USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Keith R. Johnston
CONNEAUT - Keith R. Johnston, 42, of Middle Road, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, while working in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
He was born Sept. 2, 1960 in Conneaut, the son of Richard L. Johnston and Sandra L. (Askew) Tessmer.
Mr. Johnston was a graduate of Conneaut High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He was employed as a truck driver with Ficel Transports for the past 17 years.
Mr. Johnston enjoyed country music and kidding with people.
Survivors include his father, Richard L. Johnston of Conneaut; his mother and stepfather, Sandra and Richard Tessmer of Conneaut; two daughters, Christa Johnston and Jessica Noyes, both of Dorset; five sisters, Renae Tisdale of Clarksville, Ark., Beth Stevens of Conneaut, Luara Gutierres of Indio, Calif., Kathy Phillips of Conneaut, and Jennifer Brown of Spring, Texas; and a brother, Timothy A. Johnston of Conneaut.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John Johnston and Lillian Clark; and maternal grandparents, Herbert and Laura Askew.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday, at the Marcy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, with the Rev. Stephen T. Szilagyi officiating.
Burial will be in East Conneaut Cemetery, with the Cowle Post 151 of the American Legion conducting military rites.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Youth Enrichment Program of Conneaut High School.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Gertrude M. McManus
CONNEAUT - Gertrude M. McManus, 95, of Lake Road, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at the Inn-Conneaut Health Center.
She was born Feb. 22, 1907, in Conneaut, the daughter of A.W. and Elma Hart. She had resided here her entire life.
Mrs. McManus enjoyed reading and taking care of her family and grandchildren.
Survivors include her daughter, Dolores Castrilla of Conneaut; four granddaughters, Patricia DeMarco, Sally Rossick and JoEllen Cameron, all of Conneaut, and Susan Adams of Mentor; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John K.; a sister, Katheryn Rosenberg; and a brother, Clarence Hart.
Graveside service is 1 p.m. Wednesday at Glenwood Cemetery. The Rev. Walter Coy, pastor of the United Church of Christ, will officiate.
No calling hours will be observed.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made in the name of the deceased to Conneaut Station 3 Rescue Squad. Envelopes are available at Thompson-Smith Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Conneaut, which is handling the arrangements.
Harold R. Wiley
CONNEAUT - Harold R. "Dutch" Wiley, 78, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.
Mr. Wiley was born July 7, 1924, in Cranesville, Pa., the son of Eugene and Hazel (Neckerauer) Wiley.
He was a 1942 Rowe graduate. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1945.
Mr. Wiley served his country in the 379th Bomb Group, 526th squadron, flying B-17s. He was a "tailgunner" on many missions over Germany.
He then worked at the Conneaut General Electric Co. plant as a tool setter and retired in 1986 after 37 years of service.
He was a member of American Legion Cowle Post 151 and the Conneaut Moose Lodge. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Alice T. Klepek, whom he married Sept. 30, 1950; three daughters, Suzanne Peglow of Indianapolis, Alyson Wiley of Akron, and Peggy Merlene of Stow; five grandchildren, Amanda and Joseph Peglow, and Anthony, Meg and Madison Merlene.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Robert Wiley.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Church, State Street, Conneaut, with the Rev. Raymond Thomas officiating.
Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Ashtabula, where American Legion Cowle Post 151 honor squadron will conduct military rites.
Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Raisian Family Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Conneaut Station 3 Rescue Squad. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Andrew Kesatie
CONNEAUT - Andrew E. Kesatie, 90, of Tyler Ave., died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at UHHS Brown Memorial Hospital, Conneaut.
He was born Aug. 30, 1911, in North Springfield, Pa., the son of Salomon and Maria (Riisio) Kesatie and had lived most of his life in Conneaut.
He married Julia Parkomaki on Oct. 24, 1937.
Mr. Kesatie retired from Webb Manufacturing as a maintenance supervisor. Prior to that, he worked as a stationary engineer for the Nickel Plate Railroad.
He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and served on the church council and various committees, sang in the church choir, and was instrumental as a member of the building committee when Good Shepherd was built. He was active in the Conneaut Railroad Museum, and was a frequent blood donor to the Red Cross, giving more than five gallons.
