USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Robert Abels
Robert J. Abels, 83, 612 Plum Drive, Coldwater, died July 4, 2001 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born May 27, 1918, in Coldwater, to Joseph and Katherine (Dues) Abels. On Oct. 9, 1943, he married Marcella Lechner, who died in 1998.
Survivors are three sons and their wives, Ronald and Gretchen of Anna, Wayne and Linda of Westminster, Colo., and Mark and Marlene of Coldwater; a daughter and her husband, Bonita and Robert Koesters, Ansonia; a sister and her husband, Eleanor and Maurice Elking, Chickasaw; a brother-in-law, Bernard Schmitz, St. Peter; three sisters-in-law, Laurette Lechner and Mildred Hopf, both of Cincinnati, and Esther of Coldwater; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Deceased are three brothers and six sisters.
He was a farmer and founded several businesses including Superior Silo Inc. of Coldwater. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Tom Mannebach officiating. Burial is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Leota Bates
Former Celina resident Leota Mae Lake Bates, 82, died at 5:25 a.m. July 3, 2001 at The Laurels of Shane Hill Nursing Home, Rockford.
She was born Nov. 18, 1918, in Van Wert County, to Leotis and Hazel Mae (Hurless) Lake. In Dec. 1937, she married Arthur N. Bates, who died Nov. 15, 1997.
Survivors are two sons and their wives, Sherman and Joyce of Whitehall, Mich., and Arthur and Marsha of Spring Lake, Mich.; two daughters and their husbands, Sherry and Edward Tobin, Celina, and Bonnie and Ron Sipe, Ocala, Fla.; a brother, Victor Lake of N.C.; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.
Deceased is a brother, Gordon Lake, and a sister, Loray McMahan.
She was retired as a personal care assistant.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Assembly of God Church, Celina, the Rev. Randy Christian officiating. Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City.
There are no calling hours.
Contributions can be made to the Gideon Bible Memorial Fund.
W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, is handling arrangements.
Robert Hay
Celina native Robert E. Hay, 73, Ponte Vedra, Fla., died July 2, 2001.
He was born Oct. 25, 1927, in Celina, to Clifford and Leona (Lime) Hay. He married Patricia L. Hay, who survives.
Other survivors are a son and his wife, Michael L. and Tina of Celina; a daughter and her husband, Cathy and Al Collier, Akron; a daughter-in-law, Linda Hay, Lexington, Ky.; two sisters, June Moothart, Celina, and Betty Stuckey, Dayton; and ten grandchildren.
Deceased is a son, Jeffrey.
He was retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co, St. Marys. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and a graduate of Bowling Green State University.
Services are at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Daniel Logan officiating.
Contributions can be made to the Jeffrey Hay Memorial Fund.
Dorothy Luedeke
Former New Bremen resident Dorothy M. Luedeke, 92, died at 5:45 p.m. July 3, 2001 at Celina Manor Nursing Home.
She was born June 12, 1909, in Fort Loramie, to William and Maude (Chambers) Bouknecht. On April 27, 1929, she married Ray W. Luedeke who died Sept. 22, 1994.
Survivors are a son and his wife, Ben and Gundi of Montezuma; two daughters, Virgene Morhman, Wapakoneta, and Betty Belton, Celina; a half-brother, Harold Bouknecht of Ala.; 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Cliff, a granddaughter, Betty, two great-grandsons and a half-brother, Robert Bouknecht.
She was a homemaker and retired from Crown Equipment Corp., New Bremen. She was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, New Bremen.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Stephen Wills officiating. Burial is at German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.
Calling is 6-9 p.m. Friday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, and 9:30 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the church.
Contributions can be made to the church memorial fund.
Joan Winkler
Joan Winkler, 81, of Willshire, died at 1:28 p.m. July 3, 2001, at Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Ind.
She was born March 22, 1920, in Toledo, to Alby M. and Katherine (Tyson) Ott. On Jan. 12, 1945, she married John Franklin Winkler, who died May 14, 1971.
Survivors are a son and his wife, Philip K. and Ruth of Tampa, Fla.; a daughter, Sharon Soliday, Columbus; a brother, Dale Ott, Los Angeles, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
She was retired from the former Mercer County Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service office. She attended Zion United Brethren Church, and was a member of OASCOE Retirees Association and National Postal Mail Handlers Union.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, the Revs. M.E. Burkett and Mark Rutledge officiating. Burial is at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, between Rockford and Willshire.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Sunday and one hour prior to services Monday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association or Pathways Association of Decatur Hospital.
Gordon Brookhart
Gordon D. Brookhart, 77, 81 High St., Montezuma, died at 9:30 p.m. July 7, 2001, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born May 18, 1924, in Coldwater, to Lawrence and Jennie (Kerns) Brookhart. On Sept. 28, 1946, he married Harriet Lee Gray, who survives.
