mary Foster, both of Grover Hill, Kelly (Shawn) Kochensparger of Grand Rapids, Mich., Paula Kochensparger of Latty, Pearl Bland of Circleville, Earl Foster of Van Wert, Helen Foster of Scott and Magie (Joe) Guyton of Melrose, nine great-grandchildren, Jayme and Aryn Denny, Kaleb, Kanaan and Korban Kochensparger, Alex Roth and Kayla Bland, and Kelsey and Selena Guyton.
She was preceded in death by a stepmother, Gladene Ickes Royer; a daughter, Helen Joan Foster, three brothers, Glenn Greenbarry Priddy, Norman Wellington "Pat" Priddy and Nick Marcellous Priddy; a stepbrother, Robert Ickes, and a stepsister, Mary Ickes Reidenbach.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. William Sherry of Middle Creek United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Middle Creek Cemetery in Grover Hill.
Calling hours are 4-8 p.m. Monday, March 28, and an hour prior to services that Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hawthorn Court Nursing Home Activity Fund.
RENTZ
Dorotha F. Rentz, 93, of Delphos, died at 6:44 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born January 17, 1912, in Delphos, the daughter of the late Charles and Grace (Murray) Kimball. On May 15, 1937, she married Robert W. Rentz, who died April 28, 1996.
Mrs. Rentz always had fond memories of working at The Palace Sweet Shoppe; she then worked for Dr. C.E. Savage and retired from the IGA in Delphos. She was a charter member of the Alpha Theta Bridge Club, a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos and a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She was a 1930 graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School.
Survivors include a daughter, Bridget Storck of Troy; five grandchildren, Jennifer Ireland of Dunedin, Fla., Megan Smith of Cincinnati, John Storck of Dayton, Michele Fitzpatrick of Midlothian, Va., and Jeff Rentz of Dublin; three great-grandchildren, Ryan, Jordyn and Devon Fitzpatrick, and a dear friend, Walter "Buss" Foster of Delphos.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Rentz, and a son-in-law, Jack Storck.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, March 28, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Thomas Gorman officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, March 27, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m. that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
BYRNE
Martha D. Byrne, 88, of Ottoville, died at 7:42 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2005, at Putnam Acres Care Center in Ottoville.
She was born August 28, 1916, in Cloverdale, the daughter of the late John and Anna (Osting) Knippen. She married Hugo C. Byrne, who died in May 1978.
Mrs. Byrne was a homemaker and a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ottoville and its Altar Rosary Society. She loved to bake, garden and crochet.
Survivors include Boneta L. Niese of Cloverdale; three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Mary Byrne; five brothers, Albert, Edward, Raymond, Mellitus and Arthur Knippen, and six sisters, Armella Wannemacher, Louise Horstman, Adeline Kleman, Amelia Bendele, Marcella Knippen and Clarina Knippen.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at Harter & Schier Memorial Chapel in Delphos, with Father Tony Borgia officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Ottoville.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 25, at the funeral home, where a parish wake service will be held at 3:30 that afternoon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
