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Margaret H. Harman
Died: Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Age: 79
Margaret H. Harman, 79, of Van Wert died at 8:26 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
She was born Jan. 6, 1924, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Alonzo and Lois (Swick) Gilliland. On Oct. 28, 1945, she married Maurice Harman, who preceded her in death on Nov. 29, 1999.
Mrs. Harman retired from Federal Mogul in 1979 and moved to Deming, N.M., where she became employed by K-Mart and became an avid square dancer with her husband until his death. She was a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 5803. She was a past president of the auxiliary and also served as District Two auxiliary president for the 1952-53 year.
Survivors include a son, Keith (Mary Lou) E. Harman of Delphos; two daughters, Janet (Rick) Jenkins and Sharon Carmean of Van Wert; five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren
Survivors also include three sisters, Mary Kline of Van Wert, Louise Tingley of Mendon and Mrs. Burdette (Martha) Curtis of Wellsboro, Pa.
She was preceded in death by twin brothers, Dale and Gale Gilliland.
Burial of the cremated remains will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 1 at Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, where services will be conducted by the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 5803.
Arrangements were by Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert.
OHIO CITY - Lowell D. "Whitey" Oechsle
Died: Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Age: 66
OHIO CITY - Lowell D. "Whitey" Oechsle, 66, of Ohio City died at 1:33 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at Van Wert Manor.
He was born Jan. 28, 1936, in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the son of the late Herbert Wilhelm and Esther Marie (Gribler) Oechsle. He married Alice Marcille Hurless, who preceded him in death on Aug. 18, 1974. On June 28, 1980, he married Kay Diane Harper, who preceded him in death on Sept. 14, 2000.
Mr. Oechsle retired from Eaton Corp. (Aeroquip) after 30 years of service. He had also previously been employed at Walled Lake Door Co., Ohio City, and had farmed. A graduate of Convoy-Union High School, he was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Harrison Township and the Van Wert County Farm Bureau.
Survivors include six children, Randy (Paula) Oechsle, Tammy (Tim) Hamrick, Barry Oechsle, Rhonda (Mark) VanMetre and Scott (Lori) Foster, all of Ohio City, and Rod Foster of Rockford; four sisters, Erma Wallis of Convoy, Barbara (Chris) Riechert of Van Wert, Sondra (Roger) Clayton of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Linda Hinkle of Rockford, and 11 grandchildren, Lindsey Oechsle, Travis Hamrick, Tyler Hamrick, Luke VanMetre, Kylee Oechsle, Josh VanMetre, Chelsea Foster, Jimmy Foster, Taylor Hamrick, Megan Foster and Logan VanMetre.
He was preceded in death by one son, Scott Wayne Oechsle, and a brother, Marlin J. Oechsle.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, the Rev. David Prior officiating. Burial will be in Fletcher Cemetery, Willshire Township.
Calling hours are 3-9 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to service time Friday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are Wren EMS or Wren Community Chest.
Frank J. Kaduk
Died: Monday, January 20, 2003
Age: 86
Frank J. Kaduk, 86, of Van Wert died at 5:40 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at Convoy Care Center, Convoy.
He was born Nov. 14, 1916, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Andrew and Anna (Hritz) Kaduk. On Jan. 29, 1938, he married Betty Joe Huston, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Kaduk retired from Kennedy Mfg. in Van Wert. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a life member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Van Wert, served on the Van Wert Election Board for 28 years, was a current board member and past president of the Van Wert Historical Society where he was a member for 40 years, past president of Van Wert United Way, 1978 Jaycee Citizen of the Year, received Scout of the Year in 1971 and was awarded the Silver Beaver in 1972 and the Chamber of Commerce Ray Miller award in 1999. He was a Toastmaster member of 30 years.
Survivors include two sons, Paul D. Kaduk of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Charles L. (Deborah) Kaduk of Auburn, Ind.; one daughter, Nancy G. Lowe of Van Wert; one brother, John (Dort) Kaduk of Hicksville; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Kaduk of Van Wert; a sister, Anna Dienes of Convoy; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Andrew and Lewis, and two sisters, Betty Germann and Susan Hartman.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Van Wert, the Rev. Lance O'Donnell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, with 
military graveside rites provided by Van Wert American Legion and VFW posts.
Calling hours are 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home and an hour prior to time of service Friday at the church.
Preferred memorials are the church elevator fund or Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses/Hospice.
LIMA - Jack Hubert Lutz
Died: Monday, January 20, 2003
Age: 86
LIMA - Jack Hubert Lutz, 86, of Cincinnati, formerly of Lima, died at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at his current residence.
He was born Jan. 3, 1917, in Mendon, the son of the late Fred C. and Lucy M. (Maurer) Lutz. On May 24, 1954, in Lima, he married Kathryn Corcoran, who preceded him in death on Sept. 22, 1969.
Mr. Lutz was a retired mail carrier, retiring with over 37 years of service from the Lima Post Office. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II who served in the 37th Infantry Division (Red Arrow).
Survivors include:
Son - Tom (Rita) Lutz of Cincinnati
Brother - Dr. Gene (Mary) Lutz of Lima
Sisters - Dorothy (Robert) Purdy of Berea, Carolyn (Arthur) Vittur of Port Orange, Fla., and Phyllis K'Meyer of Mogadore
Two grandchildren, Kari and Katlyn Lutz, also survive in Cincinnati.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, David B. Lutz.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Randy K'Meyer officiating. Burial will be in Neptune Cemetery, Neptune, with graveside rites conducted by Celina VFW Post 5713.
