All Obituaries

Stephen Allen Wagner   MILLER CITY – Stephen Allen Wagner, 65, of Miller City, passed away at 10:20 a.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, at his residence.  He was born November 6, 1957, in Lima to the late Paul and Dorothy (Maag) Wagner.  On April 28, 1979, he married Janet Erford, she survives in Miller City.   Also surviving are four children: Matt (Kelly) Wagner, Mandi (Jeremy) Kuhlman, Brady (Jenna) Wagner, all of Miller City, and Brittany (Cody) Buss of Kalida; 10...

Ruth Marie Ford   CONTINENTAL – Ruth Marie Ford, 83, of Continental, passed away at 1:36 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.  She was born May 1, 1940, in Avis to the late Frank and Marcele (Schmitt) Korte.  On July 18, 1959, she married Paul D. Ford, who preceded her in death on May 22, 2005.   Ruth is survived by two sons: Gary (Laurie) Ford, and Steve (Michele) Ford, both of Continental; a daughter: Paula (John)...

Melvin E. Lauf, Sr.   OTTAWA – Melvin E. Lauf, Sr., 83, of Ottawa, passed away at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.  He was born September 15, 1939 in Cairo to the late Theodore and Florence (Kuhbander) Lauf. On July 19, 1969, he married Betty Jo Myers, who survives in Ottawa.   Melvin is also survived by three children: Michelle (Todd) Rye of Ottawa, Melvin Lauf, Jr. of Newport News, VA and Holly K. Carman of...

Betty Jean Holtkamp   KALIDA – Betty Jean Holtkamp, 94, of Kalida, passed away at 10:06 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at the Meadows of Kalida.  She was born November 15, 1928, in Kalida to the late Leonard and Gertrude (Morman) Drerup.  On May 26, 1951, she married Eugene E. Holtkamp, who preceded her in death on January 12, 2000.   Betty is survived by three children: Gretchen Ballinger of Elida, William Holtkamp of Lima, and Laura Shuler of Galion; two...

Michael D. Crisp, 1952-2023    Michael (Mike) Crisp, passed away at the age of 70 on May 28, 2023 alongside his loving children at Bridge Hospice Care Center at Blanchard Valley in Findlay after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in 1952 to Earl and Vernal Crisp of Kenton, Ohio. Both parents preceded him in death.       Mike attended and played football for Kenton High School and graduated in 1970.  He had 14 biological siblings.  Mike came...

Cheryl Louise “Cheri” Streicher  CONTINENTAL - Cheryl Louise “Cheri” Streicher (65) was born on March 29, 1958 in Defiance, OH to her mother Barbara L. Brower Bidlack (surviving) and father John L. Streicher. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at CHP Hospice Center in Defiance, OH surrounded by her family.   Cheri is preceded in death by her father, John Streicher, brother, Timothy Streicher, and special aunt, Charlotte Simonis.  ...

Andrew D. Newsome   OAKWOOD – Andrew D. Newsome, 23, of Oakwood, died on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Putnam County Ambulatory Care Center, Glandorf. He was born May 13, 2000 in Defiance to Mindy Newsome.   Andrew is also survived by Sherri Fitzsimmons of Oakwood; grandparents, Wayne and Shelley Newsome, Sr. of Oakwood; great-grandfather, John “Bob” Weisenburger of Oakwood; his beloved dog, Sophie as well as an aunt and cousins.  ...

Norman L. “Bud” Deters   FINDLAY – Norman L. “Bud” Deters, 82 of Findlay, formerly of Ottawa, passed away at 9:16  p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Putnam County Ambulatory Care Center.  He was born April 1, 1941, in Ottawa to the late Norman H. and Mary Jane (Rampe) Deters.   Bud is survived by 4 siblings: Kathy (Norman) Fischer of Ft Jennings, Linda (Ken) Klass of Glandorf, Marilyn (Tom) Shidler, and Steve Deters of Albion,...

Sharon Ann Burgei   KALIDA – Sharon Ann Burgei, 77, of Kalida, passed away at 9:47 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima surrounded by her family. She was born March 17, 1946 in Lima to the late Raymond and Alice (Ricker) Ellerbrock.  On January 2, 1965, she married Norbert I. Burgei, who survives in Kalida.   Sharon is also survived by a daughter, Janice (Greg) Goergens of Kalida; two grandchildren: Chad (Morgan) Goergens...

Norma J. Ladd   CLOVERDALE – Norma J. Ladd, 83, of Cloverdale, passed away at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.  She was born September 19, 1939 in Ft. Jennings to the late Edward McHugh and Mary Olivia Purdy and her adopted mother, Rose Schneeg. On September 3, 1955, she married William “Bill” Ladd, who preceded her in death on November 13, 2017.   Norma is survived by eight children:  Richard...