USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
GILLETTE
Franklin L. Gillette, 71, of 746 S. Shannon St., Van Wert, died at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born March 22, 1934, in Paulding County, the son of the late Charles and Nora Gillette. On February 7, 1970, in Fort Wayne, Ind., he married Delores A. Debacher, who survives at their residence.
Mr. Gillette was a retired self-employed auto mechanic and a member of Harvest Field Pentecostal Church in Scott. He had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert. He also belonged to Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 886 in Van Wert.
In addition to his wife, survivors include seven sons, Franklin Gillette Jr. of Beaverdam, Gary (Mary) Gillette of Wolverine, Mich., David (Pam) Gillette, James Robert Gillette and Thomas (Trisha) Gillette, all of Ottawa, and Mark (Michelle) Gillette of Celina; three daughters, Connie (Steve) Parr of Zanesville, Barbara Hazelton of Ottawa and Michelle (Greg) Foster of Van Wert; three sisters, Helen Clear of Grover Hill, Mary Wagner of Van Wert and Leafie Gray of Missouri; 20 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A grandson and a great-grandson preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Ron Parker officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with graveside military rites performed by the combined honors units of Legion Post 178 and VFW Post 5803.
Calling hours are 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and from noon until time of services Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
LEARNED
Richard G. Learned, 77, of Van Wert, died at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2005, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
He was born March 6, 1928, in Edon, the son of the late Oliver F. and Dorothy (Tyson) Learned. On June 2, 1946, he married Betty L. Donor, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Learned formerly worked with his parents in Learned's IGA in Van Wert and then at B.F. Goodrich in Woodburn, Ind. He later retired from the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Juvenile Center after 14½ years of service. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert and was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Ohio National Guard who had served in Korea. He retired from the Indiana Artillery Reserves as a major.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Michael (Lisa) Learned of Van Wert; one brother, Robert Learned of Van Wert; one grandchild; four stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren, and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela Learned, and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 8, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. James Howell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of donor's choice.
SCAER
Nora Bertha Scaer, 92, of Convoy, died at 6:10 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2005, at Convoy Care Center.
She was born September 2, 1912, in Adams County, Ind., the daughter of the late Otto and Amelia (Steele) Bleeke. On November 26, 1931, she married Hugo T. Scaer, who died in 1954.
Mrs. Scaer was a homemaker and a ceramist for 40 years. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, where she was organist for 50 years and a member of the church choir and Ladies Guild.
Survivors include a son, Fred (Joyce) Scaer of Convoy; one daughter, Rose Marie (Gene) Schlemmer of Monroeville, Ind.; one sister, Elise Dersch of Decatur, Ind.; six grandchildren; one stepgranddaughter; 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marcia Lenore Scaer, who died August 3, 1999; three brothers, Grover, Morris and Raymond Bleeke; for sisters, Erna Weiland, Gretchen Krueckeberg, Marcella Kirchner and Vera Sealscott, and three grandsons, Kirby, Gary and Raymond Schlemmer.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, May 9, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, with the Rev. Michael Saylor officiating. Burial will be in Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Convoy.
Calling hours are 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 8, at Cowan & Son Stainfield Memorial Home in Convoy and an hour prior to services Monday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy or the Convoy Care Center Activity Fund.
McCLURE
Kenneth E. McClure, 53, of Van Wert, died at 4:07 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2005, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
He was born March 21,1952, in Van Wert, the son of Maurice McClure and Marguerite (Conley) McClure, both of whom survive in Van Wert. He was not married.
Mr. McClure had worked on the family farm in Van Wert County. He attended North Union United Methodist Church in Van Wert County, was a member of Wetzel Motorcycle Club and had served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Kennedy aircraft carrier.
In addition to his parents, survivors include a son, Shawn McClure of Van Wert; one daughter, Tachea McClure of Van Wert, and a sister, Jane McClure of Van Wert.
He was preceded in death by a sister, June McClure.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Rev. Mary Ann Tomlinson officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert, with graveside military services performed by the combined honor units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
MITCHENER
Helen M. Mitchener, 81, of Lima, died Friday, May 27, 2005, in Hilliard.
She was born January 8, 1924, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Lawrence and Frieda (Wild) Wise. She married Frederick Mitchener, who died in 1998.
Mrs. Mitchener was employed as a secretary by various businesses and educational facilities.
Survivors include a son, Mark (Juanita) Mitchener of Mooresville, Ind., and two daughters, Kathleen Mitchener of Lima and Karen Black of Indianapolis, Ind.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 9 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Glenmont, 4599 Avery Road, Hilliard, OH 43026 or First Church of Christ Scientist, 900 W. Market St., Lima, OH 45805.
COOPER
Ira "Tom" Cooper Jr., 42, of Delphos, died at 2:06 p.m. Sunday, May 15, 2005, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born July 19, 1962, in Lima, the son of Ira Cooper Sr., who survives in Cloverdale, and Patty (Richard) Diltz of Delphos.
Mr. Cooper was involved in construction work and enjoyed fishing and camping and spending time with his sons.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sons, Johnny Heckart of Decatur, Ind., and Thomas Cooper of Cloverdale; two sisters, Tammy (Dennis) King of Cloverdale and Grace Diltz or Delphos, and two brothers, Gary Cooper and Richard Diltz Jr., both of Delphos; his fiance, Cindy Looser of Delphos, and his grandmother, Irma Jean Gibson of Garrett, Ky.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Barry Cooper.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 19, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, with the Rev. Wayne Prater officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery in Delphos.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, May 17 and 18, and an hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
LEPLEY
Katherine (Klaus) Lepley, 56, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2005, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born January 2, 1949, in Lima, the daughter of LaDonna (Osting) Schmelzer of Delphos and the late Jerome Klaus.
Ms. Lepley was a registered nurse at Golden Years Homestead nursing home in Fort Wayne. She was a 1967 graduate of Delphos St. John's High School and graduated in 1970 from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Fort Wayne. She was a member of Northeast Christian Church and was president of the Caribe Community Association. She loved to help other people and was always volunteering to help. After she was diagnosed with cancer, she volunteered for to transport patients to cancer treatments until she went into the hospital.
In addition to her mother, survivors include a sister, Pat (Bob) Kramer of Delphos; three brothers, Kenny (Linda) Klaus and David Klaus, both of Delphos, and Steve (Deb) Klaus of Lima, and a sister-in-law, Ag Klaus of Delphos.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Gary Klaus, ad two nieces, Kari (Klaus) Lauck and Lisa Kramer.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home in Delphos, with the Rev. Fred Speckert officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Services of Allen County, Ind.