Calling hours are noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Gertrude Maxine Witten
Died: Sunday, January 19, 2003
Age: 92
Gertrude Maxine Witten, 92, of rural Van Wert died at 1 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Van Wert Manor Nursing Home, Van Wert.
She was born Nov. 4, 1910, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late Peter F. and Mabel (Colbry) Dibert. On Aug. 28, 1932, she married Roy Mathias Witten, who preceded her in death on March 9, 1977.
Mrs. Witten was a homemaker and had formerly been the secretary for Sharp Canning Co. and helped farm with her husband for 35 years. A 1930 graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School, she attended a business school in Toledo for two years and was a member of Ohio City United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and prayer group and Ohio City Town & Country Home Extension Club.
Survivors include three sons, Peter (Bonnie) Witten of Delta, Pa., Donald E. (Linda) Witten of rural Ohio City and Hugh Witten of Tipp City; two daughters, Dorothy (John) Beck of Grand Ledge, Mich., and Phyllis (Paul) Schroer of St. Henry; two brothers, LaRue (Margaret) Dibert of East Tawas, Mich., and Carl (Juanita) Dibert of Alma, Mich.; a sister, Velma Jones of Perrysburg; a brother-in-law, Francis (Peg) Baker of Van Wert; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Noble Dibert and Thomas Dibert, and two sisters, Norma Baker and Irene Neva Galloway.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Rev. Mike Waldron of Ohio City United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City.
Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to service time Wednesday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Ohio City United Methodist Church.
Allan Robert Clouse
Died: Saturday, January 18, 2003
Age: 65
Allan Robert Clouse, 65, of Van Wert died unexpectedly at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born June 1, 1936, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Waldo LeRoy Clouse and Ioma V. (Brown) Johnson Clouse. On Aug. 8, 1973, he married Judy D. Ellis, who survives at the residence.
Mr. Clouse retired in 2002 from Kennedy Mfg. after over 30 years of service and had worked part time at Marsh supermarket in Van Wert. An avid blood donor, he was a 1956 graduate of Van Wert High School and an active member of Van Wert Victory Church.
Other survivors include one daughter, Rita J. (Timothy) Placke of Middle Point; one brother, Conrad (Cathy) Johnson of Frostproof, Fla.; two sisters, Opal Marie (Walter) Dunham of Van Wert and Karla (Danny) Routt of Cavett; five grandchildren, Jason Couts, Joshua Couts, Erik Placke, Robert Placke and Calvin Placke, and two great-grandchildren, Ashlynn Couts and Chamberlynn Couts.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew Couts in 1980.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, the Rev. Darryl Ramey officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Ridge Township.
Calling hours are 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Van Wert Victory Church.
PAULDING - Robert G. Free
Died: Saturday, January 18, 2003
Age: 79
PAULDING - Robert G. Free, 79, died at 1:24 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at Paulding County Hospital, Paulding, shortly after admission.
He was born Jan. 20, 1923, in Williams County, the son of the late Harry and Eva Rose (Fritch) Free. On June 18, 1949, he married Rose Santo, who preceded him in death on Jan. 5, 1982. On May 20, 1983, he married Margaret Froelich Keller, who survives in Paulding.
Mr. Free, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, retired from GM Powertrain of Defiance in 1985 after 37 years of employment.
Other survivors include:
Son - Alan (Ann) Free of Paulding
Daughters - Teresa Dempsey, Mary (Don) Howard, Ann (Corey) Walker and Christine (Dave) Albert, all of Paulding
Sister - Mary Kimpel of Edgerton
Stepsons - Steve (Cathy) Keller of Coldwater, Mich., Al (Paula) Keller and Neal (Cathy Jo) Keller, both of Defiance
Stepdaughter - Teresa (Larry) Ellis of Avilla, Ind.
Nine grandchildren, 10 stepgrandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren also survive.
He was preceded in death by one son, Stephen Free in 1957, one brother, Jim Free, and a sister, Betty Lehman.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulding, the Rev. G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding, with military graveside rites conducted by Paulding VFW Post 587.
Calling hours are 4-9 p.m. Tuesday and 8-10 a.m. Wednesday at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding, where a wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Jeffrey Allen Johnson
Died: Saturday, January 18, 2003
Age: 32
Jeffrey Allen Johnson, 32, of Van Wert died at 10:23 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at Van Wert County Hospital.
He was born Sept. 2, 1970, in Vigo County, Ind., the son of Billy G. and Mary C. (Burger) Johnson of Willshire. On Sept. 13, 2001, he married Dena Dolt, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Johnson, a 1988 graduate of Vantage Career Center, was employed at Bruco Industries, New Haven, Ind.
Other survivors include one son, Gregory Johnson of Bryan; two daughters, Lilie Johnson of Bryan and Faith Johnson of Van Wert; two stepdaughters, Courtney Bartley and Shelbie Bartley, both of Van Wert; one stepson, Connor Bartley of Van Wert; two brothers, Tony Johnson of Defiance and Daniel Johnson of San Diego, Calif.; one sister, Rebecca Johnson of Willshire, and grandparents, Carl and Helen Johnson of Jasonville, Ind.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, the Rev. David Layton of Mt. Zion Bible Church officiating.
Calling hours are 10 a.m. to time of service Thursday at the funeral home.
