USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Othmar Klenke
Othmar J. Klenke, 81, 1200 Woodview Drive, Coldwater, died at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 5, 2003, at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
He was born April 10, 1922, in St. Rose, to Joseph and Victoria Knapke Klenke. On Nov. 3, 1945, he married Luella Kunk who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Jerry (Ruth) of Mansfield; a daughter, Linda Schmalz, Cedarburg, Wis.; two brothers, Arnold of Coldwater and Ralph (Mary) of Celina; a sister, Dorothy Ellis, Chickasaw; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son-in-law, Larry Schmalz, and a sister, Marcella Kunk.
He retired from General Motors in Dayton and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society, both of Coldwater.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Dorn officiating. Burial will follow at St. Martin Cemetery, Osgood.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday and 9-10 a.m. Friday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Robert Kiefer
Robert E. "Fuji" Kiefer, 49, 510 Locust St., St. Marys, died at 9:03 p.m. Aug. 5, 2003, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, following an extended illness.
He was born Dec. 5, 1953, in St. Marys, to William and June Chilcoat Kiefer. On Feb. 23, 1973, he married Patricia E. Overman who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Rich (Nancy) of Wapakoneta, David and Rodney (Melissa), both of St. Marys; two daughters, Lisa (Kevin) Kohne and Christy (Mike) Taylor, also of St. Marys; a brother, Bill of St. Marys; four sisters, Sandy of Celina, Connie Meinerding, Nancy Brotherwood and Betty Gilbert, all of St. Marys; a half sister, Linda Burd, St. Marys; four grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.
Deceased are the parents, a brother, Ricky; and a sister, Janet.
He was a journeyman moulder in the foundry at Minster Machine Co.
Services are 1 p.m. Friday at Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. James Nuhfer officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens near Moulton.
Calling is 1-3 and 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Jerome Zehringer
Jerome H. "Zeke" Zehringer, 77, 3279 Ohio 49, Fort Recovery, died at 8:15 p.m. Aug. 4, 2003, at Lima Memorial Hospital.
He was born Sept. 16, 1925, in Fort Recovery, to John and Elizabeth Brandewie Zehringer. On May 4, 1948, he married Katherine Schoch who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Michael (Patricia) of Dayton, Robert (Sue) of Waynesboro, Va., and Thomas (Kathy) of Colorado Springs, Col.; three daughters, Phyllis (Steve) Miller, Fort Recovery, Jean (Mark) Giesige, Celina, and Mary (Dean) Whitman, Colorado Springs; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Deceased are an infant son, Joseph; seven brothers, Ralph, George, John, William, James, Richard and Robert; and four sisters, Florence Rose, Loretta Boland, Mary Zimmerman and Delores Beyke.
He was co-owner of the former Zehringer Brothers Grocery in Fort Recovery and retired from Fort Recovery Industries. A 1943 graduate of Fort Recovery High School, he served in the U.S. Army in the European campaign during World War II. He was a member of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, American Legion Post 345 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6515, all of Fort Recovery.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Paul Wohlwend officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Marys Cemetery, Fort Recovery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday and 9-10 a.m. Friday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery.
Contributions can be made to the Mercer County Council on Aging.
Eugene Barga
Eugene W. Barga, 75, 907 E. Central St., Union City, formerly of Jay County, Ind., died at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 4, 2003, at Center of Hope Nursing Home, Union City.
He was born July 5, 1927, in Versailles, to Alva C. and Ellen U. Bulcher Barga. On Oct. 13, 1962, he married Pauline Fonderhide who died in 1977.
Surviving are three brothers, George (Jan) of Wayne, Richard (Joyce) of Union City, Ind., and Robert (Karen) of Greenville; and four sisters, Mary Newman and Betty Wray, both of Winchester, Ind., Alice (Sylvester) Guggenbiller, Fort Recovery, and Rose (Dale) Pursley, Greenville.
Five brothers and a sister are deceased.
He retired from Chrysler Air Temp in Dayton and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery, Deacon John Parker officiating. Burial will follow at Gettysburg Cemetery in Darke County.
Calling is 6-9 p.m. Wednesday and after 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Lester Bergman
Lester C. Bergman, 78, 6439 Fort Recovery Road, Houston, died at 11 a.m. Aug. 4, 2003, at his residence.
