USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
CLOUSE
Allan R. Clouse, 65, of 662 N. Cherry St., died unexpectedly at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born June 1, 1936, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Waldo LeRoy and Ioma V. (Brown) Johnson Clouse. On August 8, 1973, he married Judy D. Ellis, who survives at home.
Mr. Clouse retired in 2002 from Kennedy Manufacturing after more than 30 years of service. He had worked part-time at Marsh Supermarket in Van Wert. He was an avid blood donor and an active member of Van Wert Victory Church. He was a 1956 graduate of Van Wert High School.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Rita J. (Timothy) Placke of Middle Point; a brother, Conrad (Cathy) Johnson of Frostproof, Fla.; two sisters, Opal Marie (Walter) Dunham of Van Wert and Karla (Danny) Routt of Cavett; five grandchildren, Jason Couts, Joshua Couts, Erik Placke, Robert Placke and Calvin Placke, and two great-grandchildren, Ashlynn Couts and Chamerlynn Couts.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew Couts, in 1980.
Funeral services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Darryl Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Calling hours are 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Van Wert Victory Church.
JOHNSON
Jeffrey Allen Johnson, 32, of 619 N. Cherry St., died at 10:23 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born September 2, 1970, in Vigo County, Ind., the son of Billy G. and Mary C. (Burger) Johnson of Willshire. On September 13, 2001, he married Dena Dolt, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Johnson was employed at Bruco Industries in New Haven, Ind. He was a 1988 graduate of Vantage Career Center in Van Wert.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by a son, Gregory Johnson of Bryan; two daughters, Lilie Johnson of Bryan and Faith Johnson of Van Wert; two stepdaughters, Courtney Bartley and Shelbie Bartley, both of Van Wert; a stepson, Connor Bartley of Van Wert; two brothers, Tony Johnson of Defiance and Daniel Johnson of San Diego, Calif.; a sister, Rebecca Johnson of Willshire, and his paternal grandparents, Carl and Helen Johnson of Jasonville, Ind.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor David Layton of Mt. Zion Bible Church officiating.
Calling hours are 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.
WITTEN
G. Maxine Witten, 92, of 14913 U.S. 127-South, Van Wert, died at 1 a.m. Sunday, January 19, 2003, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home.
She was born November 4, 1910, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late Peter F. and Mabel (Colbry) Dibert. On August 28, 1932, she married Roy Mathias Witten, who died March 9, 1977.
Mrs. Witten was a homemaker and had formerly been the secretary for Sharp Canning Company and helped her husband farm for 35 years. She was a member of Ohio City United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and prayer group. She was a 1930 graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School and attended a business school in Toledo for two years. She also belonged to the Ohio City Town & Country Home Extension Club.
Survivors include three sons, Peter (Bonnie) Witten of Delta, Pa., Donald E. (Linda) Witten of rural Ohio City and Hugh Witten of Tipp City; two daughters, Dorothy (John) Beck of Grand Ledge, Mich., and Phyllis (Paul) Schroer of St. Henry; two brothers, LaRue (Margaret) Dibert of East Tawas, Mich., and Carl (Juanita) Dibert of Alma, Mich.; one sister, Velma Jones of Perrysburg; a brother-in-law, Francis (Peg) Baker of Van Wert; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Noble and Thomas Dibert, and two sisters, Norma Baker and Irene Neva Galloway.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Mike Waldron officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio City United Methodist Church.
KADUK
Frank J. Kaduk, 86, of 638 N. Jefferson St., died at 5:40 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2003, at Convoy Care Center.
He was born November 14, 1916, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Andrew and Anna (Hritz) Kaduk. On January 29, 1938, he married Betty Jo Huston, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Kaduk was retired from Kennedy Manufacturing Company in Van Wert. He was a life member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Van Wert, and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served on the Van Wert County Board of Elections for 28 years and was a current board member, a past president and 40-year member of the Van Wert County Historical Society. He was a past president of the United Way of Van Wert County and was a member of Toastmasters International for 30 years. He was 1978 Jaycees "Citizen of the Year," received the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce's Ray Miller Award and was honored by the Boy Scouts with the "Scout of the Year" award in 1971 and the Silver Beaver Award in 1972.
