USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GRUNDEN
Edward L. Grunden, 66, of Van Wert, died at 4:50 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born April 24, 1937, in Columbus Grove, the son of the late Cy and Isabel (Hoover) Grunden. On December 2, 1956, he married Barbara Schmidt, who died October 19, 1983. On February 15, 1986, he married Shirley Gaerke, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Grunden worked for 18 years at Dana Weatherhead Corp. in Antwerp and had worked for several Van Wert area Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning companies and was self-employed for more than 40 years in the HVAC business. He was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Van Wert, but attended St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert. He was a member of the Van Wert Moose Lodge was a member and volunteer at the Van Wert YMCA. He also attended and was a supporter of the Marsh Foundation in Van Wert, and was an avid football fan.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Steven (Tammy) Grunden of Brooklyn (Ohio) and Gregory Grunden of Van Wert; a daughter, Lynne (Tony) Freeland of Van Wert; one stepson, Tim O'Sullivan of Iowa City, Iowa; two stepdaughters, Kathy O'Sullivan of Van Wert and Kelly (Chris) Stemple of Mesa, Ariz.; two brothers, James (Doris) Grunden of Summerfield, Fla., and Donald (Carol) Grunden of Freehold, N.J.; a half-sister, Sue Grunden of Lima, and two grandchildren, Alexa and Katlyn.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 22, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the funeral home, where a prayer service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA or the American Cancer Society.
VAN EMAN
M. Jane Van Eman, 84, of Van Wert, died at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, October 19, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert, following an extended illness.
She was born September 16, 1919, in Jennings Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Dewitt S. and Hannah J. (Owens) Bassett. On April 20, 1943, she married David I. Van Eman, who died August 16, 1991.
Mrs. Van Eman was a loving wife and mother. She was a member of Salem Presbyterian Church in Venedocia and the Alpha Kappa Class of the church.
Survivors include three sons, Dennis (Kathy) Van Eman of Convoy; Steven (Mary Lou) Van Eman of New Richmond and David (Sue) Van Eman of Elida; a brother, Thomas Bassett of Venedocia; one sister, Dorothy (Paul) Cummings of Lima; seven grandchildren, Amy (Sean) Neidemire, Stephanie (Jared) Stewart, Betsy, Scott, Brian, Julie and Lori Van Eman, and two great-grandchildren, Dalton and Hannah Reichert.
She was preceded in death by twin daughters, and by a brother, Richard Bassett.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 23, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Wendy Pratt officiating. Burial will be in Venedocia Cemetery.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Van Eman to Salem United Presbyterian Church's Renovation Fund.
ETZLER
Helen C. Etzler, 86, of Van Wert, died at 11:10 p.m. Sunday, October 19, 2003, at Convoy Care Center.
She was born September 2, 1917, in Kiefer, Okla., the daughter of the late William and Freeda (Campbell) Clark. On March 9, 1963, she married Erwin "Jim" Etzler, who died October 14, 1984.
Mrs. Etzler worked at Lincoln Life Insurance Company in Fort Wayne, Ind., retiring in 1963. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy.
She is survived by a niece, Diana (Bill) Bodecker of Fort Wayne; two great-nieces, and a great-nephew.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Beulah Rankin.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 23, 2003, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, the Rev. Michael W. Saylor officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, at Gearhart, Mack & Jurczyk Funeral Home in Convoy and a half-hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Etzler to the church.
SHOWALTER
N. Joan Showalter, 76, formerly of Van Wert, died at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, October 19, 2003, at The Veranda at Hembree Point in Roswell, Ga.
She was born May 31, 1927, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Paul E. and Audrey M. (Goodwin) Ladd. On December 24, 1949, she married James R. Showalter, who survives in Roswell.
