USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Alice Brunswick
Mercer County native Alice Ann Brunswick, 70, formerly of Egypt, died at 3 a.m. May 2, 2003, at Eaglewood Care Center, Carey.
She was born April 18, 1933, in Mercer County, to Ferd and Frances Heitbrink Brunswick.
Surviving are two brothers, Donald of Spencerville, and Mark of Venice, Fla.; two sisters, Norma (Elmer) Meyer, McCartyville, and Iona (Paul) Gariety, Russia; and a sister-in-law, Mary Catherine Brunswick, Minster.
One brother, Connie, is deceased.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Egypt.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Louis Schmit officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-5 p.m. Sunday and 9-9:30 a.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Clarence J. Lochtefeld
Clarence J. Lochtefeld, 80, 2608 Homan Road, Maria Stein, died at 12:18 a.m. May 2, 2003, at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
He was born Sept. 11, 1922, in Maria Stein, to Joseph and Rosa (Luttmer) Lochtefeld. On Aug. 3, 1949, he married Alvina Heitkamp, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Kenneth (Tammy) Lochtefeld of Belle Center; a daughter, Mary (Theodore) Tumbusch of Minster; two brothers, Roman (Bernie) Lochtefeld of St. Henry, Arthur (Irene) Lochtefeld of Yorkshire; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Two brothers and one sister are deceased.
He was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, the Men's Society of the Church, the Knights of St. John in Maria Stein, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Coldwater.
He was a retired a farmer.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Kenneth Schroeder officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2 to 8 p.m. Monday and 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Minster.
Bradley and Abigail Faber
Bradley and Abigail Faber, infant children of State Rep. Keith and Andrea Bassitt Faber of Celina, died shortly after birth April 29, 2003, at the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
Surviving with the parents are maternal grandparents, Sam and Barbara Bassitt, Lima; and paternal grandparents, Joe and Ann Faber, Missouri, and Pat and Elton Wagner, Florida.
Private graveside services will be at Lafayette Cemetery, the Rev. Douglas Meyer officiating.
The Shawnee Chapel of Chiles & Sons-Laman Funeral Home, Lima, has charge of arrangements.
Contributions can be made to Mercer County Right to Life or the St. Rita's Medical Center Obstetrics Department, Lima.
Carl Bartenstein
Carl W. Bartenstein, 84, 15800 Ohio 29, Anna, died at 2:20 a.m. April 30, 2003, at Riverside Hospital, Columbus.
He was born July 2, 1918, in Shelby County, to Christian and Caroline Kipp Bartenstein. On Dec. 29, 1958, he married Dolores J. Wellington who died Dec. 13, 1999.
Surviving are a stepson, David (Kathryn) Mallow, Botkins; a sister, Mildred (Emerson) Eubank, Dayton; and four stepgrandchildren.
He retired from farming in 1985 and volunteered as a reading assistant in the Anna School District. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Kettlersville, and Heiland American Legion Post 446, Anna. He was a former member of the Shelby County Farm Bureau.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, the Rev. James Melter officiating. Burial will be at Shelby Memory Gardens.
Calling is 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the church memorial fund.
Elmer Brandon
Elmer Brandon, 87, of Celina, died at 7:45 a.m. April 28, 2003, at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
He was born Aug. 7, 1915, to J. Van and Mary S. Cook Brandon. On July 15, 1939, he married Esther L. Eichenauer who died Sept. 17, 1989.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda (Gene) Miller, Van Wert, and Rita (Dave) Suhr, Celina; a brother-in-law, H. Stanley (Shomey) Eichenauer, Dayton; two sisters-in-law, Sally Eichenauer and Carolyn Brandon, both of Celina; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Olen and Dale, are deceased.
He retired from New Idea in Coldwater on May 1, 1981. He was a member of Beaver Chapel Congregational Christian Church and the Durbin Bean Bake Committee.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Verl Ballmer officiating. Burial will be at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Friday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and after 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Contributions can be made to the Mercer County Fairgrounds Long Range Planning Committee or Darke/Mercer County Hospice.
Mary Grapner
Former Mercer County resident Mary Margaret Grapner, 89, of Portland, Ind., died April 30, 2003, at Americare Living Center in Portland.
She was born Aug. 28, 1913, in Rockford, to Samuel and Florence Sapp Tucker. On Aug. 14, 1934, she married Lloyd Grapner who died April 13, 1989.
