USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Ralph Now
Ralph Now, 69, died at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 6, 2001 at his residence at 7491 Celina-Mendon Road, Celina.
He was born June 2, 1931, in Celina, to Cloyd and LaVon (Houts) Now. On Aug. 12, 1950, he married Lorna Carey, who survives.
Other survivors are two daughters and their husbands, Laurie and Carl Eichar, Safety Harbor, Fla., and Myra and Michael Brandenburg, Newark; a brother, Edwin of Celina; and three grandchildren.
Deceased is a son, David.
He was the retired owner of Robo Car Wash, a farm implement sales dealer, a volunteer deputy sheriff for over 20 years, and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, earning the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart, and three Bronze Stars. He served as a missionary in the Appalachian Mountains, Haiti and India, a board member for the Appalachia Service Project, past trustee on the Celina Chamber of Commerce, former Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis International of Ohio, and on the Board of Directors Ohio Volunteer Peace Officer Association. He was a member of St. Pauls United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 210, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5713, all Celina, and a life member of National Rifle Association. He received the Celina Mercer County Chamber Humanitarian Award, Citizen of the Year Award from Citizen Committee Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Outstanding Senior Citizen of Mercer County 2000.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at the church, the Revs. Paul Brown and Robert Metheny officiating. Burial is at North Grove Cemetery, Celina.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and one hour prior to services at the church Friday.
Contributions can be made to Celina Visiting Nurses Adult Day Care Center.
Vitales Grillot
Vitales G. Grillot, 87, 201 Water St., Osgood, died at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 7, 2001 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born April 12, 1913, in Versailles, to Aloysious and Estella (Martino) Grillot. On May 4, 1940, he married Verena M. Bergman, who died Sept. 26, 1998.
Survivors are six daughters and their husbands, Elaine and Mark Knapke, Kalida, Vivian and Thomas Jutte, Bellefountaine, Yvonne and Douglas Hartwig, New Bremen, Maureen and Al Martin, Jackson Center, Anita and Tim Lewis, Portland, Ind., and Eunice and Scott Werling, Osgood; two daughters, Judith and Audrey, both of Osgood; three sons and their wives, Nicholas and Jacalyn of Versailles, and Anthony and Theresa, and Donald and Vicky, all of Yorkshire; and a son, Michael of Fort Loramie; a brother and his wife, Stanley and Sandy of Greenville; 35 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are three infant children, three sisters, a brother and five grandchildren.
He was a retired farmer and an electrician and silo and loader parts salesman. He was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church and its Mens Sodality, Osgood, and was a retired member of Osgood Volunteer Fire Department.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. James Schmitmeyer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-9 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Catherine Knostman
Catherine T. Knostman, 58, of Troy, died following a lengthy illness at 3:34 p.m. Feb. 7, 2001 at her residence.
She was born Oct. 5, 1942, in Dayton, to Thomas and Mary (Schoen) Romer. Her mother survives in Coldwater. Her husband, William J. Knostman, survives.
Other survivors are three sons and their wives, Douglas and Ann of Rockwall, Texas, Thomas and Katie of Columbus, and Steven and Michele of Troy; three brothers, George and Nick, both of Celina, and Tom of Coldwater; and two grandchildren.
Deceased is her father.
She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Troy.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Revs. Thomas Brunner and Ronald Wilker officiating. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Troy.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Friday at Baird Funeral Home, Troy.
Contributions can be made to Hospice of Miami County and Cleveland Clinic.
Martha Rosenbeck
Martha M. Rosenbeck, 87, of Coldwater, died at 9:20 p.m. Feb. 7, 2001 at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
She was born June 9, 1913, in Philothea, to Bernard and Elizabeth (Kessen) Homan. On Nov. 26, 1935, she married Urban Henry Rosenbeck, who died Dec. 8, 1984.
Survivors are four sons and their wives, Victor and Della Mae of Pitsford, Mich., Arnold and Diane of St. Marys, Viro and Loretta of Versailles, and John and Marilyn of Fort Loramie; a son, Elmer, of Dayton; three daughters and their husbands, Joan and Terry Brooke, Louisville, Ky., Mary and Stephen Menchhofer, Rockbridge, and Irene and John Siler, Dayton; 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Deceased are a son, Jerome Gregor, and a sister, Leona Westgerdes.
She was retired from Lambert's in Ansonia, and was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and its St. Anns Altar Sodality, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, both of Coldwater.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Mannebach officiating. Burial is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Alvira Schmidt
Alvira C. L. Schmidt, 94, 220 W. Ash St., New Bremen, died at 2:45 p.m. Feb. 7, 2001 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Minster.
She was born March 8, 1906, in New Bremen, to George and Alvina (Brune) Roettger. On June 20, 1929, she married Herman William Schmidt, who died April 13, 1991.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ and its Christian Service Guild, New Bremen, and a charter member of New Bremen Senior Citizens.
Services are 3 p.m. Friday at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, the Rev. John W. Tostrick officiating. Burial is at German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen.
Calling is 2 p.m. until time of services Friday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Mercer/Darke County Hospice or New Bremen Emergency Squad.
Donald Ahlers
Donald J. Ahlers, 76, died at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 8, 2001 at his residence at 102 S. Franklin St., New Bremen.
He was born June 20, 1924, in New Bremen, to Ferd and Bertha (Wietholter) Ahlers. On April 10, 1954, he married Elsie Fogt, who survives.
Other survivors are three daughters and their husbands, Sheree and Gary Topp, New Bremen, Tammy and Curt McCullough, St. Marys, and Donna and Mark Shelby, New Knoxville; a daughter, Cathy of Sidney; a sister and her husband, Albert and Max Laffer, St. Marys; a sister, Deloris Rasor, Piqua; two brothers and their wives, Eugene and Edna of St. Marys, and Richard and Lucille of Bradenton, Fla.; and six grandchildren.
He was retired from Tranco Sales and Service, New Bremen, and was a courier for First National Bank of New Bremen. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, American Legion Post 241, and Home Benefit Association, all in New Bremen.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Sunday at German Protestant Cemetery, the Rev. Jeanne Spoor officiating. His body has been cremated.
Contributions can be made to the church memorial fund or New Bremen Emergency Squad.
Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, handled arrangements.
John Henry Jr.
John L. Henry Jr., 50, 309 W. German St., New Knoxville, died of apparent natural causes Feb. 7, 2001 at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
He was born Dec. 19, 1950, in Charleroi, Pa., to John L. Sr. and Clara L. (Mohlman) Henry. His mother survives in McKeesport, Pa. His wife, Johanna Agler, survives.
Other survivors are two sons, Christopher J. of Philadelphia, Pa., and John Carl of New Knoxville; two daughters, Tammy Rae of Charleroi, Pa.; and Elizabeth Jane of New Knoxville; two sisters, Cheryll Keith, West Newton, Pa., and Marsha Sleith, Monogahela, Pa.; grandparents, Mary Schmidt, Pittsburgh, and Elizabeth Jane of West Newton, Pa.; and a grandson.
Deceased is his father.
He was the former owner and operator of Artifax Custom Leather Shop, Macon, Ga., and currently was employed by Spherion in Wapakoneta. He was a U.S. Marine Corp. veteran of the Vietnam War. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Georgia Leather Crafter's Guild in Macon, Ga.
His body has been cremated, and services will be held at a later date in Pennsylvania.
Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, New Bremen, handled arrangements.
