USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
David Lefeld
David B. Lefeld, 51, 813 Sunset Drive, Coldwater, died Dec. 26, 2001 at Community Hospital, Coldwater. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born May 8, 1950, in Coldwater, to Joseph and Marcella (Hemmelgarn) Lefeld. His mother survives in Coldwater. On Sept. 26, 1975, he married Therese Rose and she survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Mitch of Cincinnati, and Greg and Jeff, at home; a daughter, Pam, also at home; two brothers and their wives, Stan and Margie and Gary and Vickie, all of Coldwater; and two sisters and their husbands, Joan and Ron Catanzaro, Dayton, and Linda and Don Lennartz, Fort Recovery.
Deceased is one brother, Melvin.
He was vice president of Lefeld Welding and Supply, Coldwater, and a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society of the church, Knights of Columbus Council 1991, American Legion Post 470, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5135, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 3025 and the Athletic Booster Club, all of Coldwater. He was past president of the Coldwater Community Park Board and founded and ran the 3-on-3 basketball games held during the Coldwater Community Picnic.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Ronald Wilker officiating. Burial will be at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater, with military rites conducted by the VFW and Legion.
Calling is 1-8 p.m. Sunday and 9-10 a.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Contributions can be made to the Mercer County Civic Foundation, Booster Park, Coldwater.
Viola Reed
Viola C. Reed, 88, 902 West Jackson St., St. Marys, died at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 2001 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
She was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Auglaize County, to Fred and Dora (Wehmeyer) Warner. On July 16, 1932, she married Walter Reed who died Oct. 13, 1989.
Survivors are two sons and their wives, Eugene and Evelyn of San Diego, Calif.; and William and Vicki of Canal Winchester; a daughter and her husband, Connie and Edwin Hoenie, St. Marys; a sister, Elsie Schamp, St. Marys; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Deceased is a brother, Leonard Warner; and three sisters, Esther Colvin, Dorothy Kuhlhorst and Helen Wietholter.
She was retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., St. Marys, and had worked at the former DWG Cigar Factory, St. Marys. She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ and a charter member of Eagles Auxiliary 767, both of St. Marys.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Joachim Wilck officiating. Burial is at Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Martha Boecker
Martha M. "Marty" Boecker, 80, 231 N. Frankfort St., Minster, died at 6:48 a.m. Dec. 28, 2001 at Wilson Hospital, Sidney.
She was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Minster, to Oscar and Teresa (Boerger) Rulmann. On Sept. 22, 1942, she married Fred J. Boecker who survives.
Other survivors are a son and his wife, Thomas and Sondra of Sidney; a daughter and her husband, Ann and Ken Meyer, Minster; and five grandchildren.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minster, and a former member of St. Monica Ladies Sodality.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Louis Schmit officiating. Burial is at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Contributions can be made to Wilson Hospital Women's Health Center.
Carolyn Dixon
Carolyn C. (McEntire) Dixon, 49, of Cincinnati, died of cancer Dec. 24, 2001 in Cincinnati.
Survivors are her husband, Celina native Randy G. Dixon; her mother, Helen McEntire, Cincinnati; two sons, Travis and Brady Dickerson, both of Cincinnati; two brothers, Billy and Ricky McEntire of Texas; and a sister, Linda of Texas; father- and mother-in-law, Sam and Judy Dixon, Celina; and a granddaughter.
Her body is to be cremated and a wake service will be held at a later date.
Willis Miller
Willis H. Miller, 79, of 515 Arrowhead Drive, Sidney, and formerly of New Knoxville, died at 11:48 a.m. Dec. 28, 2001, at the Dorothy Love Retirement Community in Sidney, where he had been a resident for the past two and a half years.
He was born on May 28, 1922, near New Knoxville to Henry and Meta (Katterheinrich) Miller. On Sept. 9, 1946, he married Dorothy Ann Katter, who survives in Sidney.
Other survivors include a daughter and her husband, Karen and John Vornholt of Sidney; a sister, Evelyn Springer of Celina; three grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
Deceased is a sister, Ruth Counts.
He was a member of the First United Church of Christ in New Knoxville and also a member of the Christian Family Fellowship in Tipp City. He was a farmer for much of his life and also worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, a division of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen with the Rev. John Shroyer officiating. Burial will follow in the Pilgar Ruhe Cemetery, New Knoxville.
Calling is 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Valerie Schwarck
Valerie Schwarck, 34, of 710 N. Main St., Lima, died Dec. 14, 2001 at University Hospital, Columbus.
She was born July 30, 1967, in Fostoria, Ohio. She was the foster daughter of Harry and Jeannine Schwarck of St. Marys, who survive.
Other survivors include two children, Brice Schwarck and Cheyenne Schwarck, both of the home; and three foster sisters and their husbands, Teri and Jim Goris of Weston, Jodi and Bill McCain of Beaverdam and Judi and Ed Boyle of Weston.
Deceased is a foster brother, Kevin Schwarck.
She was a 1987 graduate of Findlay City High School and attended Wright State University in Dayton.
