Obituary Listing

Jan 1, 2017

Brian Douglas Netherland, 66, of Bluffton, passed away at his residence Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.

He was born Dec. 13, 1950, in Bluffton to Edwin Lane Netherland Sr. and Gladys Acree Netherland. He married Melissa Gerber in Bluffton April 18, 2009; she survives.

Brian was a 1969 graduate of  Norwell High School, where he was...

Dec 29, 2016

Neal Vaughn, 47, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 29, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne.

Born in Bluffton on July 26, 1969, to Howard Vaughn Sr. and Hedy (Lewis) Vaughn, his mother survives in Bluffton.  Neal married Cynthia "Cyndi" (Simmons) Hall in Wells County on Jan. 5, 2013; she survives.

Neal graduated...

Dec 27, 2016

James R. "Jim" Gerber, 86, formerly of New Haven, passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 27, 2016, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton.

Born in Paulding, OH, on Aug. 3, 1930, to Noah A. and Hulda (Rager) Gerber, Jim married Marjorie Zimmerman in Latty, OH, on June 3, 1951; she survives.

Jim served in the...

Dec 25, 2016

Donald L. Neuenschwander, 68, of Ossian, passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 25, 2016, at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Decatur, IN, on Mar. 16, 1948, to Carl E. and Hazel M. (Overmier) Neuenschwander, he married Judith A. Baker on Mar. 18, 1967, at the Zanesville United Methodist Church; she survives.

Don attended Lancaster...

Dec 25, 2016

Mary E. Frauhiger, 99, of Bluffton, passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 25, 2016, at Christian Care Retirement Community.

Born in Adams County, on Jan. 18, 1917, to George and Leah (Steffen) Ringger, Mary married Leonard Frauhiger in Wells County on Aug. 9, 1941; he preceded her in death on Sept. 21, 1975.

Mary worked at...

Dec 17, 2016

Wilson G. Shepherd, 77, of Bluffton, passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 17, 2016, at Signature Healthcare in Bluffton.

Born in Hazard, KY, on May 22, 1939, to Bazle Shepherd Sr. and Hettie M. (Monday) Shepherd, Wilson married Anna L. Childers in Clintwood, WV, on Jan. 31, 1970; she survives.

Wilson retired from Poor Bros. (Venture...

Dec 17, 2016

Gale L. "Smokey" Baller, 90, of Ossian, passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Markle Health and Rehabilitation.

He was born June 14, 1926, in Bluffton, to Simon P. and Mildred Estes Williams. He married Norma J. Allen on April 7, 1990; she survives.

A graduate of Bluffton High School in 1944, Smokey joined the...

Dec 14, 2016

Terry A. Beer, 61, of Bluffton, passed away on Wednesday morning, Dec. 14, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne. Born on Sept. 28, 1955, in Decatur, IN, to the late Arthur and Corabelle (Schug) Beer, he married the love of his life, Mary Jo (Harsin) Manley on July 13, 1990; she survives. Terry graduated from Bellmont High School...

Dec 10, 2016

Robert E. "Bob" Grimm Sr., 73, of Poneto, passed away Saturday evening, Dec. 10, 2016, at his residence.

Born in Petroleum on Dec. 28, 1942, to Harold C. and Dorothy (Ruse) Grimm, Bob married Judy (Bricker) Williams in Bluffton on Dec. 21, 1991; she survives.

Bob was a truck driver for 48 years, retiring in...

Dec 6, 2016

Wilda B. Cochran, 85, of Bluffton, passed away Tuesday evening, Dec. 6, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Born in Lafayette, IN, on Mar. 16, 1931, to Cyril and Celia W. (Staley) Rockwell, she married John E. Cochran in Swayzee, IN, on Dec. 31, 1952; he survives.

Wilda was 1949 graduate of Galveston High...

Dec 5, 2016

Gordon H. Greek, 79, of Bluffton, passed away Monday afternoon, Dec. 5. 2016, River Terrace Retirement Community.

Born on May 30, 1937, in Cincinnati, OH, to Harry and Eunice (Hill) Greek; both parents preceded him in death.

Gordon was a 1959 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University.

Survivors include two daughters, Melanie Mauger of...

Nov 24, 2016

Glenora S. Watkins, 70, of Bluffton, died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.

She was born April 27, 1946, in Coudersport, Pa., to Glen K. and Velma S. Hancock Connolly.

She is survived by a son, David A. Wilson of Bluffton; three sisters, Velma (Stanley) Prater of Bluffton, Nancy (Pete) Snow of...

Nov 23, 2016

Loretta K. Smith, 63, of Bluffton, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

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Nov 17, 2016

Lynn R. Frauhiger, 65, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 17, 2016, at Christian Care Retirement Community.

Born in Bluffton on Jan. 31, 1951, to Sylvan and Doris (Gilliom) Frauhiger, Lynn married Jenny S. Baumgartner in Bluffton on April 24, 1983; she survives.

A 1969 graduate of Norwell High School, Lynn later graduated from...

Nov 15, 2016

Homer E. Bates, 92, of Bluffton, and former Wells County and Huntington County resident for many years, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2016, at River Terrace Retirement Community.

Born in Nevada, Iowa, on Dec. 4, 1923, to Clarence E. and Gladys L. (Birney) Bates, Homer married Helen I. Roudebush on April 22, 1950; she preceded him...

Nov 14, 2016

Donna S. Helms, 69, of Ossian, passed away early Monday morning, Nov. 14, 2016, at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Bluffton on June 4, 1947, to Walter "Bud" and Mildred (McFarren) Campbell, Donna married Harry Helms in Geneva on April 10, 1983; he preceded her in death on Oct. 13, 1991.

Donna was...

Nov 14, 2016

Tom "Wally" Wall, 59, of Bluffton, passed away early Monday morning, Nov. 14, 2016, at his residence.

Born in Linn Grove on Mar. 1, 1957, to Norm and Bonnie (Stucky) Wall, Tom married Cristi Mygrant in Bluffton on Jan. 13, 2001; she survives.

Tom was a 1975 graduate of Norwell High School and attended Life...

Nov 12, 2016

Nancy J. Warthman, 51, of Bluffton, passed away Saturday evening, Nov. 12, 2016, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.

Nancy was born in Decatur on Nov. 18, 1964, to Donald Lee and Sharlene D. (Flueckinger) Warthman; her parents preceded her in death.

A 1984 graduate of Norwell High School, Nancy attended Hope Missionary Church in Bluffton...

Nov 11, 2016

Jesse "Jack" Charles Adams, 96, of Bluffton, passed away Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 and River Terrace Retirement Community at 5:55 p.m.Born June 17, 1920 at Hazel, S.D., he was a son of the late William W. and Katherine H. (Weelborg) Adams.He was an electrician an proud union member of IBEW Local 305 in Fort Wayne. He worked for Dix-Kelly and...

Nov 10, 2016

Naomi E. Martin, 92, of Bluffton, passed away Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.

She was born June 22, 1924, in Huntington County, to Virgil Jones, and Audra Bardsley Jones. She married Richard O. Martin Aug. 3, 1945, in Warren; he preceded her in death Jan. 9, 1999.

Naomi graduated from Jackson...