Search Archived Marriage Records
Thomas A. Brenner
(1938 - 2007)
Thomas A. Brenner, 69, of rural Bryan, died late Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, at his home.
Born Jan. 13, 1938, at Bryan, to Jennie (Monks) and Roy Brenner, he married Virginia Reinhart on Nov. 23, 1971, and she survives.
The owner and operator of Brenner Excavating, established in 1974, he had previously been employed by Maneval's, Winzeler Excavating and Thiel Construction.
A 1956 graduate of Bryan High School, he had served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a longtime member of the Farmer Fire Department and was a member of Bryan Eagles Aerie No. 2233.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Greg (and wife, Pam) Brenner of Abilene, Texas ; a daughter, Dawn (and husband, Don) Carriker of Springfield, Mo.; four grandchildren, Cory and Hollande Brenner and Alex and Anthony Carriker; a great-granddaughter, Jaide Brenner; stepchildren, DaWanda (Ed) Van Buskirk, Darrell Osmun, Dean Osmun and DeVonn (Erma) Osmun, all of Bryan, and Delilah Smith of Indianapolis, Ind.; nine stepgrandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters, Joyce Suffel and Shirley (Kenneth) Osmun, both of Bryan; and a brother, James (Cindy) Brenner of Stryker. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Helen Kuszmaul; and a stepgrandson.
Visitation will be Friday after 2 p.m. in the Krill Funeral Home, Bryan.
Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor James Adams to officiate. Interment will be in Shiffler Cemetery near Bryan.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes. Foundation or a charity of the donor's choice.
Donald Eugene Baird
KENDALLVILLE, Ind. - Donald Eugene Baird, 76, of Kendallville, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at his residence in Kendallville.
Born Jan. 8, 1931, in Fairfield Township, Dekalb County, to Hilda (Sherwood) and Ray Baird, his first marriage was to Velma Hileman and she preceded him in death in 1984. He was then married to Helen Clark Keck on Oct. 20, 1986, and she survives.
An owner-operator truck driver for many years, he also worked as a mechanic with K&M Garage in Wolcottville for 12 years as well as MY Transport out of Topeka for 12 years. For the last 20 years, he repaired and restored antique furniture.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Wolcottville.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are sons, Mike (and wife, Marilyn) Baird of Wolcottville and Bobby (Tammy) Baird of Brighton; daughters, Teresa (and husband, Jeff) Sampson of Sturgis, Mich., Sarah Jane (Don) Ritchie of Orland and Brenda (Randall) Scott of Ontario, Ind.; stepdaughters, Jan (Garey) Bollinger of LaGrange, Nancy (Ken) Helsel of Adams Lake, Linda (Richard) Kreider of Dallas Lake, Kelly (Bill) Ward of Bryan, Ohio, Marie (Dave) Burch of Bryan, Sandra (Albert) Babcock of Archbold, Ohio, and BJ (John) Brown of Bryan; 34 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brothers, Lyle (Martha) Baird of Auburn, Larry (Kay) Baird of Hicksville, Ohio, Jack (Cindy) Baird of Topeka and Billy (Johanna) Baird of Ligonier; and sisters, Patty Pierce and Tarena Longsworth, both of Kendallville.
In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons, Donnie Gene and Eddie Baird; brothers, Wilbur, Gary, Merlin and Dallas; and a sister, Evelyn Payton.
Funeral services were to have been this morning at Hite Funeral Home, Kendallville, with the Rev. Carldean Merrifield and Harry Smith, deacon from First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in LaGrange.
Memorials may be made to Parkview Noble Hospice or to the First Baptist Church.
Ila Jean Suntken
(1931 - 2007)
CORNING, Iowa - Ila Jean Suntken, 75, of Corning and formerly of Montpelier, Ohio, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at Creston Regional Medical Center in Creston.
Born Dec. 21, 1931, at Montpelier, Ohio, to Opal Wava (Beck) and Harold Britton, she married Richard L. Suntken in September 1950 and he preceded her in death.
A 1950 graduate of Montpelier High School, she was a full-time homemaker and had also worked as a store clerk at Place's Store in Corning for 19 years, retiring in 1994.
She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Corning, and Boots & Bows Square Dance Club. Surviving are daughters, Wendy (and husband, Jerry) Netherton of Crossville, Tenn., Melody Gaynor Suntken of Crossville, Tenn., and Michelle "Shelly" (Tracy) Franks of Omaha, Neb.; sons, Steve (and wife, Diana) Suntken of Feyil, Okla., and David (Mary) Suntken of Orange City, Iowa; 15 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; and a sister, Laurice Simmons of Tonopah, Ariz.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Harold Britton and Opal Tingley, and a brother-in-law, Bill Simmons.
