1973 - Ottoville Obits

1-3-1973

Albert J. Brandehoff

Dr. Albert J. Brandehoff, 64, of 1672 Findlay Rd., died at 5:05 a.m. today in St. Rita's Hospital where he had been admitted at 7 p.m. Wednesday following an apparent heart attack in his home.

            Born Aug. 3, 1908, in Cloverdale, he was the son of George and Anna Honingford Brandehoff. He was married Oct. 17, 1942, at Selma, Ala., to Celeste Rekart. She Survives

            He was a doctor of veterinary medicine having graduated from the Veterinarian School of Ohio State University in 1940. He served as a major with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps during World War II. He was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church and the American Veterinarian Medical Association. He practiced in Lima since 1946 and had been semi-retired for the past two years.

            Surviving with his wife are one son, Michael of 568 W. Spring; one daughter, Mrs. Billy (Kathleen) Moore of Little Rock, Ark.; one daughter Dr. Bede Brandehoff of 1715 Milton, and one sister, Mrs. John (Georgianna) Uhrich of Chicago, Ill.

            Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in St. Rose Catholic Church by Rev. James Walsh. Burial will be at St. John's Cemetery, Delphos, with military rites conducted at the grave.

            Friends may call at the Cantwell-Sweet Mortuary from 7 to 9 tonight and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. The Rosary will be recited at the funeral home at 8 p.m. Friday.

1-8-1973

Man Drowns As Car Crashes In Ottoville Lake

Donald Hilvers First Traffic Victim of ‘73

            A 34-year old resident of route 2, Ft. Jennings, drowned when he drove his automobile into the state quarry in Ottoville at 10:10 a.m. Monday.

            Donald M. Hilvers died when he was trapped in his car after it broke through the ice and sank in about 10 to 15 feet of water. His body was recovered about two hours after the mishap occurred. He was Putnam County’s first traffic fatality of 1973.

            Witnesses told Sheriff Robert Beutler that Hilvers made no attempt to make a turn off Main Street in Ottoville where it makes a sharp turn, and the car crashed through a small storage shed owned by the Division of Wildlife before jumping into the water.

            They said it appeared as if the man was suffering a seizure and was holding stiffly onto the steering wheel of the car as it was speeding down the street. One witness, Ray Bigelow, estimated the car’s speed at 50 to 60 miles per hour.

            The car jumped the curb, ran about 500 feet before it crashed through the building and then landed about 20 feet from the shore onto the ice covered quarry.

            Mrs. Joseph Perrin, who lives close by, said she heard the crash and ran outside, she saif she saw th car breaking through the ice and going nose down, and a man inside attempting to crawl over the seat and get out, but there was no way she could help him. The car sank in about three or four minutes.

            Mack Wilson, a scuba diver from Ottawa, was called to the scene. By the time he arrived, the water was freezing over again and he had to break through the ice to enter the quarry. A wrecker was called and Wilson located the automobile in a matter of minutes. He connected a cable from the wrecker to the car and it was pulled from the water about 12 o’clock. Hilvers’ body was still inside.

            Mr. Hilvers was born at Ottoville on September 8, 1938, a son of Stephen and Veronica (Beining) Hilvers. He was never married. He was engaged in farming.

            Surviving with his mother, at Ottoville, are a sister, Mrs. Richard (Ruth Ann) Schroeder, of Leipsic; and five brothers, John, James, Robert, Richard and Thomas, all of Ottoville; he was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville, and the Holy Name society of the parish.

            Services were held in the church at 10 o’clock this morning, Thursday. The Rev. Louis Huffman officiated. Burial was made in the parish cemetery.

1-25-1973

Joseph Studenka

Joseph E. Studenka, 68, of here, died at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Rita's hospital following an extended illness.

Born March 14, 1904, in Czechoslovakia he was the son of Frank and Madgelena Pala Studenka. On Jan. 1, 1942 he married Ruth Griswold and she survives.

Survivors also include two daughters, Mrs. Connie Farmer of Manchester, N.H., and Mrs. Nancy Walworth of Flint Mich.; five grandchildren; one sister Mrs. Ann Youtsey of 124 N. Cole, Lima; four brothers, John of Cloverdale, and Charles, Louis and Steve, all of Delphos.

