USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Helen Norris
Helen M. Norris, 77, 11819 Ohio 707, Mendon, died at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 2002, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home.
She was born July 3, 1925, in Delphos, to Albert J. and Mildred Marie Miller Wreede. Her husband, Donald F. Norris Sr., died Dec. 25, 1996.
Surviving are three sons, Donald F. (Diane) of Celina, John L. of Mendon, and Gary D. (Sue) of Rockford; a sister, Marie (Dale) Morris, Lake Worth, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A granddaughter is deceased.
A 1945 Elida High School graduate, she was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Liberty Township.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Mendon, the Rev. Thomas P. Arheit officiating. Burial will follow at Spencerville Cemetery.
Calling is 9 -11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Van Wert Area Hospice or Mercer County Hospice.
Elmer Riethman
Elmer B. Riethman, 76, 04434 Wuebker Road, Minster, died at 6:13 p.m. Dec. 14, 2002, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, where he had been a patient the past three weeks.
He was born Oct. 2, 1926, in Minster, to Julius and Anna Tuente Riethman. On Sept. 9, 1950, he married Mary Evelyn Bertke and she died June 28, 1997.
Surviving are five sons, James (Kathy), Rick (Karen) and Ted (Tina), all of Minster, Dennis (Rita) of Coldwater, and Duane (Renette) of Van Wert; three daughters, Joan (Dale) Steinlage, New Carlisle, Jane (Fred) Vehorn, Botkins, and Teresa (Doug) Wehmeyer, Kettering; a sister, Jeanette Dorsten, Celina; and 24 grandchildren.
He was a retired farmer and Crow Seed dealer. He was chairman and coordinator of the local Parkinsons Support Group, chairman of the Western Ohio Parkinsons Support Group, vice president of the North West Ohio Parkinsons Support Group and a member of the Ohio Parkinsons Foundation Board.
He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Minster, where he formerly served as a lector and parish council member. A past grand knight and a 50-year member of Minster Knights of Columbus Council 2158, he had served as financial secretary for 20 years. A member of the Minster Civic Association for 40 years, he was named Minster Citizen of the Year in 2001. A member of the National Farmers Organization since 1962, he had served as president of the Auglaize County chapter for 15 years and was NFO Member of the Year in 1994. He has served on the board of supervisors for the Auglaize County Soil Conservation District from 1959-1964 and was a member of the Catholic Widows & Widowers.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Thursday at the Minster church, the Rev. Louis Schmit officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 3-9 p.m. Wednesday and 9-9:30 a.m. Thursday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Contributions can be made to the Elmer Riethman Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Joseph Steinlage
Joseph R. Steinlage, 96, 5188 Kremer-Hoying Road, St. Henry, died at 3:50 p.m. Dec. 14, 2002, at The Gardens at St. Henry.
He was born Oct. 1, 1906, in St. Henry, to Fred and Frances Doerger Steinlage. On May 2, 1939, he married Hilda Pleiman and she survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Ralph (Mary) of Kettering, Lester and MarJean of Englewood, Roger of Dayton and Dale (Joan) of New Carlisle; six daughters, Eileen (Bill) Huber, Doris (Ron) Rindler and Karen (Roger) Ranly, all of St. Henry, Bernice (Ken) Koesters and Verna (Dan) Ahlers, all of Coldwater, and Betty (Vince) Chase, Springfield; a daughter-in-law, Sheryl Steinlage, Centerville; 29 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Dan; four brothers, Albert, Wilfred, Edward and Leo; two sisters, Veronica Muhlenkamp and Justina Homan; and a grandchild.
He was a farmer and a member of St. Henry Catholic Church.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Revs. Larry Wyen and Paul Vieson officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10 a.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Betty Sullivan
Betty L. Sullivan, 79, 1114 Motz St., St. Marys, died at 7:19 a.m. Dec. 15, 2002, in the emergency room at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
She was born Dec. 29, 1922, in Hardin County, to Edgar F. and Muriel Wallace Jones. On March 21, 1942, she married George S. Sullivan and he died Nov. 9, 2000.
Surviving are five sons, Larry (Sue), Bob (Sue), Terry and Tim, all of St. Marys, and Louis of Gibsonton, Fla.; three daughters, Judith (Ray) Slone, New Knoxville, Sue (Pearl) Reed, St. Marys, and Lynne Dircksen, Celina; a brother, Dick (Patricia) Jones, Kenton; a sister, Patti Dyer, also of Kenton; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a brother, Robert Jones, and two sisters, Pauline Pennington and Dorothy Willoughby.
She was a homemaker and a retired drill press operator from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., St. Marys. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, St. Marys.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Irma Wagner
Irma Wagner, 85, Coldwater, died at 8:58 p.m. Dec. 14, 2002, at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
She was born Feb. 19, 1917, in Coldwater, to William and Grace Gebele Wagner. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Deceased are three brothers, Earl and Bill Wagner and Ed Bany, and five sisters, Edna Hemmert, Lela Weigel, Grace Schmidt, Helen Haendel and Esther Schockman.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and St. Ann Rosary Altar Sodality, both of Coldwater.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. Ronald Wilker officiating. Burial will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.
