USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Joseph G. Steighner
January 19, 1936 - February 1, 2015
Services: February 3rd, 2015 at 12:00 P. M.
Joseph G. Steighner, age 79, W. Walnut St., Jefferson, died Sunday morning at the Jefferson Healthcare Center where he had been a resident the past three weeks.
He was born January 19, 1936 in Apollo, PA, the son of Raymond G. & Myrtle C. (Bish) Steighner and has lived in the Jefferson area more than 60 years, coming from Apollo.
Joe liked to tinker with small engines, smoke his cigarettes and have coffee several times a day at the Jefferson Diner, Circle K or the Shell station.
Survivors include two sisters and two brothers, Evelyn “Polly” Reitz of Jefferson, Bernard Steighner of Geneva, Raymond Steighner of Ontario, Canada & Shirley Mullen of Fairview, PA.
His parents, Raymond in 1981 and Myrtle in 2007 preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 12:00 P. M. at the Jefferson Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 49 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson, with the Rev. Philip Kachersky of the First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memory Gardens.
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Protective League, 5790 Green Rd., Kingsville, OH 44048. Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors have been honored to serve the Joseph Steighner family.
William E. Bodnar
June 15, 1954 - January 29, 2015
Services: February 1st, 2015 at 18:00
William E. Bodnar, 60 of Walnut Blvd. Ashtabula died unexpectedly on Thursday (Jan. 29th) at the Ashtabula County Medical Center. He was born June 15, 1954 in Ashtabula the son of Peter A. and Florence (Tyszkiewicz) Bodnar and has been a lifetime area resident.
He was a 1972 graduate of St. John High School and a graduate of Institute of Computer Management in Cleveland. He was employed with Delta Railroad as IT Manager, he previously was self employed at Computer Talk.
He was a member of Our Lady of Peace Church; the Northcoast Roadrunners Club; the Ashtabula Distance Runners Club where he is Vice-President and the Greater Cleveland Adult Baseball League. He was still an active baseball player and had coached baseball for 33 years. He was the only person to have coached and at a later time umpire a Junior League World Series game. He was currently coaching the Cross Country Team at St. John’s school. He enjoyed gardening, water skiing and loved all Cleveland sports. He always looked forward to the weekend to enjoy a long run with his running group.
His favorite sayings were “There are two seasons, winter and baseball” and “You don’t quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing”.
Surviving him are his wife Carol (Miller) Bodnar who he married May 28, 1976; his daughter Angela (Brad) Meaney of Jefferson and son Nicholas (Lyndee) Bodnar of Ashtabula; two granddaughters, Alexis and Alyssa Meaney; and; six brothers and sisters, Peter (Tracee) Bodnar of Las Vegas, Nevada, Martha (Charles) Anderson of Herndon, Virginia, Michael (Joanne) Bodnar of Las Vegas, Paul (Antoinette) Bodnar of Ashtabula, James (Gloria) Bodnar of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Maria (Jeff) Swigert of Stevensville, Maryland and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be Sunday (Feb. 1st) at 6:00 PM at Ashtabula Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 526 W. Prospect Rd. Ashtabula, Ohio with Deacon Mike Gardner of Our Lady of Peace Church officiating.
Calling hours will be on Sunday from 2:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. John School, 7911 Depot Rd. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 or to the Ashtabula Distance Runners Club, PO Box 43, Ashtabula, Ohio 44005. The Fleming & Billman Funeral Homes are honored to serve the Bill Bodnar family
Gordon G. Emerson
August 28, 1927 - January 26, 2015
Services: January 31st, 2015 at 11:00 A. M.
Gordon G. Emerson, age 87, of Morgan Twp., died Monday afternoon at the Select Specialty Hospital in St. Joseph Medical Center in Warren.
Beloved husband of, Ernestine E. (Bradley) Emerson, whom he married on April 9, 1955 at the Rock Creek Methodist Church, dear father to Gary G. & Linda (Kohn) Emerson of Garfield Hts. & Theresa M. & (William) Grigger of Parma, grandfather of, Dr. Geremiha, Teandra & Billy Emerson, Elizabeth (Paul) Serrin, William II & Sara (Phoenix) Grigger & Kathryn Grigger, great grandfather of Jocelyn Saunders, Mia & Ellie Serrin & William Grigger, III and cousin to 19.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a half-brother, Douglas and seven uncles & aunts.
He was born August 28, 1927 in Sweetwater, TN, the son of Samuel & Minnie (Crislip) Emerson. He was then raised by his grandparents, Elem & Emma Crislip from age two following the death of his parents. Gordon has been a Rock Creek area resident all of his life, graduating from Rock Creek High School in 1945, then attending Kent State University before entering the U. S. Navy, serving on the Great Lakes during the Korean Conflict.
