USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Ada Burke
Ada E. Burke, 88, formerly of Fort Recovery, died at 12:55 a.m. today, Dec. 26, 2002, at The Gardens at St. Henry.
She was born Dec. 17, 1914, in Portland, Ind., to Frank and Cinda Polm Hodge. On Oct. 23, 1933, she married Burleigh Burke and he died July 27 of this year.
Surviving are a son, Peter (Marilyn) of St. Marys; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Deceased are two sisters, Juanita Meyer and Harriet Swoverland, and a grandchild.
She had been employed at Jay Garment Co. in Portland, Ind., Long's Department Store and Fort Recovery Monuments, both of Fort Recovery. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and Order of Eastern Star Chapter 111, also of Fort Recovery.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, the Rev. Robert Dungan officiating. Burial will follow at Springhill Cemetery, Fort Recovery.
Calling is 2-6 p.m. Sunday and after 9:30 a.m. Monday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery.
Contributions can be made to the church or the Cancer Association of Mercer County.
Leo Drees
Leo J. Drees, 89, 25 Park St., Fort Loramie, died at 1:30 a.m. Dec. 25, 2002, at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Sidney. He had been ill since August.
He was born April 19, 1913, in Shelby County, to Fred and Margaret Henke Drees. On Nov. 26, 1935, he married Florence Chambers and she died Dec. 8, 1936. On April 29, 1941, he married Virginia Gariety and she survives.
Also surviving are a son, Richard (Karen) of Versailles; two daughters, Mary Jean (Neal) Pleiman, Osgood, and Rosemarie (Bill) Pierron, Versailles; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are three brothers, two sisters and a grandchild.
He retired as a meat cutter at Busse Meats in Fort Loramie after 53 years of service. He later worked for Al Borchers Sharpening Service in Fort Loramie.
He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, St. Joseph Men's Society and the Apostleship of Prayer, all of Fort Loramie, the Senior Citizens and the Senior Volunteer Program, both of Sidney. He was a charter member of Walkup Country Club, Fort Loramie.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Steven Shoup officiating. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Newport.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Contributions can be made to Fort Loramie Rescue Squad or the church.
Jack Fisher
Jack Fisher, 72, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died Dec. 23, 2002, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born April 18, 1930, in Decatur, Ind.
Surviving with his wife, former Mercer County resident Patricia Harner, are three sons, Rick Fisher, New Haven, Ind., Tom Fisher and Christopher Reason, both of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Tina Schillinger, Fort Wayne; a brother, James C. of Fort Wayne; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A daughter, Billie Jo Reason, is deceased.
He was co-owner of Fisher Electric Motor Service. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of American Legion Post 330 and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 3164, both of New Haven.
Services are 10 a.m. Friday at Covington Memorial Funeral Home, Fort Wayne. Burial will follow at Covington Memorial Gardens.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Kathryn Keeling
Kathryn "Kate" V. Keeling, 78, of Coldwater, died at 12:23 a.m. Dec. 25, 2002, in the emergency room at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
She was born April 20, 1924, in Lima, to William and Mary Sanners. On Dec. 12, 1944, she married Vernon C. Keeling and he died Jan. 30, 1980.
Surviving are three sons, Dennis L. (Marjorie) and Mike (Mindy), all of Celina, and Richard (Janice) Blakley, Griffith, Ind.; a daughter, Sharon (Devon) Hooks, Cantonment, Fla.; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a brother, Robert Sanners, and a granddaughter.
She was a homemaker and a member of Celina Church of God.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery near Cridersville.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Judith Grillot
Judith M. Grillot, 60, 122 North St., Osgood, died Dec. 22, 2002, at her residence. Death was due to natural causes.
She was born April 25, 1942, in Yorkshire, to Vitales G. and Verena M. Bergman Grillot.
Surviving are four brothers, Nicholas (Jacalyn) of Versailles, Michael of Fort Loramie, Donald (Vicky) and Anthony (Theresa), both of Yorkshire; and seven sisters, Elaine (Mark) Knapke, Kalida, Vivian (Thomas) Jutte, Bellefontaine, Yvonne (Douglas) Hart-wig, New Bremen, Maureen (Al) Martin, Jackson Center, Anita (Tim) Lewis, Portland, Ind., Audrey Grillot and Eunice (Scott) Werling, both of Osgood.