He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, served in the U.S. Army 1924-27. H was retired from General Motors.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in St. John Catholic Church Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ottoville.

Friends may call at the Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp Funeral Home until time of service

Parish wake service will be in the funeral home at 8 tonight.

1-27-1973

Ferdinand Vincke

            Ferdinand N. Vincke, 79, of Lima, died at 11:15 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient for six weeks.

            He was born October 26, 1893, in Ottoville to Ferdinand F. and Mary Schlagbaum Vincke. On October 26, 1921 he married Victoria Schnieder and she survives.

            Mr. Vincke was a former teacher at Effingham, Ill., and a school principal at commerce high School, Okla. He came to Lima in 1935 where he joined the U.S. Post Office and has been a letter carrier for 30 years until he retired in 1959.

            He was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of World War I.

            Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. John J. (Dorothy) Lugibihl of Lima and a sister, Mrs. Anna Giesken of Arvell, Ind.

            Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Cantell-Sweet Mortuary, Rev. Virgil Applegate officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery.

2-3-1973

Edward Bendele

            Funeral services for Edward J. Bendele, 65, route 2, Ft. Jennings, were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Louis Huffman officiated with burial in the church cemetery.

            Mr. Bendele died at 4:15 p.m. Saturday in St. Rita’s Hospital after an extended illness.

            He was born October 1, 1906, and was the son of Andrew and Mathilda (Sanders) Bendele of Ottoville.

            Surviving him are three sisters, Mrs. Richard (Marcella) Ankenbruck of Ft. Wayne; Mrs. Albert (Alma) Warniment of Kalida; and Mrs. Paul (Mildred) Nuttle, of New Haven, Ind.; and brothers, Norbert and Hubert of Ottoville.

2-11-1973

Linus P. Van Oss

            Linus P. Van Oss, 71, of Delphos, former resident of Ottoville, died at 1:45 Sunday afternoon in his home.

            He was born at Ottoville on March 28, 1901, the son of Theodore D. and Elizabeth Kiefer Van Oss. He was married to Martha Warnecke, who survives with three sisters, Mrs. Zita Gasser, Mrs. Joseph (Hilda) Byrne and Mrs. Thelma Rigdon, all of Delphos.

            A retired truck driver, he was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the VFW.

            Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. John’s Church. Burial was made in the parish cemetery.

2-13-1973

Harry Becker

            Harry A. Becker, 77, Ottoville, died at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Rita’s Hospital after an extended illness.

            He was born on October 7, 1895 in Glandorf to William and Bernadine (Leifkar) Becker. On June 3, 1924 he married Anna Uphaus and she survives.

            Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Kenneth (Dorothy) Miller, of Ottoville; and Mrs. Norman (Margaret) Schimmoeller, of Ft. Jennings; six grandchildren; one brother, Ben of Cloverdale; three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.

            Mr. Becker was a retired farmer and a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, the Ottoville VFW Post 3470, and the Ottawa World War I Veterans.

            Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the church, the Rev. Louis Huffman officiating, burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ottoville.

            The parish rosary will be recited at the Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp Funeral Home tonight, Thursday, at 8:30 p.m.

2-13-1973

Sister Mary Bonifas

2-20-1973

Wilma Wannemacher

3-22-1973

Emma C. Pittner

            Mrs. Emma C. Pittner, 93, Ottoville, died at 1:00 p.m. last Thursday in her home.

            Mrs. Pittner was born in Junction on April 4, 1879 to Andrew and Margaret Ott. She married John Pittner on October 22, 1905, and he died February 6, 1955.

            Surviving are three sons, Joseph, Andrew and John, all of Ottoville; three daughters, Mrs. Edward (Mary) Odenweller, Ottoville; and Mrs. Margaret Burger and Mrs. Gertrude Wiechart, both of Delphos; 15 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

            She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville and its alter-Rosary Society,

            Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Louis Huffman officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.