Mr. Kesatie enjoyed bowling, golfing, tinkering in his basement workshop, and spending time with his family. He was a jack-of-all-trades, who could create, invent or build just about anything. His family, friends and co-workers often asked him to build many things.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Joy Lake of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Alice Crowl of Conneaut; a son, Jon of Conneaut; two brothers, Jacob of Conneaut and Bill of Albuquerque, N.M.; four sisters, Ellen Sippola of Willoughby, Martha Punkar of Conneaut; Sylvia Lauttamus of Wauwatosa, Wis., Elsa Dross of Albuquerque; six grandchildren, Gordon Lake of Santa Teresa, N.M., Erin Lake of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Kimberly Bell of Cleveland, Joel Lake of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Erica and Olivia Kesatie of Conneaut; and three great-grandchildren, Celeste and Ashley Lake and Summer Evans.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Lempi Kesatie, Impi Ahlberg; and four brothers, John, Martin, Toivo and Solomon.
Service is 10 a.m. Tuesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lake Road and Grove Street, Conneaut, with the Rev. Clyde McGee officiating. Burial will be in East Conneaut Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Marcy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut.
Memorials may be made to the Conneaut Rescue Squad or the Abiding Memorial of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church.
Gilbert E. Wilson
CONNEAUT - Gilbert Eugene Wilson, 83, of Mill Street, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at the Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pa.
Born April 17, 1919, in Conneaut, he was the son of John William and Ella Wilson, and had been a lifelong area resident.
Mr. Wilson was an engineer for the Nickel Plate Railroad for more than 30 years, retiring 1977.
He married Sally Elsie Dunlap on Aug. 12, 1941, in Portland, Ore.
He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army 1st Ranger Battalion.
He was a golfer and belonged to the senior league at Windy Hill Golf Course and Hickory Grove Golf Course.
During his time on the links, he scored two holes in one.
Mr. Wilson was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Conneaut; Masonic Evergreen Lodge 222, 32nd Degree at the Valley of Cleveland, past high priest of Conneaut Chapter 76 and was a Cache Commandry 27, Conneaut Council 40.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Jonnye Wilson of California and Mindy Bihlajama of Ashtabula; a sister, Dorothy Peabody of Oregon; four grandchildren, Carrissa, Edward and Kyle Bihlajama and Julie Luce, all of Ashtabula; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James Gilbert; and a sister, June Vaage.
Service is 3 p.m. Sunday at the Burton Funeral Home, 1329 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, with the Rev. Clyde McGee of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memory Gardens, North Kingsville
Visitation is 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, where a Masonic service will be observed 2:45 to 3 p.m.
Robert C. Britton
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Robert C. Britton, 46, died Friday, Dec. 7, 200, at Medical Memorial Center in Las Cruces, following a long illness.
He was born Sept. 18, 1955, in Ringgold, Pa., to Robert and Virginia (Spencer) Britton.
Mr. Britton spent his early years in Conneaut and relocated to Las Cruces, N.M., because of illness.
Survivors include his mother; daughters Justina and Cierra Britton; sister Linda Moses; and three grandsons. All surviving family members live in Las Cruces, N.M.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Services will be held in Las Cruces, N.M.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Diabetic Foundation and can be mailed in care of Virginia Britton, 155 Roberts Dr., Las Cruces, N.M. 88005.
George Hray
CONNEAUT - George Hray, 73, died Monday, Oct. 8, 2001, at Inn Conneaut Health Care Center.
He was born Dec. 22, 1927, in Warren, the son of Harry and Katy (Mahnyk) Hray. Mr. Hray was a former resident of Geneva.
He was employed at Ash/Craft Industries and he enjoyed working, loved to talk, going to the movies and going out to eat.
Survivors include two brothers, Rudolph E. of Vienna and Alexander of North Augusta, S.C.; three sisters, Olga Fischer of South Euclid, Kay Siwicki and Virginia Raptis of Warren; and fellow residents of the residence.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and two sisters.
Service is 11 a.m. Oct. 18 at Richwood Residential, 81 Walnut St., Geneva, with the Rev. Paul Tobin of Assumption Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Geneva.
No calling hours will be observed.
Behm Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Center, 175 South Broadway, Geneva has charge of the arrangements.