Most of Mr. Emerson’s career has been in the newspaper business. He served as a reporter, Jefferson bureau manager, city editor for the Star-Beacon, editor for the Free Press, and was an advertising account representative with the Free Enterprise in Chardon for 17 years where he retired. He has had several years in the pulpit, he served the Rock Creek Methodist Church more than twenty years as lay speaker, liturgist and chairman of the administrative board, and he pastored the Hartsgrove Community Church for five years, served as associate pastor at the Jefferson United Methodist Church and served as interim at Harris Memorial. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
After retiring, Gordon continued to call on parishioners and was always available to help anyone in need in hospitals, nursing homes or their residence. He served thirteen years doing services with his wife, Ernestine at the Jefferson Geriatric Center. Gordon was a published poet, author of the book “Cascade”, which is still in the county libraries. He was an avid reader, serving on the Rock Creek Library Board for 45 years.
Mr. Emerson was a member of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society for fifty years. His gardens contain in excess of 100 named hybrid rhododendrons, plus 32 wild species and 19 wild Azalea species. His gardens have more than 200 of his own hybrid plants and many trees, wildflowers, ferns, hostas, primroses and others.
His volunteerism included work with Hospice of Western Reserve, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Senior Care Net, ACMC as chaplain, Foundation Board member and Advisory Committee member, the Jefferson Unit of the Salvation Army Board for 15 years, Jefferson Alzheimer’s Association for ten years and Home Missions, both at the Jefferson United Methodist Church and mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The Emerson family would like to thank Pastor Fred Grimm, Douglas Camp, Dr. Harlan Waid, ACMC, Hillside Rehab Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic for their loving care during Gordon's illness.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 A. M. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 89 E. Satin St., Jefferson, with the Rev. Fred Grimm officiating. Cremation will follow the services.
Calling hours will be held Friday from 5-8 P. M. at the Jefferson Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 49 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family, envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church. Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors has been honored to serve the Gordon Emerson family.
Donald E. Laird
November 17, 1934 - January 24, 2015
Services: January 27th, 2015 at 11:00 A. M.
Donald E. Laird, 80 of Chapel Rd. Jefferson, died Saturday (Jan. 24th) at University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center. He was born Nov. 17, 1934 in Altona, Pa. the son of Harrison S. and Mary E. (Morgan) Laird.
He served in the Naval Reserves from 1953 to 1961 and had been employed with Bailey Meter for 41 years retiring in 1997.
He attended the Jefferson United Methodist Church; he was a member of the Jefferson Grange and the American Legion. He enjoyed feeding birds, raising chickens; mowing his lawn with his tractor, camping, watching sports on TV and in his younger years he was a advid bowler.
Surviving him is his wife, Patricia Laird whom he married July 2, 1994 in Jefferson, Ohio; a daughter, Deborah A. Conti of Cleveland; a brother of his First wife, Jane who he helped raise, George W. “Bill” Dell of Kiowa, OK; three step-children, Robert (Deborah) Harmon of Greensboro, North Carolina, Judith (Duane) Praschan of Springfield, Mo. And James (Mary Lou) Harman of Novelty, Ohio; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Jane in 1992; two sisters, Lena “Pearl” Laird and Darlene G. Mitan and a brother, Howard S. Laird.
Funeral service will be Tuesday (January 27th) at 11:00 AM at the Jefferson United Methodist Church, 125 East Jefferson St. Jefferson with Rev. Daniel Bilkert officiating. Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery in Jefferson.
Calling hour will be Tuesday from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Animal Protective League, 5970 Green Rd., Kingsville, Ohio 44048. The Jefferson Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 49 West Jefferson St. Jefferson is in charge of arrangements. The Fleming & Billman Funeral Homes are honored to serve the Donald Laird family.
Geraldine M. Ratliff
December 25, 1918 - January 21, 2015
Services: January 24th, 2015 at 12:00
Geraldine “Gerri” M. Ratliff, 96 of Saybrook died Wednesday (Jan. 21st) at Silver Sands in Ashtabula, Ohio. She was born December 25, 1918 in Geneva, Ohio the daughter of Herman and Nellie (Urig) Reed and has been a lifetime area resident.
Following graduation from Geneva High School in 1936, she worked in the offices of the True Temper Corporation at Geneva, Ashtabula and the Saybrook plants, doing secretarial and payroll duties. She retired in 1986 following 48 years of service with the three plants.
She is a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish and she did volunteer work in the office of St. Joseph. She enjoyed playing bridge; the Cleveland Indians and Browns and in her younger years participating in various sports.
Surviving her are several Nieces and Nephews and Friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; Her husband, William who she married on June 20, 1946 who died in 1959; two brothers, Donald and Eugene Reed and five sisters, Leila Cox, Arlene Reed, Eloise Schaub, Janice Beebe and Phyllis Hagedorn.
A mass of Christian burial will be Saturday (Jan. 24th) at 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Peace, St. Joseph Church, 3312 Lake Ave. Ashtabula. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Geneva, Ohio.
Calling hour will be Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at the Ashtabula Home of Fleming & Billman Funeral Directors and Crematory, 526 West Prospect Rd. Ashtabula. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Our Lady of Peace Parish, 3312 Lake Ave. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 or to Silver Sands, 3418 Lake Ave. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004. The Fleming & Billman Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gerri Ratliff family.
