From the Crescent News, Defiance, Ohio, January 28, 2001
Anna Bute
PAULDING - Anna Fay Bute, 93, Paulding, died at 2 a.m. Thursday in her home.
She was born Jan. 30, 1907, in LaSalle County, Ill., the daughter of Walter and Mary (Bouley) Bute. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paulding and its Altar Rosary Society, Catholic Ladies of Columbus and Little Flower Study Club.
Surviving are a brother, Glen, Paulding; and a sister, Audrey Shaw, Jackson, Mich.
Preceding her in death was a brother, Roy.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the church with Rev. G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding. Visitation is from 2-9 p.m. today in Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding, with a rosary service at 7 p.m.
Preferred memorials are to a charity of the donor's choice.
Earl Nafziger
PETTISVILLE - Earl A. Nafziger, 85, Pettisville, died Friday afternoon in Fulton Manor Nursing Home, Wauseon.
He was born April 8, 1915, near Archbold, the son of Charley and Malinda (Rufenacht) Nafziger. In 1938, he married Blanche Wyse, who survives. He was a farmer and former employee of Archbold Ladder Co. He was a member of Central Mennonite Church, Archbold, and deliveryman for soup kitchens and food banks in the Toledo area.
Also surviving are three daughters, Janice of Archbold, Mrs. Harold (Rachel) Lindsay of Maugansville, Md., and Rhoda Schrag, Goshen, Ind.; nine sons, Charles of LaJunta, Colo., Ralph of Ft. Lauderville, Fla., Ellis, Robert and John, all of Wauseon, Joseph of Kissimmee, Fla., Emerson of Champaign, Ill., Verlin of Whitmore Lake, Mich., and Roger, Goshen; a brother, Vern, Archbold; a sister, Pauline Rossman, Wauseon; and 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were two brothers, Ora and Loren; a sister, Lillian Sauder; and a granddaughter.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the church with Pastors Jeffrey Smith, Cliff Brubaker, Rhoda Schrag and Wanda Stopher officiating. Burial will precede services in Pettisville Cemetery. Visitation is from 2-9 p.m. Monday in the church fellowship hall. Handling arrangements is Short Funeral Home, Archbold.
Sherry Baker
PAULDING - Sherry Rae Baker, 39, Paulding, died at 3:34 p.m. Wednesday in Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.
She was born Aug. 27, 1961, in Greensboro, N.C., the daughter of Raeford and Shirley (Vaughan) Baker. She was a former clerk at Duke University Cancer Center.
Surviving are her father, Florida; her mother, Shirley Vaughan, Oxford, N.C.; a son, Richard, Keithville, La.; a sister, JoAnn Baker, Oxford, N.C.; a half brother, Joey Ellis, Apex, N.C.; and a fiancé, Brian Albright, Paulding.
Services will be private. There will be no visitation. Handling arrangements is Dooley Funeral Home, Antwerp.
Jack Schmitt
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Word was received of the Jan. 9 death of Defiance native Jack F. Schmitt, 80, Phoenix.
He was born Dec. 15, 1920, in Defiance, the son of Louis and Gertrude Schmitt.
Surviving are his wife, Marguerite, Phoenix; two daughters, Tonette Franchuk and Candace Martinez, both of Arizona; a son, Brett, Arizona; a sister, Thelma Snider, Defiance; and eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were a daughter, Jackie Collins; three sisters, Pearl Marihugh, Hazel Yeager and Thora Willard; and two brothers, Roy Carlson and Guy Schmitt.
Evelyn Jones
WATERVILLE - Evelyn Mae Jones, 77, Waterville, died Thursday in Whitehouse Country Manor Nursing Home.
She was born June 3, 1923, in McClure, the daughter of Harvey and Martha (Boyer) Foltz. She married John Jones, who died in 1987. She operated a Toledo beauty shop and developed and administered the Imperial Nursing Home, Toledo. She was active in Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and a member of Bethany Baptist Church, Grand Rapids.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ron (Karol Ann) Stoddard, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; a son, James, Waterville; four sisters, Mary Lou Leatherman of Custar, Mrs. Tom (Doloris) Coppes, Doris Weidman and Lois VanDersal, all of Findlay; a brother, Gerald Foltz, Deshler; and three grandchildren.
Also preceding her in death were five brothers, Bill, Virgil, Ernest, Harold and Delbert Foltz.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Bethany Baptist Church with Pastor Timothy Coley officiating. Burial will be in Hockman Cemetery, McClure. Visitation is from 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. today in Wright Funeral Home, Grand Rapids.
Preferred memorials are to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Alvin Ewald
TOLEDO - Alvin E. Ewald, 79, Toledo, died Wednesday evening in his home.
