USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
St. Marys
THE REV. RALPH A. GALLAGHER, 96, died at 5:55 p.m. Aug. 14, 2004, at Otterbein-St. Marys.
He was born Nov. 27, 1907, in Shreve to Martin and Ella Lewis Gallagher, who preceded him in death. On June 19, 1936, he married
Fern Beieler, who died Nov. 7, 2000.
The Rev. Gallagher retired as a Methodist minister having served in the Sandusky Conference of Evangelical United Brethren Church. He served in various pastorates in the West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Church. Following his retirement, he was an instructor at the Fort Wayne Bible College, Fort Wayne, Ind., for 15 years. He was a graduate of Cleveland Bible College and Huntington College and received his master's degree from Bowling Green State University.
Survivors include a daughter, Gretchen (Floyd) Hughes of Rochester, N.Y.; a son, Ralph Gallagher of Houston, Texas; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marlene Kay Gallagher, who died when she was 14; a brother, Charles Gallagher; and four sisters, Nellie, Mary, Phyllis and Marjorie.
Services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at the chapel at Otterbein Retirement Community, St. Marys. The Rev. Don Ricard will officiate. Graveside services will be Saturday in Smithville cemetery, Smithville. The Rev. Dwight Hayes will officiate.
Friends may call one hour prior to services Friday at the chapel.
Arrangements are by Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys.
Cairo
TOMMIE A. "TOM" RUNNEALS, 74, died at 6 p.m. Aug. 16, 2004, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
He was born April 1, 1930, in Lakewood to Harold and Anna Murray Runneals, who preceded him in death. He was raised by Sherman and Ruby Garner, who also preceded him in death. On July 28, 1948, he married
Dorothy Jennings, who survives.
Mr. Runneals retired in 1988 from Ford Motor Co. Lima Engine Plant. He was a member of Cairo United Methodist Church. He joined the Cairo Volunteer Fire Department in 1949, and served as chief from 1970 to 1980 and from 1981 to 1985. In 1970, he became an EMT, which started the Cairo EMS. In 1972, he became an instructor for first aid, heart saver, EMT and fires. In 1976, he became and EMT/Advanced. He retired from the fire department on Dec. 3, 2001. He was a member of United Auto Workers Local 1219 and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2772, Columbus Grove. He had coached youth baseball programs for several years at Bath schools. He was a 1948 graduate of Columbus Grove High School. He was a veteran of the Naval Reserve. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Survivors also include three sons, Terry (Susan) Runneals of Cairo, Larry (Nadean) Runneals of Lima and James (Cyndi) Runneals of Rockford; two daughters, Janice (Thad) Jesko and Linda K. Runneals, both of Cairo; 13 grandchildren, Michael (Tammy) Runneals, Scott (Cindy) Runneals, Ryan (Angie) Runneals, Erik (Monica) Runneals, Tasha (Ian) Sell, Morgan Sell, Trey Runneals, Candy (Keith) Armstrong, Jodi (Seth) Zimmerman, Chadd Dailey, Kristin Nicole, Steve (Brandi) Jesko and Brian (Jodi) Jesko; and 11 great-grandchildren, Tori, Nolan, Justin, Brittany, Tyler, Collin, Megan, Arianna, Olivia, Bryce and Chloe.
He was preceded in death by a cousin, Russell Garner, who was like a brother to him.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Cairo United Methodist Church. Pastor Rich Rakay will officiate. Burial will be in Cairo East Side cemetery.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at Hartman Sons Funeral Home, Columbus Grove, where a Cairo Volunteer Fire Department service will be held at 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cairo Volunteer Fire Department, Cairo United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association.
Leipsic
CLETUS F. STOEPFEL, 85, died the evening of Aug. 16, 2004, at St. Rita's Medical Center.
He was born March 30, 1919, in Leipsic to Lucas and Amelia Siebeneck Stoepfel, who preceded him in death. On July 2, 1952, he married
Clela Alt, who died Nov. 2, 2002.
Mr. Stoepfel was owner of several mobile home courts and was owner, operator and a salesman at Clete's Appliances, Celina. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Leipsic. He was a life member of American Legions throughout the United States. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include a son, Cletus D. (Ruth) Stoepfel of Celina; a daughter, Shirley (Edward) Kline of Deshler; a stepdaughter, Viola (Bill) Hofackler of Scott; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Rita Knoll of Leipsic, Betty Weichart of Delphos and Maggie Butler of Leipsic.
