Category: Obituaries

Myron “Butch” James, Jr.

HICKSVILLE, OH: Myron “Butch” James, Jr., 73, of Hicksville, Ohio passed away Friday, February 18, 2022, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Butch was born April 26, 1948, in Hartford City, Indiana, son of the late Myron Ray and Nilah Jean (Hardwick) James, Sr. He graduated from Joliet High School. He served in…

Cara Lou Handy

ANTWERP, OH: Cara Lou Handy, 95, of Antwerp passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at The Manor, Antwerp.  Cara Lou was born in Antwerp, Ohio on August 8, 1926, a daughter of the late Thelma (Hallock) and Robert Lichty. She loved her family and considered many people she met part of her family. Cara Lou…

Marvin L. Gray

LATTY, OH: Marvin L. Gray, age 62, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022 at Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Marvin was born on March 31, 1959 in Paulding, Ohio to Harry F. and the late Donna L. (Smith) Gray. On January 13, 1979, Marvin married Nancy Mullen, who survives. For six…

Donna P. Miller

LATTY, OH: Donna P. Miller, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at Paulding County Hospital. Donna was born on January 6, 1933 in Crocker, MO to the late Melvin and Lois (Crawford) Ray. In 1956, she married William Miller who preceded her in death in 2000. Donna was the Postmaster in Latty…

Joe Messmann

ANTWERP, OH Joe Messmann, 70, of Antwerp, passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021, at Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana Joe was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on December 1, 1951, a son of Myrtle Rekeweg (Saurer) & the late Glenn Messmann. He worked at Paragon for 34 years. Joe was a big sports fan. He was…

Mary J. Strable

PAULDING, OH: Mary J. Strable, age 82, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, IN. Mary was born on June 11, 1939 in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, OH to the late Chester and Dorothy (Snyder) Lytle. On February 11, 1956 she married Thomas Strable who preceded her…

Mark Lucas

ANTWERP, OH Mark Lucas, 65, of Antwerp, passed away Friday, December 10, 2021 at Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center.  Mark was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on October 4, 1956, a son of the late Marlene (Coles) & Richard Lucas. Mark’s early years were spent alongside his four siblings, singing and playing guitar in the family…

Thomas J. Townley

DEFIANCE, OH:  Thomas J. Townley, age 73, passed away on Monday, December 6, 2021 at Mercy Health – Defiance Hospital. Thomas was born on June 10, 1948 to the late Russell and Lorraine (Bott) Townley in Flint, MI. On March 18, 1967 he married Alyse DeGood, who preceded him in death in 2013. He served…

John William Phillips

John William Phillips, 74, of Hicksville, passed away Monday, November 22, 2021, at Coventry Meadows in Ft. Wayne.  John was born in Hicksville on October 17, 1947, a son of the late Ruth (Gloor) & Robert Phillips. John worked for many years at Dietrich Industries. He was a proud Marine, bravely serving his country in…

Richard “Rick” Lynn Speakman

HAVILAND, OH: Richard “Rick” Lynn Speakman, age 71, passed away on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at his home in Haviland, OH. Rick was born on January 23, 1950 to the late Harold and Almeda (Decker) Speakman in Van Wert, OH. On September 2, 1989, he married Sharon Farr, who survives. For 12 years, he worked…

Theresa M. Baumle

PAYNE, OH:  Theresa M. Baumle, age 94, passed away on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN. Theresa was born on November 11, 1927 to the late John and Anna (Schall) Linder in Payne, OH.  On January 21, 1950, Theresa married Harold Baumle, who preceded her in death on September…

Gerald “Jerry” Dorsett Avery

DETROIT, MI Gerald “Jerry” Dorsett Avery, 77, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at home. Born in Detroit, Michigan he was the son of the late Dudley and Margaret (Gardiner) Avery. He was a longtime member of St. Paul Gar Creek Lutheran Church, New Haven. He retired in 2007 from Keefer Printing Company…

Stephen Michael Schaefer

Steve Schaefer, age 62, died at his home in Houston, Texas on November 8, 2021. Steve passed away holding the hand of his loving wife of over 20 years, Leslie, and sister-in-law, Shannon, after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Hicksville, Ohio on May 26, 1959, to Patricia McCalla and Jacob…