USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Roger Braun
Roger F. Braun, 79, of Fryburg, died at 6:25 p.m. July 15, 2002, at his residence.
He was born May 21, 1923, in Mercer County, to Frank and Louise (Laux) Braun. On June 15, 1948, he married Rose A. Yahl and she survives.
Also surviving are a son and his wife, Denny and Vickie of Wapakoneta; three daughters and their husbands, Marty and Dennis Fleming, Lima, Nancy and Kenny Fisher, Botkins, and Kathy and Jim Schaub, Wapakoneta; nine grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Other survivors include four brothers and their wives, Ardeen and Odella of Botkins, Irvin and Philena of Wapakoneta, Gilbert and Dorothy of Sidney and Arnold and Carol of Anna, and a brother, Adrian of Wapakoneta; four sisters and their husbands, Maxine and Andy Baumer, Houston, Mary Alice and Clem Sanders, Fort Loramie, Audrey and Bernard Steinke, Botkins, and Mary Ann and Gary Jarrell, Plain City; a sister, Beulah Hibner, New Bremen; a brother-in-law and his wife, Bill and Marietta Kenzik, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Lucille and Tom Hoying, Wapakoneta.
Deceased are a son, Larry; a brother, Harry; and a sister, Arlene Kenzik.
In addition to farming, he worked at Jauert Construction Co. and later Unisteel. He and his brother, Harry, built several weight exchangers that were used at tractor pulls across the state.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Fryburg, the Grand Lake Tractor Pullers, Wapakoneta Eagles Aerie 691 and a 50-year member of the Farm Bureau.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Oscar H. Seger officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery with military rites by the Wapakoneta Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Bayliff & Eley Funeral Home, Wapakoneta.
Contributions can be made to St. Rita's Hospice or a charity of the donor's choice.
Marie Griesinger
Marie C. Griesinger, 98, formerly of Fort Recovery, died at 5:45 p.m. July 16, 2002, at the Gardens at St. Henry.
She was born March 5, 1904, in Fort Recovery, to Michael and Catherine (Green) Breymaier. On April 3, 1926, she married John Griesinger and he died Jan. 20, 1992.
Surviving are a son and his wife, Dale and Nancy of Traverse City, Mich.; a daughter-in-law and her husband, May and Gene Duffey, Angola, Ind.; a sister, Florence Clark, Fort Recovery; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Donald; an infant daughter, Marilyn; five brothers, five sisters and a great-grandchild.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Recovery.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Tamara Wood officiating. Burial will follow at Springhill Cemetery, Fort Recovery.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Friday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery.
Matthew Fink
Matthew M. Fink, 25, a resident of Celina Manor Nursing Home and a former resident of 214 Magnolia St., Celina, died at 2:34 p.m. July 17, 2002, at Lima Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 3, 1976, in Coldwater, to David P. and Linda A. (Stammen) Fink. They survive.
Also surviving are a brother and his wife, Kris and Krista of Coldwater; a sister and her husband, Angie and Ben McAfee, and a sister, Jackie, all of Celina; the paternal grandparents, Elmer and Dorothy Fink, Celina, and the maternal grandparents, Virgil and Marcella Stammen, New Weston.
He graduated from Celina Senior High School and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Celina.
Memorial Mass is 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Richard Riedel officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 Friday at Lehman Funeral Home, Celina,
Contributions can be made to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Ruth Reisinger
Celina native Ruth Reisinger, 88, of New Braunfels, Texas, formerly of Lima, died at 7 p.m. July 13, 2002, at Nesbitt Nursing Home, New Braunfels.
She was born Dec. 25, 1913, in Celina, to Roy and Maggie Shimp. In 1948, she married Charles Sleimers. Following his death, she married Carl Reisinger in 1954. He, too, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a brother, Robert Shimp, Lima, and a sister, Annabelle Burger, St. Marys.
Deceased are a son, Terry Reisinger; and three sisters, Mae Wurster, Mildred Jenkins and Bonnie Bockrath.
Private graveside rites will be held later at Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima.
Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home, New Braunfels, has charge of arrangements.
Ronald Kelbel
Ronald D. Kelbel, 52, 345 Northway Drive, St. Marys (Villa Nova), was found dead July 17, 2002, at his residence. An autopsy was ordered to determine the time and cause of death.
He was born May 25, 1950, in Portland, Ind., to Neal and Sarah (Daniels) Kelbel. He was formerly married to Mary Kurtz, who survives in Botkins.
Surviving are a son, Jason of Cridersville; two daughters, Angela Waters, Minster, and Carrie of Lima; a brother and his wife, Darrell and Pat of Minster, and a brother, Dennis of St. Marys; a sister, Connie of St. Marys; and 10 grandchildren.
A 1969 graduate of St. Marys Memorial High School, he had served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He worked 25 years as a die setter at Superior Metal Products in Wapakoneta and more recently as a mechanic at Grandpa's Garage in St. Marys.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Monday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. James E. Nuhfer officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Walter Horton
St. Marys native Walter C. Horton, 61, 3983 East River Dr., Fort Myers, Fla., died July 14, 2002, while vacationing in Costa Rica with his wife. Death was due to an apparent heart attack.