Private family funeral services were held at Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys. Memorial donations to the Hancock County Corporation for Independent Living in care of the Miller Funeral Home.
Sandra Mescher
Sandra S. Mescher, 59, 632 Cumberland St., Celina, died Dec. 28, 2001 at her residence of natural causes.
She was born March 31, 1942, in Celina to Carl and Edna (Grunden) Speckman. Her mother survives. On Jan. 31, 1970, she married Wilfred Mescher in Coldwater, who died March 23, 1989.
She was employed with Morris-Maico Hearing Aid in Celina.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater with the Rev. Doug Meyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Coldwater.
Calling is 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Lawrence Fessler
Lawrence "Larry" "Fess" Fessler, 87, 5325 Lake Drive Bayview, Celina, died at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 27, 2001 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born March 15, 1914, in Piqua, to Otto and Ada (Lawrence) Fessler. On Dec. 12, 1981, he married Helen Gish Bolton who survives.
Other survivors are a son and his wife, Marion and Janice of Piqua; a daughter and her husband, Rita and William Popas, Sarasota, Fla.; a stepson, Gary Bolton, Piqua; a stepdaughter and her husband, Sherry and Charles Tyson, Piqua; five grandchildren and a stepgrandchild.
Deceased are two brothers and a sister.
He owned and operated Fessler's Nursery and Landscaping until retirement in 1979. He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Piqua. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and served in the South Pacific. He was a past member of the Piqua Elks Lodge, a past commander of the Piqua American Legion, past Chef de Gare of the 40/8, a 420 life member of the Celina Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the Lake Improvement Association, Celina, a charter member of Box 13 Piqua Fire Department Auxiliary and a member of the Snowdreamers Club.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday at Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home, Piqua, the Rev. Frank Sapp Sr. officiating. Burial is at Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua, with full military honors by V.F.W. Post 4874.
Calling is 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the Piqua Ambulance Fund, the Celina unit of the Mercer County Emergency Medical Service or the Mercer County Cancer Society.
Margorie Samberg
Marjorie Elizabeth Samberg, 90, 4533 Fleetfoot Road, formerly of Celina, died at 9:05 p.m. Dec. 27, 2001 at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
She was born June 20, 1911, in St. Henry to Sebastien and Philomena (Benke) Samberg.
She is survived by a sister, Marcella Birkmeyer of Coldwater; two nephews; 11 step nieces and nephews; and 20 great-stepnieces and nephews.
Deceased is a twin sister, Margaret Samberg.
She worked as a secretary/bookkeeper and served in public relations with Father Fred Falce at the former St. Charles Seminary in Carthagena. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Celina, past president of Laywomen's Retreats International, Notre Dame, Ind., an active member of Laywomen's Retreat Center in Maria Stein and a 1929 graduate of Immaculate Conception High School in Celina.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Church with the Revs. Richard Riedel and James Dugal officiating. Burial will follow at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at W. H. Dick and Sons Funeral Home in New Bremen.
Memorials can be made to IC Education Endowment Fund or the IC Church Restoration Fund.
Betty Ahlers
Betty E. Ahlers, 79, 3417 Shanverton Court, New Bremen, died at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 30, 2001 at her residence.
She was born Nov. 1, 1922, in St. Marys, to Isador and Alice (Davis) Roth. On June 19, 1943, she married Walter Ahlers and he survives.
Also surviving are two sons and their wives, Mike and Trina of Spring Hill, Fla., and Jeff and Jill of New Bremen; three daughters, Judy and Vern Schwieterman, Largo, Fla., Lois and Mike Elking and Susan and Robert Kramer, all of New Bremen; a sister and her husband, Rosemary and James Klosterman, Wapakoneta; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Tommy, and a sister, Joann Morrow.
She was a homemaker, a former cafeteria worker at the New Bremen Public Schools and a former employee of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., St. Marys. She was a member of Church of the Holy Redeemer, New Bremen, and the St. Ann Altar Rosary Sodality.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Daniel Conlon officiating. Burial will be at Willow Grove Cemetery, New Bremen.
Calling is 2-7 p.m. Tuesday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, and 9-9:40 a.m. Wednesday at the church, during which time the rosary will be recited.
Norman Brunett
Norman "Pat" Brunett, 50, 112 Guy St., St. Marys, died of natural causes at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 29, 2001 in the emergency room at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born Nov. 17, 1951, in Dayton, to Norman and Lula Jane (Pratt) Brunett. On June 23, 1973, he married Phyllis Singleton and she survives.
Also surviving are a son, Ryan Patrick of Indianapolis, Ind.; a daughter, Shannon, at home; a sister, Victoria of Fairdale, Ky.; a mother-in-law, Martha Singleton, Carrie, Ky.; and an adopted grandson.
He was a forklift operator at AAP Corp., St. Marys, and he had previously worked at Dairy Farm Products in New Bremen for 26 years.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hindman Funeral Home in Hindman, Ky. Burial will be at Pratt Cemetery near Garner, Ky.
Calling is 1-3 p.m. today at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, and after 5 p.m. Tuesday at Hindman Funeral Home.
Contributions can be made to Shriners Children's Burn Hospital, Cincinnati.