6-20-1973

Msgr. Frommherz Dies Unexpectedly

            The Rt. Rev. Msgr J. F. Frommherz, 80, died suddenly early Wednesday morning in St. Joseph’s Rectory, Ft. Jennings as the result of an apparent heart attack. He was the retired pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville.

            He was born in Rickenbach, Germany, on March 12, 1893, a son of Siamond and Marie (Mutter) Frommherz. He was ordained to the priesthood in Caracus, Venezuela, on September 23, 1916, and came to the United States in 1921, when he was assigned to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish at Ottoville as associate pastor.

            He was assigned to St. Mary’s parish at Cecil in 1922, and in 1933 he was named pastor of St. Mary’s parish at Assumption, Ohio, where he served until 1952, and during which time he directed the construction of two parish churches, one in Lyons and one in Fayette, Ohio.

            He was named pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish at Ottoville, in 1952, and served that parish until 1968, when he retired. Since his retirement he has been residing at the St. Joseph’s Catholic rectory at Ft. Jennings. He was elevated to the rank of Monsignor by Bishop George Rehring, of Toledo, in 1954.

            During the years Msgr. Frommherz served on a number of committees and boards in the Toledo Catholic Diocese.

            Survivors include two nephews and two nieces. One of the nieces, Miss Clara Frommherz, has been serving as housekeeper at St. Joseph’s rectory in Ft. Jennings.

            Mass of the Resurrection will be offered by Bishop John A. Donavon at 11 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church at Ottoville. Interment will be made in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Ottoville.

            Visitation will be at Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp Funeral Home in Ottoville after seven o’clock this evening, Thursday. The body will be taken to the church at noon Friday and will lie in state until time for services.

            Memorials may be made to the Holy Spirit Seminary, Toledo.

6-23-1973

Theresa H. Husted

Mrs. Teresa H. Husted, 89, of 217 N. 6th St. died Saturday in Memorial Hospital after an 11 week illness.

Born in Ottoville, a daughter of Carl and Suzanne Mohrbach, she was married August 2, 1901, to Carl Husted who died July 29, 1971. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and Ottawa chapter order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. John (Violet) Shipps of here, and two sisters, Mrs. Earl (Elizabeth) Madden of St. Petersburg and Mrs. William (Catherine) Robenalt of Cloverdale. Six sisters and three brothers are deceased.

Services will be Tuesday at 1:30 and given funeral home with Rev. Roy LeGrow officiating. Burial will be in South lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home tonight from 7 to 9 and Tuesday until 1:30.

7-14-1973

Richard Schnipke

            Richard G. Schnipke, 25-year old chief of police of Ottoville village, died at 8:10 a.m. Saturday from injuries suffered in a head-on automobile accident on U.S. 30, in Indiana, three miles west of the Ohio state Line.

            Indiana State Police said Mr. Schnipke’s car, which was headed east on U.S. 30, went left of center on a moderate curve and collided with an oncoming truck.

            The truck overturned and burst into flames but the driver, Donald F. Gaines, 25, Lima, escaped without burns. Mr. Gaines was treated for a broken nose and other injuries at Parkview Hospital, Ft. Wayne, and released. Troopers stated that Mr. Schnipke died of massive head injuries.

            A resident of route 1, Cloverdale, Mr. Schnipke was born in Lima on June 9, 1948, to Leonard and Pauline (Wehri) Schnipke. He was a graduate of Ottoville High School and the Institute of Criminology, Chicago, Ill.

            An active member of the Ottoville community, Schnipke was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society and the Kiwanis Club. He had been marshal of Ottoville for about one year and before that time had been assistant marshal at Ft. Jennings. He was also a member of the Michigan-Ohio-Indiana Law Enforcement Officers Association.

            Surviving him, in addition  to his parents, are three brothers, Donald, Ottoville; Ronald and Leonard at home; and sisters, Mrs. William (Eileen) Huffer, Sidney; Alvera, Lenora and Delores, at home.

            Funeral mass was offered at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the church. Rev. Louis Huffman and Rev. Sylvester Schnipke officiated. Burial was made in St. Mary’s cemetery.