He was born Aug. 6, 1940, in St. Marys, to Walter B. and Pauline (Brown) Horton.
Surviving with his wife, Clare Caldwell-Horton, are a son, Curtus of Fort Myers, and a daughter, Amanda of Winter Haven, Fla.
Memorial services are today at Unity Christian Church, Fort Myers.
Charles Cooper
Charles "Chuck" Cooper, 81, 437 Arlington St., St. Marys, died at 12:40 a.m. July 21, 2002, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, following an extended illness.
He was born Aug. 25, 1920, in Hardin County, to John and Opal (Wooley) Cooper. On Oct. 12, 1943, he married Lois Varner and she died Oct. 10, 1987. On May 14, 1988, he married Ruth Boysell and she survives.
Also surviving are three sons and their wives, Charles and Judy and James and Lynda, all of St. Marys, and Gary and Janet of Pedro, and a son, John of St. Marys; a daughter and her husband, Gloria and Chris Keller, St. Marys; a stepson and his wife, Doug and Linda Boysell, and a stepson, Dennis Boysell, all of St. Marys; a stepdaughter and her husband, Cherie and Jim Bellemey, Wapakoneta; 17 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, seven stepgrandchildren and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a sister and her husband, Edna and Ralph Bemis, Bradenton, Fla.; a sister-in-law and her husband, Helen and Wilbur Shaw, Phoenix, Ariz., and a sister-in-law, Betty Holcomb, Kenton.
Deceased are a son, Jack, and a sister, Margie May.
A veteran of World War II, he served as a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army's Company K, 311th Infantry, 78th Division at the Battle of the Bulge as well as the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns, earning six medals in the process.
A licensed stationary engineer and boiler operator, he retired as maintenance foreman from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., St. Marys, after 32 years of service. He formerly owned the Shell service station located at the corner of Main and Spring streets. He was one of the founders of the St. Marys Little League Baseball Association and managed the Pirates team for many years. He also managed two Little League All-Star Teams that competed at the state level in 1962 and 1964. He served on the City of St. Marys Recreation Board from 1964 to 1976, during which time K.C. Geiger Park was planned and created.
He attended the St. Marys Church of God, where he served as president of the board of trustees, an adult Sunday School teacher and church caretaker. He was a member of American Legion Post 323, St. Marys.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Revs. Dan May and Charles Richtmyer officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens, St. Marys.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Estella Merold
Estella May Merold, 98, 517 E. Fulton St., Celina, died at 12:57 p.m. July 20, 2002, at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
She was born May 30, 1904, in Maysville, W. Va., to Thomas G. and Mary M. (Muntzing) Kimble. On Jan. 20, 1943, she married Mark R. Merold and he died March 24, 1998.
Surviving are a son and his wife, the Rev. M. Stephen and Kae of Celina; a sister, Lydia Smith, Cumberland, Md.; three grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Four brothers and five sisters are deceased.
She retired from Goodyear Aircraft, Akron, and Lawson Milk Co., Lakemore. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Celina.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Revs. Ed DeLair and Keith Kivlin officiating. Burial will follow at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, has charge of arrangements.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Ralph Benner
Ralph Warren Benner, 84, 2440 Leisure World, Mesa, Ariz., a former resident of the St. Henry and Coldwater area for more than 30 years, died July 16, 2002, at Neely Ray Hospice House, Mesa.
He was born Aug. 10, 1917, in Perkasie, Pa., to Frank and Martha Benner.
Surviving with his wife, the former Helen Yaney of St. Henry, is a brother, Dr. Henry of Fort Worth, Texas.
A brother, Frank Jr., is deceased.
The Benners moved to Arizona from St. Henry seven years ago.
He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot during World War II, earning numerous medals and honors, including a presidential unit citation. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, a life member of the American Legion and past president of Mercer County Elks Lodge 2170.
Graveside services are 10 a.m. Friday at Veterans Administration National Cemetery, Phoenix, Ariz.
Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care handled arrangements.
Contributions can be made to Hospice of the Valley or Leisure World Tree Fund.
Rose Mary Gillum
Rose Mary Gillum, 75, 105 E. Main St., Bryant, Ind., died July 22, 2002, at Jay County Hospital, Portland, Ind.
She was born May 19, 1927, in Fort Recovery, to Robert and Pauline (Pottkotter) Stein. On May 18, 1949, she married Ralph L. Gillum and he died May 14, 1986.
Surviving are three sons, Robert of Bryant, and Daniel and Jeff, both of Portland; two daughters, Virginia Madden, Toledo, and Lisa Livers, Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A son, Chris, and a daughter, Julie Anne, are deceased.
She retired from C.T.S. in Berne, Ind., after 25 years of service.
Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Bryant, the Rev. Marty Sandhage officiating. Burial will follow at Green Park Cemetery.
Calling is 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Baird-Freeman Funeral Home, Portland.
Contributions can be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