He was born in Toledo. His wife, Ruth, preceded him in death in 1990. He was a locomotive engineer for Conrail for 40 years, retiring in 1981, and a U.S. Army Air Force veteran serving during World War II in the Middle East. He was a member of Maumee Elks Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Our Lady of Perpetual Help and a former member of Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Duane (Suzanne) Steyer, Defiance; a son, Christopher, Perrysburg; a brother, Robert; a special friend, Betty Splittgerber; and five grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday at the church. Burial was in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park, Toledo. Handling arrangements was Coyle Funeral Home, Toledo.
Preferred memorials are to the church or a charity of the donor's choice.
Mervin Farber
ARCHBOLD - Mervin A. Farber, 94, Archbold, died Saturday at Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon.
He was born Feb. 4, 1906, in Stryker, the son of Adolph and Anna (Braun) Farber. In 1933, he married Edna Rufenacht, who died in 1994. He received a bachelor of science degree from Dennison University, Granville; and a master of arts degree in education from Ohio State University. He taught and coached at Archbold High School, taught at Delta and Wauseon schools and was Wauseon High School's principal from 1949-54. He was an insurance salesman and owner and operater of Farber-Meier Hardware Store, Wauseon. He was an administrator at Fairlawn Haven Nursing Home, Archbold, and was chairman of Fulton County Historical Society.
He was a member of American Association of Commons Club, past chairman of Fulton County Senior Center's advisory board and past president of Fulton County Human Services' advisory board, Fulton County Chapter of American Red Cross, Wauseon Lions Club, NWOAL and Fulton County Retired Teachers' Association and was responsible for giving Archbold High School the nickname "Blue Streaks."
He was a member of Wauseon Exchange Club, Ohio Retired Teachers' Association and Wauseon Evangelical Mennonite Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher, deacon board chairman and secretary for Evangelical Mennonite Church National Conference.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Tom (Jeanine) Hall, Archbold; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Also preceding him in death was a brother, Harold.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the church with Rev. David Conn officiating. Burial will be in Pettisville Cemetery. Visitation is from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. today in Fairlawn Haven Chapel, Archbold. Handling arrangements is Grisier Funeral Home, Archbold.
Preferred memorials are to Fairlawn Haven.
Elizabeth Polasek
Services for Elizabeth R. Polasek were held Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Tim Kummerer officiating. Organist was Dave Moninger. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ray Collins, John Schelling, Joseph Polasek, John Parker, Vaclav Lorenkovic, Patrick Wolfrum, Robert May and Fred Figley. Mast-Mock-Hoffman Funeral Home handled arrangements.
From the Crescent News, Defiance, Ohio, January 29, 2001
William Smith
William G. Smith, 73, Defiance, died at 12:10 a.m. today in Defiance Hospital.
He was born Dec. 16, 1927, in Williams County, the son of Ira and Alta (Luke) Smith. In 1962, he married Marie Breininger, who survives. He worked in repair and service at GM Powertrain for 32 years, retiring in 1983. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of First Church of Christ.
Also surviving are a son, William Jr., Sherwood; three daughters, Judith Anderson of Arthur, Janet Valle of Oakwood and Laura Race, Bethel; three stepsons, Eugene Thompson of Wren, Larry Thompson of Abilene, Texas, and James Thompson, Angola, Ind.; six stepdaughters, Rose Karlstadt, Barbara Fowler and Linda Thompson, all of Bryan, Patty Shankster of Milford, Ind., Sherry Thompson of Mary Ester, Fla., and Lela Castro, Imperial, Calif.; a brother, John, Kendallville, Ind.; and 49 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death was a stepson, Jerry Thompson.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverview Memory Gardens with military services accorded by VFW Post 3360. Visitation is from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday.
William Smith
Services for William G. Smith will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverside Memory Gardens with military rites accorded by VFW Post 3360. Visitation is from 7-9 p.m. today and from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday. Among survivors is a daughter, Judith Andrews, Arthur.
William Smith
Services for William G. Smith were held Thursday in Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home with Revs. Bill Davis and Bryan Maxey officiating. Burial was in Riverview Memory Gardens. Pallbearers were Bob Sarka, James Thompson, William and Christopher Race, Chad Hahn and John Standish.
Lawrence Greenler
Lawrence A. Greenler, 84, rural Defiance, died at 6:25 a.m. today in Harborside Healthcare.
He was born April 3, 1916, in Henry County, the son of Carl and Nellie (Castile) Greenler. In 1937, he married Irene Fox, who died in 1997. He was a farmer, owner of an excavating business and a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Defiance County.
Surviving are three sons, Larry and James, both of Defiance, and Michael, El Sobrante, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. Gerald (Kathleen) Engel of Defiance and Mrs. William (Cynthia) Lindsay, Cheyenne, Wyo.; a brother, Robert, Perrysburg; three sisters, Dorothy Crew of Malinta, Naomi Aurand of Van Wert and Mrs. Harold (Norma) Dison, Rochester, Minn.; and 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Also preceding him in death were three brothers, Homer, Paul and Orville; and a sister, Laurina Butler.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.