Services will be Friday at 10 a.m. in the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Corning, with the Rev. Merlin Reith and Mary O'Riley, hospice chaplain, to officiate. Burial will be at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Corning.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Greater Regional Hospice, Creston. Coen-Beaty-Pearson Family Funeral Service, Corning, is handling arrangements.
Lila L. Word
(1924 - 2007)
ANGOLA, Ind. - Lila L. Word, 83, of Angola, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, at Cameron Memorial Community Hospital, Angola.
Born March 20, 1924, at Scott Township, Steuben County, to Iva (Wilkinson) and John Tasker, she married Carlton "Tubby" Word on March 7, 1944, at Angola, and he survives.
A 1941 graduate of Scott Center High School, she was a retired telephone operator and supervisor at GTE Phone Company at Angola.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by nieces and nephews, Shirley, Jerry, Roger, Bobby, Delores and Jonni.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Dorothy Bice; and a brother, Herman Swick. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Beams Funeral Home, Fremont. Funeral services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with Alan Word to officiate. Burial will be at Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola.
Memorials may be made to Steuben County Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Harold C. Votaw Sr.
(1922 - 2007)
PIONEER - Harold C. Votaw Sr., 85, of Pioneer, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, at his residence.
Born March 23, 1922, at Cornishville, Ky., he was the son of Melissa (Ford) and Edgar A. Votaw. A Williams County resident since 1927, he graduated from Bryan High School in 1940 then from 1957-1958 attended Fort Wayne Bible College, where he received his license as a non-denominational evangelist. He had also owned and operated Votaw Aluminum Sales and Votaw Orchard for many years.
Having served as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was a member of Lake View United Brethren Church in rural Camden, Mich., D.A.V. and a life member of the Pioneer V.F.W. Surviving are three sons, Harold (and wife, Cheryle) Votaw Jr., David (Deborah) Votaw and Duane (Kay) Votaw, all of Pioneer; a daughter, Joanne (and husband, Thomas) Foltz of Arusha, Africa; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Hilda Votaw of Lincolnwood, Ill., and Hyla Fisher of Zepherhills, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Doris (Wines) Votaw; his second wife, Faithe (Lilly) Votaw; a son, Marvin; and a sister, Helen Smith.
Visitation will be Saturday after 10 a.m. in the Lake View United Brethren Church.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the church with Pastor Thomas Foltz and Pastor Harvey "Oke" Maertin to officiate. Interment will be at Floral Grove Cemetery, Pioneer, with graveside 
military rites conducted by Pioneer veterans.
Memorials may be made to the church or Hospice, The Caring Way, of Williams and Fulton Counties. The Thompson Funeral Home in Pioneer is in charge of arrangements.
Bernice V. Thieroff Wood
(1915- 2007)
DEFIANCE - Bernice V. Thieroff Wood, 92, of Defiance, died Thursday morning, Dec. 20, 2007, at Mercy Hospital of Defiance.
Born July 2, 1915, at Napoleon, to Maudie (Rettig) and Alfred Franz, she married Carl E. Wood in 1990 and he preceded her in death in 2002.
A graduate of Holgate High School, she was in sales for J.C. Penney for 16 years and was with Franz Fruit Market for 12 years.
She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church.
Surviving are a son, Keith (and wife, Elaine) Thieroff of Grand Prairie, Texas ; a daughter, Patty Linebrink of Defiance; four stepsons, Charles (Marlene) Wood of Fort Pierce, Fla., Robert (Janet) Wood of Fremont, George "Bill" (Lissa) Wood of Jefferson City, Tenn., and Wayne (Carol) Wood of Zanesville, Wisc.; a stepdaughter, Jane (and husband, John) Gasperak of Lyndhurst; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 15 stepgrandchildren; and a brother, Alfred Bolman of Liberty Center.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Loren A. Thieroff, in 1979; and three brothers, Lloyd Franz, Merle Franz and Wilford Franz.
Visitation will be Saturday from 4-8 p.m. and Sunday from 2-8 p.m. in the Mast-Mock-Hoffman-Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home and Monday from 10-11 a.m. in St. John Lutheran Church.
Funeral services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in the church with the Rev. Donald L. Luhring to officiate. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