Survivors include two sons, Paul D. Kaduk of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Charles L. (Deborah) Kaduk of Auburn, Ind.; a daughter, Nancy G. Lowe of Van Wert; one sister, Anna Dienes of Convoy; a brother, John (Dort) Kaduk of Hicksville; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Kaduk of Van Wert; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Andrew and Lewis Kaduk, and two sisters, Betty Germann and Susan Hartman.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Van Wert, the Rev. Lance O'Donnell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with military graveside services by the combined honors unit of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803 in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert and an hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church elevator fund or Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses Association.
OECHSLE
Lowell D. "Whitey" Oechsle, 66, of 14290 Clayton Road, Ohio City, died at 1:33 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at Van Wert Manor.
He was born January 28, 1936, in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Herbert Wilhelm and Esther Marie (Gribler) Oechsle. He first married Alice Marcille Hurless, who died August 18, 1974. He then married Kay Diane Harper on June 28, 1980, and she died September 14, 2000.
Mr. Oechsle retired from Eaton Corporation after 30 years of service. He had also previously been employed at Walled Lake Door Company in Ohio City and had farmed. He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Harrison Township and was a member of the Van Wert County Farm Bureau. He was a graduate of Convoy-Union High School.
Survivors include four sons, Randy (Paula) Oechsle, Barry Oechsle and Scott (Lori) Foster, all of Ohio City, and Rod Foster of Rockford; two daughters, Tammy (Tim) Hamrick and Rhonda (Mark) VanMetre, both of Ohio City; four sisters, Erma Wallis of Convoy, Barbara (Chris) Riechert of Van Wert, Sondra (Roger) Clayton of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Linda Hinkle of Rockford, and 11 grandchildren, Lindsey Oechsle, Travis Hamrick, Tyler Hamrick, Luke VanMetre, Kylee Oechsle, Josh VanMetre, Chelsea Foster, Jimmy Foster, Taylor Hamrick, Megan Foster, Taylor Hamrick, Megan Foster and Logan VanMetre.
He was preceded in death by a son, Scott Wayne Oechsle, and a brother, Marlin J. Oechsle.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, with Pastor David Prior officiating. Burial will be in Fletcher Cemetery in Willshire Township.
Calling hours are 3-9 p.m. Thursday and an hour prior to services Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wren EMS squad or Wren Community Chest.
BROOKS
Raymond H. Brooks, 75, of Delphos, died at 8:05 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born March 3, 1927, in Spencerville, the son of the late Howard and Ethel (Stout) Brooks. On June 23, 1951, he married Norma Fiedler, who survives.
Mr. Brooks worked at Sheller Globe for 19½ years then for the Lima Tank Plant, retiring after 10 years there. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6772 of Spencerville. He also belonged to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos and to UAW Local 7120. He enjoyed hunting, camping, playing cards, fishing and spending time in Arizona.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Dale (Candy) Brooks of Delphos; one daughter, Joyce Brooks of Delphos; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Marie Wilkins, and three brothers, Donald, Howard "Max" and Harold "Glen" Brooks.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Thomas Gorman officiating. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Harter & Son Funeral Home in Delphos, where a parish wake service will be held at 7:30 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or American Lung Association.
HARMAN
Margaret H. Harman, 79, of Van Wert, died at 8:26 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
She was born January 6, 1924, to the late Alonzo and Lois (Swick) Gilliland. On October 28, 1945, she married Maurice Harman, who preceded her in death on November 29, 1999.
Mrs. Harman retired from Federal-Mogul Corp. in 1979 and moved to Deming, N.M., where she became employed by Kmart and became an avid square dancer with her husband until his death. She was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, was a past president of the auxiliary and also served as District 2 auxiliary president in 1952-53.
Survivors include a son, Keith E. (Mary Lou) Harman of Delphos, two daughters, Janet (Rick) Jenkins and Sharon Carmean of Van Wert; five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by twin brothers, Dale and Gale Gilliland.
Burial of the cremated remains will be held at 11 a.m. February 1 at Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, where services will be conducted by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Arrangements were made by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