Surviving are a son, Ralph L. (Rosemarie) of Portland; two daughters, Donna J. (Don) Moden, Celina, and Imogene Lawhead, Portland, Ind.; a brother-in-law, Eldon (Mildred) Grapner, Celina; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son-in-law, Tom Lawhead; a brother, Leverl Tucker; and a granddaughter.
She worked as an inspector at Mersman Furniture Factory in Celina for 25 years and also sold Avon products in the Celina area for 14 years. A 1932 Coldwater High School graduate, she was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Women's Missionary Society and God's Golden Senior Citizens, all of Portland.
Services are 3 p.m. Friday at the Portland chapel of Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home, the Rev. James Huey officiating. Burial will follow at North Grove Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Cora Grunden
Cora Grunden, 73, 6688 Ohio 219, Celina, died at 10:29 p.m. April 30, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
She was born March 17, 1930, in Prestonburg, Ky., to Wilbur and Minnie Blackburn. On June 14, 1958, she married Jerry Grunden who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Tom Gillum, St. Marys; two daughters, Sherrie (Steve) Henderson, Celina, and Brenda Akins, Mississippi; a brother, Allen Blackburn, Logan; a sister, Anna Belle Goble, Marion; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Ronald L. Gillum; a daughter, Carolyn Croston; and five brothers.
She retired from Huffy's after 36 years of service.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina. Burial will be at Mercer Memory Gardens.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Robert Luedeke
Robert W. Luedeke, 47, 605 N. Mill St., Celina, died May 31, 2001 at his place of business north of St. Marys, due to an apparent suicide.
He was born Feb. 24, 1954, in Lima, to Vernon and Meredith (Marker) Luedeke, who survive in St. Marys. On Sept. 5, 1998, he married Cindy Snyder, who survives.
Other survivors are a son and his wife, Kevin and Patty of St. Marys; a son, Jason of St. Marys; three stepsons, Spencer Koutz, Celina, Frank Loschke, St. Marys, and Lester Klausing, Winston-Salem, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Adrienne Koutz, Celina; two brothers and their wives, David and Jenny , and Jim and Peggy, all of St. Marys; two sisters and their husbands, Peggy and Jerry McEldowney, Wapakoneta, and Penny and Steve Brown, St. Marys; a sister, Patty Luedeke, St. Marys; a paternal grandmother, Hazel Luedeke, Wapakoneta; and his in-laws, Daniel and Carolyn Young, Mendon.
He was a graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School and the owner of County Wide Services in St. Marys.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Scott Fleming officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens near Moulton.
Calling is from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and one hour before the funeral on Saturday.
Frederick Thees Jr.
Frederick B. Thees, Jr., 57, 601 E. Walnut St., Coldwater, died at 10:20 p.m. May 30, 2001 at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born June 16, 1943 in Celina, to Frederick B. Sr. and Genevieve (Heppeard) Thees. His mother survives in Celina.
Other survivors are a son, Jason of Indianapolis; a sister and her husband, Karen and Arlan Andrews, Celina; and a sister, Kathy Hymer, Coldwater.
Deceased is his stepfather, Chester Heppeard.
He was supervisor of the Wastewater Treatment Facility in Coldwater and the co-owner of First Class Cruise Limo Service. He was a member of Coldwater United Methodist Church, the Coldwater Lions Club, Coldwater Village Charter Committee, and the Gold Wing Motorcycle Club. He received the 2000 Max Phillips Operator of the Year Award, Northwest Section of Ohio Water Environment Association.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at W. H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Jim Sager officiating. Burial is at Mercer Memory Gardens, Celina.
Calling is 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the Heart Association.
Kathryn Borgerding
Kathryn M. "Katie" Borgerding, 100, of Dayton, died May 31, 2001, at Mercy Siena Woods, Dayton.
She was born on March 4, 1901, in Darke County to John H. and Anna (Nordenbrock) Borgerding.
Survivors are numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Deceased is a brother, Henry J. Borgerding; and eight sisters, Elizabeth Miller, Clara Nieport, Mary Nieport, Johanna Hemmelgarn, Rose Fayfer, Ida Borgerding, Ida Timmerman, and Walburga Laukhart.
She was a former employee of the Sunshine Biscuit Co.
Prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Baker-Hazel Funeral Home, Dayton, followed by funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, the Rev. Del Staigers officiating. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery.
Calling is from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Mercy Siena Woods, 235 W. Orchard Springs Dr., Dayton.
