USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Deloris Fischbach
Deloris "Dee" Fischbach, 80, of New Knoxville, died Jan. 14, 2004, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
She was born March 30, 1923, in New Knoxville, to Edward and Sarah Stienecker Kipp. On July 26, 1941, she married Richard Fischbach who died April 8, 2001.
Surviving are a daughter, Jean (Gordon) Coffin, New Bremen; two sisters, Dorothea Wierwille, New Knoxville, and Eveyln (Charles) Thatcher, Van Wert; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Deceased are two brothers, Alferd and Adrian Kipp, and a brother-in-law, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille.
She served 25 years as mayor of New Knoxville and was a teacher in the Auglaize County Schools for 10 years. She was a member and former president of the Ohio Mayors Association, a member of the the Small Government Commission of the Ohio Public Works Commission, a member and former president of the Auglaize County Republican Executive Committee, a Buckeye Girls State government adviser and a senior intern for U.S. Rep. Michael Oxley.
She also was a member of First United Church of Christ, Civic Association, Historical Association and Sesquicentennial Committee, all of New Knoxville, a member and former president of the New Knoxville American Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Ohio Mayors Association, Ohio Municipal League Board of Trustees, Ohio Public Employee Retirees, Auglaize County Health Advisory Board, Auglaize County Economic Development Committee, Ohio Municipal Electric Association and the American Public Power Association. She had been named New Knoxville Citizen of the Year in 1986.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. David Hunt officiating. Burial will follow at Pilger Ruhe Cemetery, New Knoxville.
Calling is 2-4 and 5-8 p.m. Friday in the Heritage Room at the church.
Vornholt-Miller Funeral Home, New Knoxville, has charge of arrangements.
Contributions can be made to the Otterbein Benevolent Fund.
Michael Kemper
Michael S. Kemper, 16, 02103 Minster-Egypt Pike, Minster, died at 1 p.m. Jan. 14, 2004, in a traffic accident near his home. (See related story on Page One.)
He was born April 17, 1987, in St. Marys, to Steven and Kathy Knapke Kemper. His father died Jan. 14, 2000 and his mother survives in Minster.
Also surviving are two sisters, Lynn of Piqua and Katie, at home; the grandparents, Marilyn Kemper and Luke and Mary Knapke, all of Minster; and the great-grandmother, Beatrice Maier, Sidney.
A grandfather, Elton Kemper, is deceased.
He was a sophomore at Minster High School, where he was a member of the Wildcat football team and the FFA. He also was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Minster, and the CYO basketball team.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Louis Schmit officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-9 p.m. Friday and 9-9:30 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster.
Contributions can be made to the Minster High School Class of 2006 Scholarship Fund.
Clarina Lefeld
Clarina A. Lefeld, 84, 171 N. Westview Ave., St. Henry, died at 8:05 p.m. Jan. 14, 2004, at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
She was born March 30, 1919, in Coldwater, to Arthur and Regina Hemmelgarn Bettinger. On June 27, 1942, she married Seraphim H. Lefeld who died June 4, 2002.
Surviving are five sons, Robert (Marjorie), Linus (Rosemary), Thomas (Judy) and Leo (Ginny), all of St. Henry, and Valentine (Connie) of Burkettsville; a daughter, Mary (Jim) Jutte, St. Henry; a daughter-in-law, Janet Lefeld, Coldwater; 27 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
Other survivors include four brothers, Paul (Angie) Bettinger, Cletus (Norma) Bettinger, Robert (Barb) Bettinger and Carl (Ruth) Bettinger, all of Coldwater; three sisters, Lucille Bergman, Fort Recovery, Marguerite (Clete) Griesdorn, St. Rose, and Grace (Paul) Rutschilling, Coldwater; and two sisters-in-law, Rita Bettinger, St. Henry, and Marlene Bettinger, Coldwater.
Deceased are two sons, Ernest and Arthur; three brothers, Herman, William and Lavern Bettinger; a sister, Mary Ellen Bettinger; a brother-in-law, Bob Bergman; and two grandchildren.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Henry Catholic Church, the Rosary-Altar Sodality, the Daughters of Isabella and the American Legion Auxiliary, all of St. Henry.
Funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Larry Wyen officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday and 8:45-9:45 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.
Wealtha Miller
Former Celina resident Wealtha Miller, 94, of Piqua, died at 1 p.m. Jan. 11, 2004, at Piqua Manor Nursing Home.
She was born Jan. 3, 1910, in New Weston, to John W. and Barbara Williamson Foster. On June 18, 1927, she married Ralph R. Miller and he died Dec. 13, 1996.