He was born July 31, 1925, in Minster, to John and Clara Schulze Bergman. On June 14, 1950, he married Norma Siegel who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Michael (Joan) of Russia and Lester (Candy) of Fort Loramie; two daughters, Susan (Richard) Winner and Mary Lou (Chuck) Fullenkamp, both of Minster; two brothers, Lee (Rita) of Minster and Paul (Pat) of Fort Loramie; two sisters, Luella Sommer, Minster, and Ruth (Ralph) Roth, Celina; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Two brothers are deceased.
He was a farmer and a past member of the Russia Board of Education. He served with the Merchant Marines in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and the Men's Sodality, both of Newport, the Knights of Columbus and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Russia, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1391, Minster.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, the Rev. Anthony Cutcher officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9-10 a.m. Thursday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Contributions can be made to Wilson Hospice Care or the Fort Loramie Rescue Squad.
Ralph Gallegos
Ralph S. Gallegos, 67, 708 Winfield Ave., Findlay, died at 5:28 a.m. Aug. 3, 2003, at his residence.
He was born Oct. 22, 1935, in San Elizario, Texas, to Ralph and Consuelo Tarango Gallegos. On Jan. 27, 1963, he married Eloisa Vento who survives.
Also surviving are four brothers, Claudio of El Paso, Texas, Luciano (Gloria) of Upper Sandusky, Manuel (Vickie) of Ridgeway, and Uvaldo (Diane) of Tucson, Ariz.; and four sisters, Ernestina (Ray) Gutierrez, Lubbock, Texas, Agripina (Ephrain) Vasquez, Tucson, M. Janie (Gene) Cool, Celina, and Josephine (Pedro) Cruz, Toledo.
A brother, Zenobio, is deceased.
He was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Findlay.
Services are 3 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall.
Coldren-Crates Funeral Home, Findlay, has charge of arrangements.
Contributions can be made to the Worldwide Bible Education Work of Jehovah's Witnesses, Cancer Patient Services or Bridge Home Health and Hospice.
Louis Wenzke
Celina native Louis E. Wenzke, 87, 406 Mount Vernon Drive, Fostoria, died at 1:50 p.m. Aug. 4, 2003, at Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria.
He was born Aug. 2, 1916, in Celina, to Joseph and Theresa Bertke Wenzke. On Jan. 1, 1938, he married Eleanor C. Gants who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Dennis and Thomas (Kris), and a daughter, Judith, all of Fostoria; a brother, Frank of Dayton; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A son, James; five brothers and two sisters are deceased.
He retired in 1981 after 38 years as assistant plant manager at Union Carbide in Fostoria and two years as plant manager in Singapore.
He was a member of St. Wendelin Catholic Church, Fostoria, where he was a Eucharistic minister, lector and sports coach, the Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council 1197 and the Fourth Degree Father Kirsch Assembly #845, all of Fostoria. He was past president of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, the Junior League Baseball Association, the Kiwanis Club and St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans, all of Fostoria. He organized and directed the Immaculate Heart of Mary Rosary Making Guild and the Pilgrim Virgin Statue program. He was a board member of the United Way and American Red Cross, serving as a certified first aid instructor during World War II.
He wrote a newspaper column about bridge and was a certified duplicate bridge director and a member of the American Bridge Teachers Association.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Hoening Funeral Home, Fostoria. A Third Order of St. Francis memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. with the rosary to be recited at 8:30 p.m.
Contributions can be made to the church or the Special Care Unit of the Good Shepherd Home.
Edwin Klenz
Edwin R. Klenz, 84, 319 Bruns Ave., Celina, died Aug. 3, 2003, at Celina Manor Nursing Home.
He was born Jan. 10, 1919, in Mercer County, to William and Ada Hoenie Klenz. On June 14, 1947, he married Helen Hoenie who survives.
Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Violet Klenz, Celina; a nephew and a niece.
Deceased are a son, David; two brothers, Owen and Glen; and a sister, Opal Grevenkamp.
He had worked at the Equity Elevator and retired from the Mercer County Highway Department. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Hopewell Township.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Douglas Meyer officiating. Burial will follow at North Grove Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Danny Powell
Danny R. Powell, 52, 3113 Andrew St., Middletown, died at 6:15 p.m. July 30, 2003, at Kozy Campground near Celina. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born June 22, 1951, in Hamilton, to Leonard C. and Betty Hayes Powell.
Surviving are a brother, Phillip of Middletown, and a sister, Patricia Peteret, Florida.
Deceased are a brother, Leonard Jr., and a sister, Anita Kilburn.
He was self employed in the antique and old automobile business. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Loyal Order of Moose, both of Middletown.
Memorial services will be at a later date.
Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, had charge of local arrangements.
