Obituaries

Aug 23, 2019

Billy D. "Uncle Bill" Proffitt, 90, of Van Wert, passed away at 3:30 a.m., Friday at Vancrest Health Care Center, Van Wert. He was born in Mercer County, Ohio on March 30, 1929, to Rev. Clayton Manley and Sarah Elizabeth Proffitt. He married the former Margaret Louise Campbell and they celebrated 71 years of marriage on August 8, 2019....

Aug 16, 2019

Donald J. "Jake" Baker, 85, of Convoy, died Friday evening at Parkview Randallia Hospital, Fort Wayne.

He was born on October 28, 1933, in Monroeville, Indiana, the son of the late Donald L. and Mazie (Clevenger) Baker. On October 8, 1955, he married the former Betty L. Webster who also preceded him in death on November 17,...

Aug 15, 2019

Wanda Charlotte Johns Uncapher, 88, of Van Wert, passed away Thursday at the Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center.

She was born to Dallas C. And Ruth (Smith) Johns at the home of her grandparents William T. And Charlotte (Voltz) Johns in Willshire Township on July 31, 1931.

She graduated from Van Wert High School in 1949...

Aug 14, 2019

Kevin Lee Gibson, 39, Van Wert, Ohio, passed away Wed., August 14, 2019, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Kevin was born in Garrett, Kentucky the son of the late  Grover Gibson and Cathy (Lumpkins) Gibson Miller on December 30, 1979.

He was married to Maryann L. (Smalley) on August 23, 2003.

Aug 13, 2019

H. Paul Semer, of Van Wert, went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 13, 2019, from the Sarah Jane Living Center, Delphos, Ohio.  He was born on July 18, 1933, in Van Wert, the son of Harry and Charlotte (Thatcher) Semer.

Paul was a 1951 graduate of Van Wert High School and joined the...

Aug 9, 2019

Rev. Von Edwin Giessler, born October 15, 1934 in Harrison Township, the only child of the late Edwin (Ed) and Mary (Woods) Giessler went home to be with Jesus at HealthPark Hospital in Ft. Myers, FL on August 9, 2019.  He had been a resident of Ft. Myers, Florida since 1994.

Surviving are his wife Rita (Dixon)...

Aug 9, 2019

Jasmine Coleman made her beautiful debut into this world on October 24, 1993 at Van Wert County Hospital. Jasmine was the beloved daughter of Don and Faith (King) Coleman and the best big sister to Kali Coleman and fur brother Oscar, all of Van Wert. She was the love of a lifetime to her fiancé, Xavier Brodeur. Her memory...

Aug 2, 2019

Melvin Spurgin Gribble, 79, of Scott, Ohio, passed away at 5:37 p.m., Friday at Lima Memorial Health System.

He was born on July 19, 1940, in McDougal, Arkansas, the son of the late Barney I. and Eula May (O'Guin) Gribble. He was married to the former Barbara A. Brown who also preceded him in death.

...

Aug 1, 2019

James D. Cowan, 77, of Columbus, died Thursday, August 1 while living at Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber in Columbus.

Jim was born at home in Willshire, Ohio on August 28, 1941 to John Dale and Bessie Demaris Davis Cowan. Jim was the youngest of 6 children (John, Robert, Janelle, Richard, and Suzanne are deceased). He attended Willshire schools...

Jul 31, 2019

Georgia M. Fry, 92,  formerly of Van Wert died at  Wednesday July 31, 2019 at the Perham Living Nursing Home  in Perham, Minnesota.

She was born on December 15, 1926 in Dixon, Ohio, the daughter of the late George A. and Zelda M. (Wise) Pierce.  On December 23, 1944, she married Elzie Wayne Fry, who preceded her...

Jul 27, 2019

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our brother, James Atlee Gehres on July 27, 2019.  He would have turned 77 on August the 20th.  The cancer that he battled many years ago, returned.  He went quickly and is now with our beloved parents, Woodrow Atlee and Irene Berniece (Kreischer) Gehres, who both preceded him...

Jul 14, 2019

LeRoy E. Ernie, 78, passed away at 8:35 a.m., Sunday at his residence in Ohio City.

He was born on October 30, 1940, in Willshire, Ohio, the son of the late Roy Alton and Marjorie Christine (Harmon) Ernie. On April 17, 1964, he married the former Sue Ainsworth who survives.

Other family members include his...

Jul 13, 2019

Billie Jean Krugh, 91 of Van Wert, died at 11:40 p.m., Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Van Wert Manor Nursing Home.

She was born in Van Wert, Ohio on December 29, 1927, the daughter of the late Doyle Elmer and Pearl R. (Handwerk) Brubaker.  On January 7, 1951, she married Wilbur Lowell Krugh, who preceded her...

Jul 1, 2019

Kenneth R. Miller, 94, formerly of Van Wert, died Monday evening at Country Inn Enhanced Living near Paulding.

He was born on August 14, 1924, in Paulding County, the son of the late Russell and Anna (Wilcox) Miller. On October 24, 1941, he married the former Marjorie Juanita Wortman who also preceded him in death on March...

Jun 30, 2019

Clint Warren Marbaugh, 46, passed away Sunday morning at his residence in Liberty Township.

He was born on September 29, 1972, in Van Wert, the son of Bradley W. and Audrey L. (Ross) Marbaugh who survive in rural Van Wert.

Clint also leaves behind his wife, Cindy Amweg; twin daughters, Katie (Tony Brown) Marbaugh of...

Jun 29, 2019

Jamie A. Rice, 65 of Findlay and formerly of Ohio City & Gwinn, Michigan, died at 8:40 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the Van Wert Manor.

She was born on July 22, 1953 in Kokomo, Indiana, the daughter of the late James E. Grant, Sr. and Carolyn E. (Sallee) Fatula, who survives in Van Wert.

Jun 26, 2019

Quietly proud, very private and a strong man of integrity, Arnold "Arnie" C. Baker, Jr. 93, of Van Wert died on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was born on August 14, 1925, in Findlay, Ohio, the son of the late Arnold C. Baker, Sr. and Anna (Benadum) Baker. On...

Jun 24, 2019

Rebekah Hadrian Bjorn, 47, of Payne, Ohio, died at 1 p.m., Monday, June 24, 2019, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on January 29, 1972, in Georgia, the daughter of Everett and Billie DeVelde who survive in Montello, Wisconsin. On December 31, 2018, she married Terry Baldauf who also survives.

Other...

Jun 24, 2019

Mary Lou Butler, 82, of Van Wert, passed away Monday afternoon, June 24, 2019, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

She was born on January 14, 1937, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Clarence A. and Elizabeth (Mapes) Ringwald. On August 17, 1961, she married Paul E. Butler who preceded her in death on...

Jun 15, 2019

Marjorie J. Fronefield, 89, of Van Wert passed away Saturday morning at Van Wert Health.

She was born on April 19, 1930, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Thomas Oren and Marcile Etoil (Thomas) Reese. On March 22, 1947, she married Homer Gene Fronefield who also preceded her in death on November 21, 2008.