She had been employed at Autocraft Box Factory. She formerly worked at the Versailles Inn and helped with milking duties at the family farm. She was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Osgood.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. David Zink officiating. Burial will follow at St. Martin Cemetery, Osgood.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Thursday and 9-10 a.m. Friday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Josephine Schroer
Josephine Schroer, 93, formerly of St. Henry, died at 7:35 p.m. Dec. 22, 2002, at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
She was born Oct. 28, 1909, in Cassella, to August and Clara Schroeder Koesters. On June 1, 1932, she married Arthur Schroer and he died April 26, 1956.
Surviving are three sons, Paul (Phyllis) of St. Henry, Ralph (Jeanette) of Bradenton, Fla., and Rich (Jean) of Coldwater; a daughter, Mary (Larry) Bruns-wick, Ormond Beach, Fla.; a brother, Ray (Thelma) Koesters, Cassella; a sister-in-law, Vivian Koesters, Coldwater; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are three brothers, Clarence, Julian and Albert Koesters, and two sisters, Helena Sadlier and Regina Klus.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Henry Catholic Church and the Altar Rosary Sodality, both of St. Henry.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Larry Wyen officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday and 9-10:15 a.m. Friday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.
Evalyn Sandkuhl
Evalyn Sandkuhl, 84, of Kossuth, died at 3:20 p.m. Dec. 20, 2002, at Otterbein Retirement Community in St. Marys, where she had resided the past two years.
She was born June 9, 1918, in Kossuth, to Clarence and Eva C. Mack Leffel. On June 23, 1940, she married Charles E. Sandkuhl and he survives at Otterbein St. Marys.
Also surviving are two sons, Leslie E. (Jackie) and Lyle G. (Kathleen), and a daughter, Eva Charlene (Charles A.) Dille, all of Spencerville; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was a homemaker and a bookkeeper for the family business, Sandkuhl Tile Co. of Kossuth. She was a lifelong member of Zion United Methodist Church, Kossuth, where she had played the organ and piano since childhood and also taught Sunday School. A 1936 graduate of Spencerville High School, she was a charter member of Salem Grange #1928 and the Kossuth Garden Club. She also was a member of the Clio Club of Spencerville.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. Raymond S. Daniel Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Kossuth Cemetery.
Calling is 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home, Spencerville, and after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Contributions can be made to the church.
Marcella Vining
Marcella "Sally" Vining, 89, 500 N. Buckeye St., Celina, died at 5:45 p.m. Dec. 22, 2002, at Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford.
She was born May 24, 1913, in Monroe, Ind., to Lawrence and Agnes Longenberger Carver. On June 10, 1936, she married James Vining and he died July 24, 1986.
Surviving are a daughter, Nila (Carl) Swander, Rockford; a brother, Clair Carver, Monroe, Ind.; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a daughter, Brenda; two sisters, Betty Carver and Pauline Clark; and a grandson.
She was a homemaker and a member of Bethany United Methodist Church and Hopewell Grange, both of Celina.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Donald Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow at Willshire Cemetery.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, and after 12:30 p.m. Friday at the church.
Contributions can be made to the Chip Swander Scholarship Fund or the church.
Helen Ruetschilling
Helen M. Ruetschilling, 86, 120 E. Forest St., Celina, died in the morning of Dec. 20, 2003, at her home.
She was born Sept. 16, 1916, in Celina, to Leo W. and Leona Baucher Fischer. On Sept. 28, 1940, she married Harold P. Ruetschilling, who died March 22, 1990.
She is survived by a son, David Ruetschilling, Colorado Springs, Colo.; two daughters, Phyllis (Bill) Meyer, Indianapolis, Ind., and Judy Whitford, Centerton, Ark.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Urban and Paul Fischer.
She was a registered nurse, working at Celina's former Otis Hospital and at St. Joe Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School and St. Rita's Nursing School.
Services are at 1 p.m. Monday at W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home in Celina, with the Rev. Timothy Knepper officiating. Burial will follow at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials can be directed to Immaculate Conception Church, renovation campaign.
