USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
PLACKE
Julian C. Placke, 89, of Delphos, died at 6:40 a.m. Sunday, January 11, 2004, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home in Van Wert.
He was born May 21, 1914, in St. Henry, the son of the late Henry and Mary (Huelsman) Placke. He married Elsie Geething, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Placke was a welder for Fruehauf and retired after 25 years of service. He attended First Church of God in Van Wert, was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3035 in Delphos. He loved Country music and cars.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five sons, Chester Eugene (Ruth) Placke of Findlay, David (Cindy) Placke of Cleveland, the Rev. Stephen (Carolyn) Placke of Van Wert, Michael (Cheryl) Placke of Tiffin and Karl (significant friend Christina Gaugler) Placke of Delphos; a daughter, Rose Ann (Leonard) Smith of Wapakoneta; 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Laurence, Norbert, Alfred and Arnold Placke; a sister, Louise Goodnick, and one grandson, Vincent Placke.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 14, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, with his son, the Rev. Stephen Placke, officiating, with a military service held immediately afterwards by the Delphos Veterans Council. Burial will be held at the later date in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.
CLEMENS
Ruby C. Clemens, 84, of Paulding, died at 2:55 a.m. Sunday, January 11, 2004, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born December 1, 1919, in Paulding County, the daughter of the late Harry L. and Ada B. (Guilliam) Riley.
Ms. Clemens retired in 1987 from the former Pawnee Plastics Company of Paulding. She attended Paulding County Senior Center and was a volunteer with the Paulding County Cancer Society.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Baughman of Paulding and Barbara Peck of Continental; three sons, Donald, Tom and Harvey C. Clemens, all of Paulding; a brother, Clyde Riley of Defiance; 14 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Lewis Riley, and four sisters, Mildred Trindle, Florence Wagner, Beatrice Wheeler and Maxine Proxmire.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 15, at Den Herder Funeral Home in Paulding. Burial will be in Hedges Cemetery in Paulding.
Calling hours are 2-9 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, and an hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Paulding County Senior Center.
COPLIN-WROCKLAGE
Ethel Eleanor Coplin-Wrocklage, 82, of Convoy, died at 4:05 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2004, at Van Wert Manor nursing home.
She was born September 5, 1921, in Argos, Ind., the daughter of the late Kenneth and Ruth (Wright) Ringle. On June 6, 1959, she married Norbert J. Wrocklage, who died in 1984.
Mrs. Coplin-Wrocklage was a homemaker. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary in Delphos and was a past president and member of the Drill and Degree Team for many years. She enjoyed writing poetry and was published. She also received a certification in sign language.
Survivors include a son, Larry (Nancy) Coplin of Convoy; two sisters, Alice (Bernard) Dillard of Rochester, N.Y., and Nancy Stiles of Mentone, Ind.; two grandchildren, Doug (Meisa) Coplin of Convoy and Laura (Nate) Meiers of Mansfield, and four great-grandchildren, Matthias and Madeline Meiers of Mansfield and Amanda and Kate Coplin of Convoy.
She was preceded in death by an infant son, Gordon Lee Coplin; four sisters, and two brothers.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, at Harter & Son Memorial Chapel in Delphos, the Rev. Nate Meiers and Father Thomas Gorman officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Sunday, January 25, at the funeral home, where an Eagles Auxiliary service will be conducted at 7:30 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Convoy Emergency Squad.
GORMAN
Tim G. Gorman, 55, of Van Wert, died at his residence this past weekend.
He was born October 12, 1948, in Van Wert, the son of George Gorman of Van Wert and the late Maxine (Burnette) Gorman.
Mr. Gorman operated the family business, Gorman Electric of Van Wert, and was an avid Lionel train collector and Chevrolet Corvette enthusiast.
In addition to his father, he is survived by a son, Chris (Laura) Gorman of Van Wert; one daughter, Beth Gorman of Moorpark, Calif.; a stepmother, Esther Gorman of Van Wert; one sister, Gay (Arthur) Thomas of Bellingham, Wash., and two grandsons, Alex Gorman and Nicholas Gorman, both of Van Wert.
Funeral services will be announced at a later date.
Funeral arrangements will be made by Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
HART
Pauline Hart, 85, of Convoy, died at 4:38 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
She was born July 4, 1918, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Arthur and Fredona (Harmon) Miller. On March 7, 1936, in Van Wert, she married Byron W. Hart, who died April 17, 1989.
Mrs. Hart was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Victory United Brethren in Christ Church in rural Decatur, Ind.
Survivors include two sons, Robert B. (Nancy) Hart of Elida and Garry E. Hart of Convoy; a daughter-in-law, Louise Hart, of Decatur; one sister, Mildred Miller of Decatur; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, James L. Hart, and four brothers, Donald R. Miller, Paul G. Miller, Maurice E. Miller and Carl W. Miller.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy.
Calling hours are 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 23, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Convoy EMS squad or Van Wert Area Council on Aging.
GONYA
Mildred J. Gonya, 86, of Payne, died at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born October 6, 1917, in New Haven, Ind., the daughter of the late Frank and Julia (Ehinger) Voirol. She married Maurice Gonya, who died in 1995.
Mrs. Gonya was a homemaker and a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Payne, as well as the Altar and Rosary Societies of the church.
Survivors include a son, Jerrold (Karla) Gonya of Kenosha, Wis.; two daughters, Rosalind (Allen) Ort of Monroeville, Ind., and Marilyn (Leonard) Zuber of Payne; 7 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, at St. John the Baptist Catholiic Church in Payne, with Father G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are after 2 p.m. Sunday, January 25, at Slade Funeral Home in Payne, where a rosary service will be held at 8 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the St. John's School Endowment Fund or the American Diabetes Association.
GONYA
Catherine B. Gonya, 90, of Warsaw, Ind., and formerly of Payne, died at 6:25 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2004, at St. Anne Home in Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born August 21, 1913, in Payne, the daughter of the late John and Anna (Schall) Linder. On January 7, 1936, she married Bernard Gonya, who died in 1968.
Mrs. Gonya was a clerk in the Kosciusko County (Indiana) Treasurer's and Auditor's Office. She was a former member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warsaw and its Altar and Rosary Society.
Survivors include three sons, Bill (Mary) Gonya of Payne, Bob (Sally) Gonya of Fairfield and Mike (Louise) Gonya of Leo, Ind.; four daughters, Marianne Clark of Richmond, Ind., Kathleen (Phil) Fry of Columbia City, Ind., Carol (Stan) Swartz of Warsaw and Nancy (Tom) Barker of Pierceton, Ind.; a daughter-in-law, Rita Gonya of Angola, Ind.; two brothers, Maurice (Vi) Linder of Fort Wayne and Jim (Pat) Linder of Payne; seven sisters, Genevieve Wilson, Sister Jean Linder, Sister Helen Linder and Rita Linder, all of Tiffin, Josephine (Bob) Huguenard of Panama City, Fla., and Theresa Baumle and Rosemary (Harold) Perrine, both of Payne; 35 grandchildren, and 75 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, John Gonya; a sister, Marie Linder; four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, January 30, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Payne, with Father G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Calling hours are after 2 p.m. Thursday, January 29, at Slade Funeral Home in Payne, where a Rosary Service will be held at 8 that evening.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. John's School Endowment Fund or St. Anne Home.