He was preceded in death by a son, Gerald Lee Stoepfel; six brothers, Victor, Tom, Richard, Felix, Raymond and Lawrence Stoepfel; a sister, Loretta Stoepfel; and a granddaughter.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church, Leipsic. Father George Wenzinger will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with military rites by the Leipsic American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Love Funeral Home, Leipsic, where a parish rosary service will be held at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
St. Marys
BERNARD WILKER, 71, died at 6 a.m. Aug. 17, 2004, at his residence, following an extended illness.
He was born March 7, 1933, in St. Marys to Julius and Gertrude Kramer Wilker, who preceded him in death. On Nov. 5, 1955, he married
Marceil Brunswick, who survives.
Mr. Wilker retired as a pipefitter and plumber from Local 776, Lima, after 35 years. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Marys, where he served as a lay communion distributor and was on the new church building and maintenance committees. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1592, St. Marys. He was an Army veteran serving 15 months in Korea following the Korean War.
Survivors also include four sons, Ben (Cristy) Wilker of Elida, Dan (Traycee) Wilker of Lima, Don Wilker of Dublin and Andy Wilker of St. Marys; five daughters, Doris (Doug) Knapke of New Bremen, Norma (Jeff) Hostetler of Cedarville, Lill (Steve) Borchers of Versailles, Angela (Steve) Putman of Wilmington and Sandra (Todd) Miller of Troy; 25 grandchildren; seven brothers, Martin Wilker of Celina, Jerome Wilker and Wilfred Wilker, both of New Bremen, Lester Wilker of Tennessee, Charles Wilker of St. Marys, Gerald Wilker of Versailles, and Paul Wilker of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and a sister, Carolyn Mangen of Versailles.
He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Daniel Goubeaux.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Marys. Father Leo Hoying will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemane cemetery, St. Marys, with military rites.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys.
Memorial contributions may be made to State of the Heart Hospice, Celina Area Visiting Nurses or Father James Byrne Vocational Fund.
Ada
MARVIN F. BOSSE, 96, died at 3:08 p.m. Nov. 15, 2004, at his residence.
He was born June 17, 1908, in Ada to William and Lydia Pifer Bosse, who preceded him in death. On Aug. 24, 1940, he married
Mary R. Geer, who survives in Ada.
Mr. Bosse was a farmer. He attended Red School and was a 1927 graduate of Ada High School. He was a lifelong resident of Ada.
Survivors also include two sons, Carl F. Bosse and Paul (Diann) Bosse, both of Ada; five daughters, Verna (Duane) Van Meter of Culloden, W.Va., Miriam (David) Rayl of Cherokee Village, Ark., Nancy (Gerald) Walker of Maryville, Tenn., Barbara (Wayne) Spitnale of Liberty Center and Phyllis (Richard) Sidle of Jenera; and six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Freeman, Solomon and William Bosse; and a sister, Rosa Bosse.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hanson-Neely Funeral Home, Ada. John Willbur and Simon Dean will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery, Ada.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today and until time of services Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hardin Hospice Care, Kenton.
Kenton
RICHARD L. ELLIS, 60, died at 7:45 p.m. Nov. 15, 2004, at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Kenton.
Graveside services will begin at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in the Veterans Circle of Grove cemetery, Kenton, with military rites by AMVETS Post 1994. The Rev. William Koppert will officiate.
Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Schindewolf-Stevens-Stout Funeral Home, Kenton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Wapakoneta
GERALD M. ELSASS, 81, died at 6:40 p.m. Nov. 15, 2004, at The Gardens of Wapakoneta.
He was born June 20, 1923, in Auglaize County to John Leo and Carrie Lucinda Christler Elsass, who preceded him in death. On Nov. 6, 1948, he married
Carmen Joan Bodey, who died Dec. 22, 1999.
Mr. Elsass retired from Norfolk & Southern Railroad, where he had been a brakeman and a conductor. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, near Cridersville. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 691, Wapakoneta.
Survivors include two sons, Rory "Chip" (LeAnn) Elsass of Wapakoneta and Shawn Elsass of Monterey, Calif.; two daughters, Deborah (Don) Lillard of Bellefontaine and Dianna (David) Focht of Belle Center; three brothers, Richard (Mary) Elsass of New Knoxville, Ted (Jan) Elsass of Celina and Ned (Betty) Elsass of Michigan; three sisters, Marjorie Daugherty of Goetzville, Mich., Shirley (Jim) Logaman of New Knoxville and Sharon (Bill) Clark of Lima; and eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Howard, Donald and Walter Elsass; two sisters, Bernice Whetstone and Bonnie Hughes; and two grandchildren.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, near Cridersville. Pastor James C. Couser will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the building fund at St. Matthew Lutheran Church.