Preferred memorials are to Hospice the Caring Way of Defiance.
McCleta Windle
CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. - Leipsic native McCleta G. Windle, 86, Crystal Lake, died Saturday in Crystal Pines Health Care Center, Crystal Lake.
She was born Feb. 25, 1914, in Leipsic, the daughter of John and Margaret (Warren) Ward. She was a homemaker and a member of First Lutheran Church, Leipsic.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Vern (Joyce) Manke, McHenry; two sons, Joe of Mayflower, Ariz., and Paul, Cedar Hills, Texas; a brother, John Ward, Leipsic; and four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Preceding her in death was a brother, Warren Ward.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the church with Rev. George Zornow officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Ridge Cemetery, Leipsic. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Handling arrangements is Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Leipsic.
Preferred memorials are to Crystal Pines Health Care Center, 335 Illinois, Crystal Lake, Ill. 60014, or Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 420 S. Hager Ave., Barrington, Ill. 60010.
Marjorie Roddy
LIBERTY CENTER - Marjorie Mildred Roddy, 85, Liberty Center, died Saturday morning at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo.
She was born Sept. 14, 1915, in Napoleon, the daughter of Floyd and Ruth (Hall) Long. In 1941, she married Virgil Roddy, who survives. She was a homemaker and a former employee of Wauseon Wire.
Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Mary Jo) Herrick, Aberdeen, Wash.; two sons, Robert of Bradenton, Fla., and Roger, Lima; a sister, Mrs. Gene (Mary Lou) Sickman, Burkburnett, Texas; two brothers, Warren Long of Defiance and Charles Long, Wauseon; and seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were four brothers, Chalmer, Howard, Dick and Don Long; and a granddaughter.
Services will be private with Rev. David Bringman officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Napoleon. Visitation is from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday in Wright Funeral, Home, Liberty Center.
Preferred memorials are to the American Heart Association.
Jerald Rodriguez
PAULDING - Jerald Gene Rodriguez, 31, Paulding, died at 5:21 a.m. Sunday from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Ohio 111, south of Defiance.
He was born Aug. 10, 1969, in Paulding, the son of Ramiro and Bernardine (Gonzalez) Rodriguez. He worked at GM Powertrain, Defiance, and was a member of UAW Local 211 and St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulding.
Surviving are his parents, Paulding; a brother, Vincent, Columbus; two sisters, Mrs. Jerry (Rachel) Thomas of Bucyrus and Erika, Paulding; and a grandmother, Sally Gonzalez, Paulding.
Preceding him in death were grandparents, Frank Gonzalez and Lupe and Atanacia Rodriguez.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the church with Rev. G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding. Visitation is from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday and from 8-9 a.m. Thursday at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding. There will be a rosary service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Preferred memorials are to a charity of the donor's choice.
From the Crescent News, Defiance, Ohio, January 30, 2001
Pauline Martin
Pauline H. Martin, 79, Defiance, died at 3:30 a.m. Monday in Laurels of Defiance.
She was born Feb. 11, 1921, in Titusville, Pa., the daughter of Harry and Christine (Butler) Hubbard. In 1942, she married Henry Martin, who died in 1998. She graduated from St. Joseph's Academy, Titusville, and St. Vincent's School of Nursing, Erie, Pa. She was a licensed practical nurse for Dr. L.A. Glietsman for 24 years and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Surviving are a son, Joe, Defiance; a sister, Margaret Hubbard, Longview, Texas; and two granddaughters.
Also preceding her in death were a son, John, in infancy; and a brother, John Hubbard.
Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the church with Rev. Tim Kummerer officiating. Burial will be at a later date in All Souls Cemetery, Warren. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Thursday. Handling arrangements is Mast-Mock-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Preferred memorials are to Laurels of Defiance.
Kenneth Ruch
NAPOLEON - Kenneth E. Ruch, 92, Napoleon, died Saturday in Henry County Hospital.
He was born Aug. 10, 1908, in Ottawa, the son of William and Millicent (Motter) Ruch. In 1936, he married Evelyn Stalter, who died in 1997. He was chief account officer and office manager for Pennzoil Co., Los Angeles, and account officer at Snyder Chevrolet-Oldsmobile Co., Napoleon, retiring in 1968. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church, DAV Chapter 30, American Legion Post 300 and Elks Lodge 929, all of Napoleon, and former president and area governor of Downtown Toastmasters Club, Los Angeles.
Surviving is a brother, Douglas, Marietta, Ga.
Also preceding him in death were five brothers, Neil, Wayne, Maxwell, Royal and William Jr.; and four sisters, Helen Thoering, Hazel Caves and Ruth and Cathrine Ruch.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the church. A private burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Napoleon. There will be no visitation. Handling arrangements is Walker Mortuary, Napoleon.
Preferred memorials are to a charity of the donor's choice.
