Obituaries

Dec 22, 2021

Scott Allan Fast, 62 of Jeffersonville, Indiana passed away and entered through the gates of Heaven on Wednesday afternoon December 22, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky after a brief illness with liver cancer.

He was born on October 11, 1959 in Paulding, Ohio to the late John Robert Fast and Carolyn Jane (Cotner) Fast of Van Wert, who...

Dec 22, 2021

Alice W. Krugh Endsley, 90, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning at her residence in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on March 17, 1931, in Adams County, Indiana the daughter of the late Oval Edward and Mary Berniece (Knittle) Smith. She married Donnie Berry Krugh who died on April 5, 1963. She then married John Darrel Endsley...

Dec 21, 2021

Bonnie Lou Bragg Dienstberger, 84, of Van Wert passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 21, 2021, at Van Wert Manor in Van Wert.

She was born on September 16, 1937, in Van Wert to the late Grover and Louise (Crowe) Stripe Sr.

She is survived by her son, Donald E. (Elaine) Bragg Jr. of Van Wert,...

Dec 20, 2021

Gerald M. "Jerry" Wolverton, 76, of formerly Ottawa, Ohio passed away Monday, December 20, 2021, at Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Georgia.

Gerald was born June 27, 1945 in Landeck, Ohio to the late Donald Eugene Wolverton and Ruth Pauline (Williams) Wolverton. He married the former Joyce Smith on April 15, 1967 and she preceded him in...

Dec 20, 2021

James "Jim" Franklin Wiseman, 84 of Van Wert passed away Monday, December 20, 2021, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home. He was born on April 11, 1937, in Van Wert to the late Ralph E. & Leota M. Wiseman.

On June 16, 1957, he married the love of his life and "brown eyed girl" Margaret A. "Peg"...

Dec 20, 2021

Janet (Green, Gilbert) Pankake, 92 passed away on Monday, December 20, 2021 after a brief illness.  She was a resident at Van Crest Assisted Living in Van Wert, Ohio.

She is preceded in death by husbands Junior Guy Gilbert, James Eldon Pankake, and son David Lee Gilbert.

She is survived by her children:  Danny (Sarah)...

Dec 19, 2021

Kaine A. Leppard, 13, of Scott passed away at 2:49 p.m., Sunday, December 19, 2021, at Van Wert Health.

He was born on April 29, 2008 in Van Wert and is the son of Joshua L. Bissonette of Scott and Jessica R. (Justin Taylor) Leppard of Van Wert. Also surviving are his grandparents Scott and Tressa Jo...

Dec 18, 2021

Glen "Lefty" Mosier, 94, passed away Saturday morning at his home near Ohio City.

He was born on June 10, 1927, in Van Wert County the son of the late Clay and Ada (Marsh) Mosier. On December 28, 1957, he married the former Ellen Jones who survives.

Other family members include his children, Clay (Sherry)...

Dec 17, 2021

Beverly Sue Plummer, 64 of Van Wert passed away Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:48 a.m. at Van Wert Health.

She was born May 17, 1957 in Van Wert to the late Rex Plummer and Ann (Stoller) Plummer who survives of Paulding, Ohio.

Other family survivors include her son, Clay Morgan (Whitney) Akerman of Ohio...

Dec 16, 2021

Joan Sheets, 85, of Fort Wayne, Indiana passed away Thursday, December 16, 2021 at Lutheran Villages at Pine Valley of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on May 23, 1936 in Payne, Ohio to the late Carl Warner and Irene (Foust) Warner. On October 3, 1958, she married Vance E. Sheets who preceded her in death on...

Dec 15, 2021

Elizabeth Ann Engstrand, 62, of Peru, Indiana passed away Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at Lutheran Downtown Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on March 1, 1959, in Van Wert to Gaylord Lynn Taylor and Betty (Jenkins) Lewis of Van Wert.

She was engaged to be Wed to Jimmy Blumke of Peru, Indiana.

Dec 13, 2021

Deanna R. Speelman, 78, passed away at 2:30 a.m., Monday December 13 at Homestead at Towne Center, Van Wert.

She was born on May 1, 1943, in Van Wert the daughter of the late Eugene and Annette J. (Guinn) Fry. On April 21, 1961, she married Justus O. "Joe" Speelman who also preceded her in death on...

Dec 11, 2021

James (Jim) R. Smith 74 of Scott, joined Jesus Christ in heaven December 11, 2021.  James was born in Van Wert, Ohio, in 1947 to the late Monnie (Stone) Smith who left us on August 22, 2021 and the late Ronald McCoy Smith who left him September 19, 1983.  He was surrounded by his family as he slipped away...

Dec 11, 2021

Royce D. Williams, 78, of Rockford passed away at 6:43 p.m., Saturday at Van Wert Health.

He was born on August 30, 1943, in Van Wert County the son of the late James S. and Frances (Caywood) Williams. On June 30, 1968, he married the former Barbara Shaffer at Olive Branch Church of God.

Family...

Dec 10, 2021

Donald C. Vonderau, 84 of Convoy passed away Friday afternoon, December 10, 2021 at Mercy Health Center in Lima, Ohio surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

He was born August 16, 1937 in New Haven, Indiana to Arthur H. Vonderau and Kathryn "Kay" (Dustman) Vonderau and they both preceded him in death. He married the former...

Dec 8, 2021

Jimmy Wallace, 63, passed away at 9:50 a.m., Wednesday at his residence in Van Wert.

He was born on March 25, 1958, in Van Wert the son of the late Claron Wallace and Mae (Boroff) Wallace who survives in Van Wert. On June 15, 1995, he married the former Faith Loraine Pangle who survives.

Other...

Dec 6, 2021

Bonnie Lou Dunlap, 81, passed away at 10:20 a.m., Monday at her residence in Van Wert.

She was born on August 21, 1940, in Van Wert the daughter of the late Fred and Mary Parks. On August 31, 1958, she married Glen D. Dunlap who survives.

Other family members include her four children, Dennis A....

Dec 4, 2021

Janet A. Dawson, 72, of Van Wert passed away at 1:15 p.m., Saturday, December 4, 2021, at Mercy Health in Lima.

She was born on February 4, 1949, in Van Wert the daughter of the late Thurman A. and Margurete (Searight) Carr. She was married to Robert Lee Dawson who survives.

Other family members include...

Dec 3, 2021

Harold Leon Merkle, 87, of Van Wert passed away at 11:35 a.m., Friday, December 3, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born on March 22, 1934, in Van Wert, Ohio the son of the late Walter A. and Oval M. (Miller) Merkle. Harold married the love of his life Janet M....

Dec 3, 2021

Nancy Jane Ries, 72, of Van Wert passed away at 7:57 a.m. Friday, December 3, 2021, at Vancrest of Van Wert.

She was born on November 18, 1949, in Van Wert the daughter of the late Robert Wayne and Leah Ruth (Summersett) Ries.

Family survivors include her two sons, Aaron (Prima) Hertel of Van Wert...