Other survivors are a son, Gary of Montezuma; four brothers, Merl, Rex, Bryce and Leon, all of Celina; two sisters, Orpha Hinton, Celina, and Emily Osterholt, Portland, Ind.; and four grandchildren.
Deceased is a daughter, Maralee, and a brother, Dane.
He was a retired self-employed contractor, and a member of Montezuma United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Jon Kraner officiating. Burial is at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Floyd Freeland
Floyd E. Freeland, 84, 830 South St., Celina, died at 4:10 p.m. July 8, 2001 at The Laurels of Shane Hill Nursing Home, Rockford.
He was born April 5, 1917, in Tunnelton, W. Va., to James Allen and Naoma (Paugh) Freeland. On July 9, 1940, he married Blanche Bain, who died Sept. 12, 1998.
Survivors are two sons and their wives, Ronald and Marilyn of Celina, and Roger and Judy of Mendon; a daughter and her husband, Jean and Dick Courtney, Rockford, and two daughters, Sue DeVall and Wanda Freeland, both of Celina; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
Deceased is a daughter, a son-in-law, three brothers and three sisters.
He was retired from St. Marys Foundry.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Randy Christian officiating. Burial is at Mercer Memory Gardens, Celina.
Calling is 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Dewey Godfrey
Dewey Woodrow "Woody" Godfrey, 47, 430 W. Livingston St., Celina, died July 6, 2001, at E-Z Campground, St. Marys, following a short illness.
He was born Feb. 3, 1954, in Guyan, W.Va., to Zina and Junie (Toler) Godfrey, who survive in Celina.
Other survivors are a fiance, Barbara Jean Bourelle, Van Wert; a daughter, Charity Vaughn, Celina; a brother, Tonnie Godfrey, Columbus; five sisters and their husbands, Zelda and Rex Zizelman, Celina, Teresa and Jerome Morrissey, Celina, Loretta and Mike Knatz, St. Marys; Kathy and Willis Fortner, Coal Mountain, W. Va., and Dinah and Louie Walls, Verner, W. Va.; and a sister-in-law, Brenda of Chattanooga.
Deceased is a brother, James Dexter.
He was the groundskeeper/maintenance man for E-Z Campground, catered for Maag's Catering, St. Marys, and was a former employee of Huffy Bicycle Co., Celina. He was a member of St. Marys Eagles Lodge #767.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at W. H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Mark Wakeland officiating. Burial is at Mercer Memory Gardens, Celina.
Calling is from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today, at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.
Evelyn Heitkamp
Evelyn C. Heitkamp, 59, 402 Willow St., St. Henry, died at 12:10 a.m. July 8, 2001, at her residence.
She was born June 23, 1942, in Burkettsville, to Edward and Anna Mae (Creeckmur) Brinkman. On Oct. 23, 1965, she married Melvin Heitkamp, who survives.
Other survivors are two daughters and their husbands, Lori and Ron Lange, St. Henry, and Karen and Dale Poeppelman, Maria Stein, and a daughter, Sandy of Minster; a sister and her husband, Katherine and Edward Ahlers, Burkettsville; a mother-in-law, Hilda Heitkamp, Coldwater; six brothers-in-law and their wives, Paul and Stella and Wilfred and Barbara, all of St. Henry, Elmer and Julie of St. Anthony, John and Mildred, Tipp City, and Ron and Donna and Dan and Mary, all of Coldwater, and a brother-in-law, Ken of Sanford, N.C.; three sisters-in-law and their husbands, Dorothy and Don Chaney, Houston, Eileen and Tom Litmer, St. Joe, and Janice and Howard Homan, New Knoxville, and a sister-in-law, Ruth Sutter, St. Henry; and six grandchildren.
Deceased is a son, Doug.
She worked at Huffy Bicycle Co., Celina, and Fort Recovery Industries, and was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, at the church, the Revs. Larry Wyen and Mark Miller officiating. Burial is at St. Henry Cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.
Contributions can be made to Mercer/Darke County Hospice.
Raymond Venerable
Raymond E. Venerable, 86, 12000 Wells Road, Anna, died at 2:32 p.m. July 6, 2001, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
He was born Oct. 20, 1914, in Shelby County, to George W. and Sarah (Harger) Venerable. On Aug. 25, 1945, he married Doris Bowles, who survives.
Other survivors are three sisters, Donna King, Davis, Calif., Mariam Harris, Cleveland, and Doris Childs, Columbus.
Deceased are two brothers and two sisters.
He was retired from maintenance work at LeRoi Dresser, and was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Sidney, where he was church treasurer, former director of the men's choir and a deacon of the church.
Services are 1 p.m. Wednesday, at the church, the Rev. David Wynn officiating. Burial is at Pearl Cemetery, Swanders.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, at Cromes Funeral Home, Sidney.
Contributions can be made to the church.