Mrs. Showalter was at the Marsh Foundation in Van Wert from grades 2-12 and was a 1945 graduate of Van Wert High School. She was a Van Wert Hospital Twig 1 member and a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert. She worked as a secretary at Horace Mann Elementary School and as a receptionist for Dr. Keith Gordon, DDS, in Van Wert. She enjoyed volunteer work as a precinct worker on election days and was a lifelong bridge player. Her loving and affectionate nature will not be forgotten by her family, especially her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Stewart (Diane) Showalter of Marietta, Ga., and Gary (Barbara) Showalter of Van Wert; a daughter, Sue Ann Showalter of Gatlinburg, Tenn.; a sister, Barbara (Dwight) Shufeldt of Perrysburg; eight grandchildren, Jeff (Lisa) Showalter, Katie and Kristen Showalter, all of Marietta, Ga.; Jill, Jason and Adam Showalter, all of Van Wert; Tiffany Martinez of Gatlinburg, and Elijah (Heather) Baker of Van Wert, and two great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Hanna Baker.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Gordon Ladd and Ray Ladd, and two sisters, Betty Hiffmeyer and Patricia Graham.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 6, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Her ashes will be buried in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert. A luncheon at First United Methodist Church will follow the services.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, and half an hour prior to services Thursday, November 6, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Showalter to the church or the Alzheimer's Association.
SEARIGHT
Jesse Lee Searight, 83, of Celina, died at 3:24 p.m. Monday, October 20, 2003, at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
He was born April 12, 1920, in Tama, the son of the late James Edward and Bessie Jennie (Gordon) Searight. On September 14, 1946, he married Mamie Josephine Nuding, and she survives.
Mr. Searight retired from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in St. Marys after more than 35 years of employment there. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of Mt. Tabor Church of God in Celina.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Ron (Lisa) Searight of Rockford; one daughter, Jean Ireland of Rockford, and two grandchildren, Brent Ireland and Sheen Searight.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank, Forrest, Fred and Charles Searight; three sisters, Gladys Murlin, Wilma Swander and Margarite Carr, and a grandson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mt. Tabor Church of God in Celina, with Pastor Jim Keiser officiating. Burial will be in North Grove Cemetery in Celina, with military rites by the Celina Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, and an hour before services Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Searight to Mt. Tabor Church of God, State of the Heart Home Health & Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
WALLS
Ernie Edward Walls, 80, of 10963 State Route 118-South, Van Wert, died at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born January 25, 1923, in Lima, the son of the late Manford J. and Effie (Fulkner) Walls. On November 18, 1944, he married Bonita Isabelle Anderson, who died June 23, 2003.
Mr. Walls was a retired truck driver and was a realtor for Merle Brady Real Estate. He was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church, American Legion Post 178 and Eagles Aerie 886, all of Van Wert. He was a 1942 graduate of Hoaglin-Jackson High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
There were no immediate survivors.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert W. Walls.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Raymond E. Feeck officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery in Ridge Township.
Calling hours are an hour prior to the funeral Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mr. Walls to Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert.
LEUPP
Naomi Leupp, 93, of Archbold, died Tuesday morning, October 21, 2003, at The Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford, where she had been a patient.
She was born October 6, 1910, in Pettisville, the daughter of the late Ezra Albert and Cora Ellen (Miller) Frey. On February 9, 1931, she married Orlen M. Leupp, who died in 1973.
Mrs. Leupp retired from Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home where she had worked as a dietitian. She was a member of Central Mennonite Church in Archbold and belonged to the Golden Age Sewing Circle and also the hospital auxiliary.
Survivors include five daughters, Donna (Gerry) Mast of Elkhart, Ind., Joan (Bill) Long of Rockford, Janice (Don) Hancock of Berne, Ind., and Judy (Gary) Sears and Karen (Steve) Schnitkey, both of Archbold; three sons, Ron (Vivian) Leupp of Wichita, Kan., Larry Leupp of Wauseon and Leslie Reupp of Huntingdon, Pa.; a sister, Orpha Frey of Archbold; one brother, Vernon (Marie) Frey of Archbold; 15 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy, Wilbur and Glenferd Frey, and a great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 24, at Central Mennonite Church in Archbold, with the Rev. Jeff Smith officiating. Burial will be in Pettisville Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Short Funeral Home in Archbold.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of Mrs. Leupp to a charity of donor's choice.
