Obituaries

Janet R. Hohenbrink

October 10, 2017

Today our family lost a very special person.  She was a mother, grandmother, wife, and great friend.  She was part tom-boy from growing up with three brothers and part lady because of her mother’s influence on her life.  She loved campfire and hot dog roasts, the sound of birds singing and frogs croaking.  She enjoyed Mother Nature and scenic...

Valerie Anne Risen

October 10, 2017

Valerie Anne (Swary) Risen age 43, of Salem, IN and formerly Holgate, died Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at CHP Defiance In-patient Hospice Center after a  battle with cancer.

Her Legacy… She was born January 13, 1974 to Al and Lynn Swary in Napoleon.  Valerie graduated from Holgate High School in 1992 and attended...

Alverda Marie (Cohrs) Mansfield

September 25, 2017

Alverda Marie Mansfield age 90, of Holgate, died Monday, September 25, 2017 at CHP Defiance In-Patient Hospice Center.

Her Legacy… She was born May 1, 1927 in Holgate to Ernest and Elnora (Koppenhofer) Cohrs.  She graduated from Holgate High School in 1945.  She married Perry Mansfield, Jr. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Flatrock...

Ruth Ann Wagner

August 26, 2017

Ruth Ann Wagner age 75, of Defiance, died Saturday morning, August 26, 2017 unexpectedly in Defiance.

Her Legacy… She was born May 17, 1942 to Calvin and Grace (Imber) Murphy.  She graduated from Defiance High School.  On May 7, 1960 she married Kenneth B. Wagner and he preceded her in death on March...

Keith Woggon

August 19, 2017

Keith Woggon age 56, of Napoleon, died Saturday morning, August 19, 2017 at the Defiance In-patient Hospice Center.  Services will be private.

Martha M. (Rettig) Zimmer

August 15, 2017

Martha M. Zimmer age 87, of Napoleon, died Tuesday morning, August 15, 2017 at Genacross Lutheran Services, Napoleon.

Her Legacy… She was born August 8, 1930 to Richard and Matilda (Arps) Rettig in Holgate. On July 27, 1954, she married Bernard “Barney” Zimmer.  Martha was a homemaker but for 5 or 6 years,...

Walter C. Desgranges

July 28, 2017

Walter C. Desgranges age 101, of Holgate died Friday afternoon, July 28, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Maumee.

His Legacy… He was born April 25, 1916 to Oliver and Mary (Leaders) Desgranges in Pleasant Township, New Bavaria.  On January 22, 1949, he married Helen W. Snyder.  Walter was top...

Pastor Irvin C. Leidy

July 16, 2017

Pastor Irvin C. Leidy, age 68, died Sunday night in his Stryker home.  He was born January 29, 1949 to Irvin Ridgely Leidy and Dorothy Mildred (Duty) Leidy.  He was preceded in death by his father.  He is survived by his wife, Judith (Scharer) Leidy, mother, sister Rita (Les) Rogers, brother Rick (Faye) Leidy, brother Doug (Kathy)...

Burnell "Barney" Rettig

July 1, 2017

Burnell “Barney” F. Rettig age 91, of Holgate, died Saturday night, July 1, 2017 at Vancrest Healthcare Center of Holgate.

His Legacy… He was born January 26, 1926 to Richard and Matilda (Arps) Rettig in Flatrock Township.  He attended Holgate High School.  Barney was a United States Army veteran...

Lavina Hoellrich

June 25, 2017

Lavina M. Hoellrich age 89, of Holgate, died Sunday afternoon, June 25, 2017 at Vancrest Healthcare Center of Holgate.

Her Legacy… She was born October 20, 1927 to Henry and Golda (Dancer) Lero in Holgate. In 1945, she graduated from Ayersville High School.   She married Lester Hoellrich March 15, 1947 and he died...

Jonathan Snowden

June 14, 2017

Jonathan Bernard Snowden age 49, died Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in his Defiance home.

He was born September 9, 1966 to Bernard and Mary (Tidwell) Snowden in Bowling Green, OH.  Jon was able to obtain his GED and attend some classes at Northwest State Community College.  He had been employed as a truck driver in...

Joanne Blankemeier

June 4, 2017

Joanne Blankemeier age 83, of Continental, died Sunday afternoon, June 4, 2017 at Vancrest Healthcare Center of Holgate after a brief illness.

Her Legacy… She was born August 11, 1933 to Albin and Barbara “Tillie” (Kustra) Wierbicki in Ashland, Ohio.  Joanne graduated from Ashland High School.  On October 9, 1954 she married Bernard...

Jerry Holzer

May 16, 2017

August C. “Jerry” Holzer, Jr. age 76, died Tuesday, May 16, 2017 near his Napoleon home.

His Legacy… He was born August 11, 1940 to August Carl, Sr. and Flo McMillan in Napoleon, Ohio. He married Millie Shisler on June 5, 1965 in Oakwood. Jerry has lived in Napoleon all of his life....

Gary Lee LaVoy, Jr.

May 15, 2017

Gary Lee LaVoy, Jr. age 30, of Holgate was tragically killed in a motor vehicle crash on May 15, 2017.

His Legacy… He was born March 3, 1987 to Gary LaVoy, Sr. and Diana Rouiller in Toledo.  He graduated from Holgate High School in 2005.  Gary received his Associates degree from Owens Community...

Lillian Ann (Schwab) Chinni

April 21, 2017

Lillian Ann (Schwab) Chinni age 96, of Auburn, Indiana died in her sons Auburn home on Friday afternoon, April 21, 2017 surrounded by family.

Her Legacy… She was born October 8, 1920 to Herman and Frances (Wagner) Okuly in New Bavaria.  On August 23, 1939, she married Elmer Schwab.  He died on November...

Judith Walters

April 10, 2017

Judith Jo Walters age 72, of Napoleon died Monday morning, April 10, 2017 surrounded by her family at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.

Her Legacy… She was born October 8, 1944 to William H. and Mildred V. (Van Horn) Gerdeman.  On April 4, 1987 she married Larry D. Walters.  She was a...

Harold A. Brubaker

March 28, 2017

Harold A. Brubaker age 87, of Hamler, died Tuesday morning, March 28, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Maumee.

His Legacy… He was born November 9, 1929 to Raymond J. and Elnora (Mack) Brubaker in Hamler.  In 1948 he graduated from Hamler High School.  On February 16, 1957 he married Cleo VanAtta. Harold was...

John Sheldon Burke

March 25, 2017

John Sheldon "Red" Burke age 86, of Holgate, died Saturday morning, March 25, 2017 at Genacross, Napoleon.

His Legacy… John was born February 22, 1931 to Robert U. and Goldie (Collins) Burke in Van Lear, KY.  On November 20, 1957 he married Minnie Ellen (Trusty). They had 4 children Alfreda (Don) Silva, Defiance,...

Keith R. Brown

February 16, 2017

Keith R. Brown age 57, of Edgerton, died Thursday, February 16, 2017 as the result of a traffic crash in Edgerton.

His Legacy… He was born October 11, 1959 to Vincent and Margaret Mae (Crumrine) Brown in New Bavaria.  He graduated from Holgate High School and the Muskingum Area...

Charles Wolkiewicz

February 12, 2017

Charles Wolkiewicz age 60, of Holgate, died Sunday morning, February 12, 2017 at Vancrest of Holgate.

His Legacy… Chuck was born January 24, 1957 to Bernard Wolkiewicz and Irmalea Weigold in Pittsburgh, PA.  On June 27, 1980, he married Carine “Cari” Derr in Pittsburg.  Chuck received his associate degree from Northwest State Community...