Obituaries

Jan 5, 2023

Paul E. Hardman, 72, of Van Wert, passed away at 5:57 PM on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Van Wert Health. He was born on April 28, 1950, in Van Wert, to the late Robert C. and Marjorie (Towsey) Hardman. Paul retired in 2002 from General Motors in Defiance after 31 years of service. He also drove Amish families...

Jan 3, 2023

Judy Ann Painter went to walk with God on Tuesday morning January 3rd, 2023. Judy was born in Van Wert, Ohio on November 1st, 1949 to William Pancake and Jeanne Pancake. In 1971, she married Denny Summersett and had two children, Tonya Powers and Thad Summersett. Denny passed away from melanoma cancer in 1981. In 1983, she married L Gary...

Jan 1, 2023

Tracy L. Bolton, 62, of Union City, forerly of Van Wert, died recently of a long illness. Tracy's family is mourning privately. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials are to Thomas A Edison Center in Van Wert.To share in Tracy's online memorial, please visit www.alspachgearhart.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, 722 S Washington Street, Van...

Dec 30, 2022

Carol M. Maas, 89, of Van Wert, Ohio, went to her Heavenly home at 1:45 P.M. Friday, December 30, 2022, at home with family by her side. She was born at home December 15, 1933, in New Richmond, Indiana, to the late Murl D. and Edna R. (Stemen) Hershberger. On June 7, 1957, Carol married Melvin A. Maas, who...

Dec 30, 2022

Ethel Marie Pontsler, 84, of Rockford, beloved wife of the late Donald Pontsler, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2022. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1938 to the late Ellery and Roberta Mosher, Ethel kept her New England charm after moving to the Midwest in her youth. Known by many as the "Angel Lady", Ethel used her talents as...

Dec 28, 2022

Curtis A. Agler, 56, of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 in Ft. Wayne. He was born on July 17, 1966, in Van Wert, to the late Danny E. Agler and Linda Balliet. Curtis worked at Emergency Mobile Tech in Decatur, Indiana. Surviving are his brothers, Jamie (Marsha) Agler of Convoy and Spencer (Jen)...

Dec 26, 2022

Richard G. Waters, Sr., "Dick," 86, of Van Wert, died at 9:48 p.m. Monday, December 26, 2022 at Van Wert Manor. He was born March 2, 1936 in Flushing, Queens, New York to the late Ethel A. Waters (Campbell) and George W. Waters. Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years Janice "Jan" Waters (Scranton). They...

Dec 21, 2022

Randy Dale Deckard, born June 18, 1958 to Ralph and Silva (Gribble) Deckard in Paulding, Ohio; passed away on December 21, 2022 at his residence in Van Wert, Ohio. He will be greatly missed. Randy was a 1976 graduate of Wayne Trace High School. He served in the Navy from 1982 to 1988. He was a BT in charge...

Dec 21, 2022

Estella A. (Stubbs) Gilroy, 95, of Van Wert passed away at 9:00 PM on December 21, 2022 at her residence. She was born on February 6, 1927, in Harrod, Ohio, to Russell C. and Marjorie (Heffner) Stubbs. On August 29, 1945, she married Everet H. Gilroy, who preceded her in death. Together, they shared over 48 years of marriage....

Dec 20, 2022

Gale Austin Shawyer passed away peacefully at home, Dec 20, 2022. He was a loving devoted husband to his late wife, and a generous father and Pawpaw. He graduated from High School in Williamsport, MD in 1957. Starting his career with the McCrory Department Store in 1957. He was a regional manager for K-Mart in the 1960s and 1970s. He...

Dec 20, 2022

Gary Dean Baltzell, 80, of Rockford passed away unexpectedly on December 20, 2022 at Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital. He was born on December 05, 1942, in Mendon, son to the late Floyd Baltzell and Mabel (Wurster) Baltzell. On November 08, 1963, he married the former Jean Burden, who survives. Together, they shared years of memories. Gary was a...

Dec 17, 2022

Travis Lee White, 43, of Rockford, and formerly of Willshire, passed away unexpectedly on December 17, 2022 at his home. He was born on March 8, 1979, in Van Wert, to Becky (Suman) White and the late David White. Travis was a 1997 graduate of Parkway High School. Previously he worked at Berne Furniture and FCC (Adams) Products, both in...

Dec 14, 2022

Edwin L. "Ed" Bates, 94, of Van Wert, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Homestead at Towne Center in Van Wert. He was born on November 8, 1928, in South Bend, the son of Clarence C. and Emma J. (Buzek) Bates. On April 29, 1961, he married the former Jacqueline J. King, who preceded him in death. Together,...

Dec 13, 2022

Robert Wayne Hickerson, "Wayne," 71, of Van Wert, passed away at 10:40 AM on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Van Wert Health ER. He was born on August 22, 1951, in Anderson, IN, to the late Bobbie P. and Louise V. (Henry) Hickerson. On September 8, 1973, he married the love of his life, Alicia A. Bruner. Together, they shared...

Dec 12, 2022

Jacqueline Louise Boss, 74, of Marion, OH passed away on December 12, 2022. Jackie was born August 5, 1948 to the late Glen and Yvonne (Githens) Germann of rural Van Wert. On August 9, 1975 she married John Boss who survives in Marion, OH. Jackie is also survived by two daughters; Jennifer (Matt) Quellhorst of Reedsville, WI, and Jessica (Chris)...

Dec 10, 2022

Garick J. Hough passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022 in Van Wert. He was born to Gary Hough and Lisha Miller, both of whom reside in Van Wert. Not only will he be deeply missed by his beautiful children, GalaxE, Obsidian, and Opal; but by his sister, Tasha (Nate Johnson) Showalter of Indiana; and all of his uncles,...

Dec 9, 2022

Ruth I. Sites went home to be with Jesus on December 9, 2022. She was born March 16, 1922 to Frank and Bertha C. (Brush) Zizelman in Mercer County. Ruth and her two brothers, Jim and Dan (Phyllis), grew up on the family farm. She helped with the farming, livestock, gardening, canning, and the honey harvest. In her lifetime she...

Dec 8, 2022

Robert R. "Rick" Schriver, 72, of Van Wert, passed away at 3:07 PM on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on May 2, 1950, in Van Wert, the son of the late Robert and Naomi Jean (Radabaugh) Schriver. Rick was a 1969 graduate of Van Wert High School. He retired from...

Dec 2, 2022

Maria L. DeLeon, 79, of Van Wert, passed away peacefully at her home on December 02, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 25, 1943, in Pasaje Durango, Mexico, to the late Encarnacion and Hilaria Carreon Alvarez.

Maria's family immigrated from Mexico in 1953. Migrant work was part of her younger life until...

Dec 1, 2022

David L. Gause, 76, of Rockford passed away Thursday, December 1, 2022 at his residence after a short battle with cancer. He was born November 25, 1946 at the Gause family homestead to the late Lloyd and Florence (Shively) Gause. On March 24, 1978 he married Lois (Craft) Gause, who survives. David was a 1965 graduate of Parkway High School...