Surviving are a daughter, Barbara E. (Richard) Kohlhaas, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and two grandchildren.
Five brothers and six sisters are deceased.
She was a homemaker and a former retail employee. She attended Versailles Schools and was a member of the former Evangelical United Methodist Church.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday at Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home, Piqua, the Rev. Ken Castor officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua.
Calling is 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the Miami County Family Abuse Shelter.
Leonard Varno
Leonard F. Varno, 82, 2199 St. Marys Ave., Sidney, died at 6:17 p.m. Jan. 13, 2004, in the emergency room at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Sidney.
He was born Nov. 15, 1921, in St. Patrick, to Henry and Louise Romie Varno. On June 4, 1947, he married Alice Thobe who survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Karen (Gene) Kinninger, Shawano, Wis., Brenda (Ray) Lazier, Maplewood, and Doris (Steven) Bales, Sidney; a brother, LaVerne of Sidney; three sisters, Angela Raterman, Anna, Rosella Eilerman, Fort Loramie, and Henrietta Thobe, New Bremen; and nine grandchildren.
Four brothers and a sister are deceased.
He retired from Wagner Manufacturing Company. Sidney, after 40 years of service. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge in France and Germany. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, American Legion Post 217 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4239, all of Sidney.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Gerald Bensman officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery, Sidney, with the VFW conducting military rites.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Friday at Adams Funeral Home, Sidney. The VFW will conduct services there at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Contributions can be made to the Shelby County Cancer Society.
Urban Bernard
Former Coldwater resident, Urban L. "Katy" Bernard, 88, 2352 Collins Drive, Sidney, died Jan. 12, 2004, at his home.
He was born April 19, 1915, in Cranberry Prairie, to Anthony W. and Regina E. Stammen Bernard. On Aug. 26, 1949, he married Lillian Stukenborg who died Jan. 4, 1973.
Survivors are a brother, Elmer (Mary) of St. Henry; and eight sisters, Ella Mae Gaier, Minster, Wilma Gels, Celina, Ruth Seitz, Dayton, Florence Ferris, Grove City, Peggy (Bill) Wolf, Fort Recovery, Ann (Louie) Brunswick, Coldwater, Joan (Greg) Hausfeld, St. Marys, and Jane (Walter) Uhlenhake, Beavercreek.
Deceased is a brother, James, an infant sister, Mary Margaret Bernard, four brothers-in-law, Tony Gaier, Art Gels, Bob Sietz and Bill Ferris.
A retired farmer, he operated the Stukenborg Cane Press for many years at his rural Coldwater home. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, Sidney.
A U.S. Army veteran in the South Pacific during World War II, he was a life member of American Legion Post 470, life charter member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and member of Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie and Knights of Columbus, all of Coldwater, and Elks Lodge of Sidney.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Rev. Earl Fernandes officiating. Burial with full military honors will be conducted by Rev. Ron Wilker at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater. A dinner will follow at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Cromes Funeral Home, Sidney.
Contributions can be made to Wilson Hospice Care, Sidney.
Urban Bernard
Additional calling hours have been set for former Coldwater resident Urban L. "Katy" Bernard, 88, 2352 Collins Drive, Sidney.
He died Jan. 12, 2004, at his residence.
Calling is 4-8 p.m. today and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at Cromes Funeral Home, Sidney.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Sidney, the Rev. Earl Fernandes officiating. Burial will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.
Blake Jeffries
Blake Allen Jeffries, 4, 401 S. Pear St., St. Marys, died Jan. 11, 2004, at his residence. Death was due to natural causes.
He was born Sept. 22, 1999, in St. Marys, to Amanda Sawmiller Jeffries who survives in St. Marys.
Also surviving are a brother, Parker Bayman, at home; grandparents, Kathleen and Larry Rhodes, Celina, Terry and Jeannie Sawmiller, Wapakoneta, Terry Jeffries, Montezuma, and Brenda and Spike Ackley, St. Marys; and great-grandparents, Eileen Stienecker, St. Marys, Carl and Echo Sawmiller, Wapakoneta, Donald and
Whitey Jeffries and Trula Wyerick, all of Coldwater.
A grandfather, Merlin Stienecker, and a great-grandfather, Donald Wyerick, are deceased.
He attended preschool classes at the ABC Center in New Bremen and attended Shaken Baby Syndrome programs with his mother at local high schools. He attended Missionary Baptist Church, St. Marys.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family, the Rev. Alva Daniel officiating.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina.
Contributions can be made to the Blake Jeffries Memorial Fund.
