USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Betty Koesters
Betty J. Koesters, 68, of Wapakoneta, died Nov. 20, 2003, at her residence.
She was born Dec. 17, 1934, in Winchester, Ind., to Jordean and Irene Denny Benoot. She was married to Oran Elmer Hight and later to Frank J. Koesters, both of whom are deceased.
Surviving are a daughter, Dianna (Fred) Gilroy, Wapakoneta; a grandson and a great-grandson.
Two brothers, Andrew and John Benoot, and a sister, Jenny Moore, are deceased.
She retired in 1989 as a test board operator from United Telephone Co., where she had worked 22 years. She was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Fryburg, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary 691, Wapakoneta.
There are no services.
Bayliff & Eley Funeral Home, Wapakoneta, had charge of arrangements.
Contributions can be made to the Arthritis Foundation.
Caroline O'Brien
Caroline O'Brien, 91, 503 N. Augustus St., St. Marys, died at 3:05 p.m. Nov. 23, 2003, at St. Marys Living Center.
She was born March 9, 1912, in Chicago, Ill., to Peter and Mary Counti Pisani.
Surviving are a sister, Marie Fowler, Celina, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Deceased are a brother, Louis Pisani, and three sisters, Elsie Fowler, Rise Fischer and Virginia Pisani.
She had been employed for many years as a waitress in the Chicago area. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Marys.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. David Heinl officiating. Burial will be Dec. 1 at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Ill.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys.
John Provci
John Provci, 89, of Rockford, died at 7:10 a.m. Nov. 23, 2003, at The Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford.
He was born May 16, 1914, in Mercer County, to Samuel and Helen Sabados Provci. On Jan. 20, 1940, he married Libby Havlicek who died April 23, 2002.
Surviving are a son, Johnny J. of Celina; two daughters, Carol E. (Stephen) Cico, Celina, and Mary Anna (Ronald) Weitz, Albuquerque, N.M.; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a stepgreat-grandchild.
Deceased are an infant son, four brothers, Mike, Jim, Nick and Joe; and a sister, Mary Avery.
He retired in 1976 from Lima Locomotive/Clark Equipment where he had worked 34 years as a welder. He also was a farmer, the last charter member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Rockford and the oldest member of the Ohio Landing Ship Tank Association. He also was a member of Rockford American Legion Post 508 and U.S. LST Association.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Brenberger officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford. A prayer service will be held there at 7:30 p.m.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Genevieve Rohr
Genevieve Rohr, 95, a resident of Celina Manor Nursing Home and a former St. Marys resident, died Nov. 22, 2003, at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater.
She was born Feb. 1, 1908, in St. Marys, to John and Carrie Havenar Makley. In 1925, she married Harold Minkner who died in 1930. In 1934, she married Elmer Rohr who died in 1961.
Surviving are a son, James of Chickasaw; a daughter, Margaret Reineke, Bellevue, Fla.; a sister, Margaret Makley, Monterey Park, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great grandchildren.
Deceased are two sisters, Bea Rutledge and Henrietta Sweigart.
She retired as a cook at the former St. Marys Nursing Home. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. Marys.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. David Heinl officiating. Burial will be at Gethsemane Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Paul Schimpf
Paul F. Schimpf Jr., 76, of Lima, died at 5:55 a.m. Nov. 23, 2003, at Roselawn Manor Nursing Home in Lima.
He was born March 13, 1927, in Lima, to Paul F. and Romaine M. Eilerman Schimpf. On Nov. 8, 1952, he married Dolores M. Ohr who died March 1, 2002.
Surviving are two sons, Thomas F. (Terry) of North Richland Hills, Texas, and David R. of Irving, Texas; four daughters, Paula C. (Rob) Richardson, Spencerville, Gail E. (William) Lewis, Westerville, Barbara R. (Robert) Gupton, McKinney, Texas, and Christina M., of Hilliard; two brothers, James L. (Joan) and Carl E. (Betty), both of Lima; three sisters, Mary Lou (Thomas) Brennan, Massilon, and Betty Kay (William) Davisson and Janet M., all of Lima; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Schimpf and Blanche Hummel, also of Lima; 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Three brothers, William, Donald and David, are deceased.
He retired as a meat cutter for A to Z Meats in Bluffton in 2002. He also worked as meat manager at A & P Grocery for 33 years. He was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church where he was an usher and coached CYO basketball for 15 years, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #54 and Knights of Columbus Council 2661, all of Lima. A 1954 graduate of St. Gerard High School, he was a former member of St. Rose Catholic School Association.
Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Christopher Vasko officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima.
Calling is 6-8 p.m. today and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Chiles & Sons-Laman Shawnee Chapel, Lima.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Ned Siemer
Ned Siemer, 64, 124 Crowder Drive, St. Marys, died at 12:42 p.m. Nov. 23, 2003, at his residence. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born June 20, 1939, in Auglaize County, to Anna Siemer. On Sept. 12, 1964, he married Darlene Burnett who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Timothy (Jammie) of St. Marys; a daughter, Melissa (Mike) Koeper, St. Marys; and seven grandchildren.
He retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., St. Marys, after 35 years of service. He served as an auxiliary firefighter for the City of St. Marys Fire Department for 27 years. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9289, St. Marys, and the post's clown unit for 25 years. A 1957 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School, he formerly served as vice president and president of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 767, St. Marys.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Patricia Minnick officiating. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to St. Rita's Hospice.
Martha Rohrbach
Martha Rohrbach, 85, formerly of Dayton, died Nov. 21, 2003, at St. Marys Living Center.
She was born April 12, 1918, in Auglaize County, to David and Helma Schmidt Rohrbach.
Survivors are two sisters, Gertrude Tinnerman and Vera Baumgardner, both of St. Marys; three sisters-in-law, Victoria of St. Marys, Retha of Marblehead, Evelyn of Boulder, Colo., and nieces and nephews.
Deceased are four brothers, Walter, Leroy, Virgil, and David Jr., and a sister, Olga Burkhart.
She began her beautician career at Lois' Beauty Shop in St. Marys and spent most of her career running her salon, The Beauty Nook, in Dayton. She also was employed at O'Neys in Kettering. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in St. Marys. She was a member of the Dayton Soroptomists and a graduate of Spencerville High School.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Herb Berry officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in St. Marys.
Calling is noon-2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to hospice.
William Henschen
William B. Henschen, 85, 313 S. Kuhlman St., New Knoxville, died at 11:24 p.m. Nov. 20, 2003, at his winter residence in Zephyrhills, Fla.
He was born Feb. 27, 1918, in St. Marys, to William and Agnes Henschen. On Aug. 24. 1959, he married Ruby Market, who survives.
Other survivors are a son, Mark Gefler, Elyria; two daughters, Moira Shaw and Dorcas (Jack) Dunston, both of Seminole, Fla.; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Deceased is a sister, Lillian Weadock.
She was retired as a quality control worker at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in St. Marys. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Wapakoneta.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. Steven L. Nelson officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in St. Marys.
Calling is 6-8 p.m. Monday at Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys.
Larry Fetters
Larry W. Fetters, 62, 116 Home Ave., Celina, died at 3:30 a.m. Nov. 21, 2003, at Lima Memorial Hospital. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born Nov. 9, 1941, in Celina, to John D. and Delores Martz Fetters. On Nov. 26, 1965, he married Marjorie A. Drake. His mother and wife both survive in Celina.
Other survivors are two daughters, Tess D. (Gary) Glass, Celina, and Debora J. (Stephen) Shaffer, Lima; two sisters, Delores Elaine Boone, Dickson, Tenn., and Diane and Walt Abels, Florida; and two step-sisters, Susie (Jack) Severns, Mendon, and Shirley Orr, Florida.
Deceased is a brother, John Keith.
He retired as chief of the Celina Police Dept. in 1993 after 25 years service. He was a member of the Mercer County Sportsman Club and Celina First Church of God.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Revs. Bruce Strine and Richard VanHorn officiating. Burial will follow at Mercer Memory Gardens in Celina.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Monday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Contributions can be made to the Mercer County Heart Association.
Carol Stewart
Former Celina resident Carol Rafferty Stewart, 65, Bayonet Point, Fla., died at 12:17 p.m. Nov. 16, 2003, following an eight year battle with a brain tumor.
She was born Aug. 8, 1938, in St. Joseph, Mich., to Lee and Frances Rafferty. She married Don Stewart, who survives.
Also surviving are three children, Jerry of Fultonville, NY, Deborah of Bayonet Point, and Christopher of Rochester, New York; and a brother, John Rafferty, of Denver, Colo.
Deceased is a son, Scott Allan.
She was a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church, Bayonet Point, where she was a Sunday school teacher and assistant Sunday school superintendent. She also was a Girl Scout leader and a volunteer EMT at the local fire department. She was a 1956 graduate of Celina High School and a 1960 graduate of Muskingum College.
Services were Wednesday at the church.
Memorials can be directed to Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Port Richey, Fla.