Calling is 9-10 a.m. Tuesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
James Kummery
James R. "Russ" Kummery, 71, of St. Marys, formerly of Maumee, died Dec. 12, 2002, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 13, 1931, in Dayton, to Russell and Dorothy Sullivan Kummery. His first wife, Jean, died after 42 years of marriage.
Surviving are his second wife, Betty; a daughter, Lisa (Daniel) Herzog of Maumee; and three grandchildren.
He had worked as a foreman at an auto parts company in earlier years.
Graveside services are 1 p.m. Monday at The Sanctuary of Light at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.
Walter Funeral Home, Toledo, has charge of arrangements. There will be no visitation.
Jerry Tontrup
Jerry R. Tontrup, 60, 16 S. Herman St., New Bremen, died at 3:12 p.m. Dec. 12, 2002, at the Cleveland Clinic. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born April 9, 1942, in Sidney, to Wilbur and Marcella Fischbach Tontrup. The mother survives in New Bremen. On April 19, 1969, he married Shirley Klopfenstein and she survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Michael and Brian (Heather), and a daughter, Sherri, all of New Bremen; a brother, Jim (Theda) of New Bremen; and his mother-in-law, Grace Klopfenstein, St. Marys.
He was employed as a tow motor operator at Crown Equipment Corp., New Bremen, and a bus driver for New Bremen Local Schools the past 12 years. He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Crown Equipment 25 Year Club and the card crew at Bolly's Restaurant, all of New Bremen.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, the Rev. John W. Tostrick officiating. Burial will follow at German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the American Kidney Foundation, American Heart Association, New Bremen Emergency Squad or the church memorial fund.
Lorean Brigner
Former Fort Recovery resident Lorean Brigner, 79, of Randleman, N.C., died Dec. 11, 2002, at a daughter's home.
She was born June 16, 1923, in Cope Branch, Ky., to James and Cindy Johnson Gross. On April 28, 1945, she married John J. Brigner and he died Dec. 6, 1983.
Surviving are a son, Vernon A. of Ansonia; a daughter, Rosemary (Robert) Moore, Randleman; three brothers, Weldon, James and Elisha Gross, all of Jackson, Ky.; three sisters, Mary Reynolds, Fort Recovery, Nerva Barrett, Booneville, Ky., and Ida Neace, Jackson, Ky.; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
One brother is deceased.
She had attended Miracle Missions Church in Jay County, Ind.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, the Rev. Dan Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery, Fort Recovery.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Saturday at Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, Portland, Ind., and after 1 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Genevieve McGough
Genevieve M. McGough, 91, 407 Broadway St., Fort Recovery, formerly of Celina, died at 1:40 a.m. today, Dec. 13, 2002, at her residence.
She was born April 13, 1911, in North Star, to Wesley and Gracie Steiner. On March 1, 1928, she married Wallace McGough and he died Nov. 15, 1974.
Surviving are three sons, Wesley (Rosemary) of Hicksville, Frank (Judy) of Lafayette, Ind., and John (Sharon) of Celina; four daughters, Joan Staugler and Jeanette Ballou, both of Fort Recovery, Jane (Herbert) Tobias, New Lebanon, and Kathy (Robert) Rutledge, Rockford; a sister, Lucille Miller, Celina; 31 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, William; a daughter, Rose Ann Teboe; a brother, Frank Steiner; and a sister, Kathryn Raisner.
She was a homemaker and a member of Fort Recovery United Methodist Church.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Lehman Funeral Home, Celina, Deacon Herbie Tobias officiating. Burial will follow at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Mercer County Hospice.
Rev. Charles Miller
The Rev. Charles L. Miller, 84, formerly of Celina and Lakeland, Fla., died Dec. 11, 2002, at Otterbein Retirement Community in Lebanon, where he had resided since 1994.
He was born Dec. 29, 1917, in Hooversville, Pa., to Charles S. and Bertha M. Cable Miller.
Surviving with the former Beulah Mae Forkner, his wife of 60 years, are a son, James I. (Cindy) of Wichita, Kansas; a daughter, Pamela A. (Tony) Swain, Bellefontaine, Pa.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville and later received a master's degree in divinity from Winnbrenner Seminary in Findlay. He retired from the West Ohio Conference in 1983 after 40 years of service to churches in Rising Sun, Whiteville, Attica, Bascom, Wauseon, Gibsonburg, Celina, Old Fort and Toledo. He was a volunteer at the Otterbein Day Care Center, a member of the Otterbein Men's Fellowship and a former member of the Lions Club.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Otterbein-Lebanon Chapel, preceded by calling at 10 a.m.
Contributions can be made to the Otterbein Benevolent Care Fund in Lebanon or Hospice of Dayton.
Oswald-Hoskins Funeral Home, Lebanon, has charge of arrangements.
