All Obituaries

David Allyn Young, 54, of Van Wert, Ohio died early Sunday morning, September 17, 2017 at his residence.  He was born on April 25, 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Rev. Jack A. and Marguerite J. (Corlew) Young.  On February 23, 1990 Dave married Kelley (Ripley) Young and she survives in Van Wert. He is survived by (2) daughters, Nikki (Jake Arnold) Young of Defiance, Ohio and Carlee Young of Van Wert; (1) brother, Daniel R. (Cheryl) Young of Chicago, Illinois; (2)...

Arthur R. Fiock, of Van Wert passed away at 9:19 p.m. Sunday, September 17, 2017 at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice. He was born November 23, 1938 in Van Wert County. He was the son of Earl R. and Mary (Stemen) Fiock, who both preceded him in death. Arthur was a veteran of the Ohio National Guard, and retired from Aeroquip Corperation in Van Wert after 25 years of service. He was also a lifelong farmer. He is survived by his wife Constance “Connie”...

GROVER HILL, Ohio — R. Paul Bidlack, 92, of Grover Hill, died at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at Vancrest of Van Wert. He was born Oct. 9, 1924, in Grover Hill, to Edna (McClure) Bidlack and Aaron Ray Bidlack. His parents are deceased. His wife, Shirley A. (Thrasher) Bidlack, preceded him in death on March 6, 2017. They were married Oct. 2, 1943. Survivors include children, Connie (Tom) Baldwin of New Haven, Indiana, Paulette (Richard) Stemen of...

Joan E. Waltz, 88, of Van Wert, died at 9:25 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at Hearth & Home of Van Wert. She was born Sept. 21, 1928, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. On Dec. 4, 1965, she married Carlos E. Waltz and he preceded her in death. Joan is survived by six children, one stepchild, one sister, 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert. Graveside services will be held...

Janet (Pickering) Rickner of Van Wert died at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, at Vancrest Healthcare, Van Wert. She was born June 9, 1932, in Spencerville, Ohio, to Mary (Leffel) Pickering and Bert Pickering. Her parents are deceased as is her stepmother, Sara Allbaugh Pickering. Her husband, Ramon D. Rickner, survives of Van Wert. They were married Oct. 3, 1954, in Spencerville. Other survivors include her children, Carol J. (Kevin) Gehres of Wren, Ohio,...

James Alan “Jim” Dibert, 69, of Van Wert, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at his residence. He was born Jan. 22, 1948, in Lima, Ohio, to Alice (Burkhart) Dibert and J. Edsel Dibert. His parents are deceased. His wife, Deb Helen Dibert, survives of Van Wert. They were married Sept. 29, 1969. Other survivors include children, Ben Dibert of Meigs County, Ohio, Amy (Josh) Fabian of Montrose, Colorado, a brother, Steve Dibert of Lima, and...

Alfred "Al" Vandersommen, 93, completed his life's journey on August 30th, 2017 at 6:18AM, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center, supported by family. AI was born on August 22nd, 1924 in Barton, Ohio. He was the son of the late John and Nellie (Worrell) Vandersommen. On July 20th, 1947 he married Dorothy M. Schriner who preceded him in death on November 2, 2003. Mr. Vandersommen served his country with pride as 1st Sgt., US Army Medical Division from...

Helen E. Dotson, 89, of Wetzel, died at 2:47 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, at Van Wert Inpatient Hospice. She was born April 11, 1928, in Paulding County, Ohio, to Madeline (Golliver) McClure and Ray McClure. Her parents are deceased. Her husband, Jim Dotson, is deceased. Survivors include her children, Diane (Walter) VanCleave of Middle Point, Ohio, Brad (Judy) Dotson of Ft. Jennings, Ohio; grandchildren, Holly (Cliff) Wieging of Ft. Jennings, Ohio, Lisa...

Susan (Greenewald) Allen of Van Wert passed away at 12:35 a.m. Monday, August 28, 2017, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born November 2, 1943, in Van Wert, the daughter of Chester H. and Margaret Ellen (Tomlinson) Greenewald, who both preceded her in death. She married David W. Allen, who survives in Van Wert. Other survivors include two children, Melissa (Brad) Scott of Waterford, Michigan, and Jason (Nathan) Brittsan of San Jose, California;...

VAN WERT, Ohio – Michael F. Collins, 59, of Van Wert died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, at Van Wert County Hospital. He was born May 11, 1958 in Van Wert to G. Fred Collins who is deceased and Wileta (Girod) Collins who survives in Van Wert. Michael is also survived by his fiance Laurie Bergman of Van Wert; his daughter Sheila (Tyler Kreischer) Collins of Van Wert; brothers, Bill (Leslie) Collins of Van Wert and Shawne (Susan Fisher) Collins of Van Wert; sisters, Teresa...