7-19-1973

Bernard C. Horstman

Funeral mass for Bernard C. Horstman, 88, Ottoville, was offered at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Rev. Louis Huffman officiated.

            Mr. Horstman died at 8:1 a.m. Thursday in the Putnam County Nursing Home, Ottawa, following a lengthy illness.

            He was born on October 31, 1884, in Landeck to William and Elizabeth (Berheide) Horstman. On August 18, 1909, he married Anna Grote who died October 1966.

            Surviving are four sons, Cyril, Cletus and Ralph, of Ottoville; and Leo of Cloverdale; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Ann Bollinger of route 1, Oakwood; and Mrs. Rose Mary Wannemacher of Ottoville; 24 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Henry of Ft, Jennings.

            He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society.

            Burial was made in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

9-29-1973

Albert J. Smith

            Albert J, Smith, 69, Ottoville, died at 10 p.m. Saturday in his home on 551 Otto Street of an apparent heart attack.

            Born on May 8, 1904, in Kalida, he was the son of Frank and Lena (Kahle) Smith. He was married to Loretta Schulte on October 19, 1930, and she survives.

            Surviving with his widow are four daughters, Mrs. Alex (Mary Lou) Miller, Ottoville; Mrs. Victor (Doris Ann) Honigford, route 2, Ft. Jennings; Mrs. Robert (Virginia) Von Lehmden, Ft. Meade, Maryland; Mrs. Dennis (Bernice) Gerdeman, Columbus; 15 grandchildren; two brothers, Othmar, Columbus Crove; Frank, Kalida; five sisters; Mrs. Clara Best, Columbus Grove; Sister Mary Luis SDM, Covington Ky.; Mrs. Fred (Eleanor) Nordmann, both of Cincinnati; Mrs. James (Cecelia) Young, Kentucky.

            Mr. Smith, a retired farmer and feed salesman, was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, the Holy Name Society of the church. He was also a member of the Ottawa Eagles Lodge No. 2234.

            Funeral mass was offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the church. The Rev. Louis Huffman officiated. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

10-12-1973

Louis H. Hoersten

Louis H. Hoersten, 87, of Rt. 1, Rockford, died Friday in Van Wert Manor Nursing Home. He had been ill for several months.

Born Sept. 27, 1886, in Ottoville, he was the son of Florenz and Elisabeth (Kramer) Hoersten. He was self employed as a farmer prior to retirement.

Survivors include six sons, Edwin of Lima, Isidore and Harold, both of Van

Wert, Richard of Rt. 3, Rockford, Rodger of Sidney and John of Rockford; four daughters, Mrs. Floyd (Rita) Adams and Mrs. Louis (Elizabeth) Dugeer, both of Grover

Hill, Mrs. Russell (Mary) Bullinger of Cloverdale, and Mrs. Fred (Jeanette) Black of Payne; 23 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

His wife, the former Catherine Fischbach, whom he married on Nov. 25, 1915, preceded him in death on July 20, 1970.

He was a member of St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Rockford.

Funeral Mass will be in the church at 9:30 a. m. Monday with the Rev. Victor Pax, celebrant. The rosary will be recited at 8:30 p. m. today. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ottoville.

Friends may call from 7-9 p. m. today and all day Sunday at the Ketcham- Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford,

11-13-1973

Joseph Michael Jutte (Infant)

12-11-1973

David J. Krietemeyer

            David J. Krietemeyer, 79, a farmer of route 1, Cloverdale, died suddenly at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at his home.

            He was born on May 17, 1894, in Ottoville to John and Anna (Brinkman) Krietemyer. He was never married.

            Surviving him are five sisters, Mrs. Clara Wurst, and Mrs. Beno (Maru) Miller, both of Delphos; Loretta Krietemeyer, route 1, Cloverdale; Sister Mary Petronia, Lafayette, Ind.; and Mrs. Alex (Christian) Ruhe, of Continental; a brother Frank, route 1, Cloverdale.

            He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville and the Catholic Knights of Ohio.

            Funeral mass will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the church with Rev. Louis Huffman officiating. Burial will be made in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ottoville.

            Friends may call at the Kolkmeyer-Hemlkamp Funeral Home after 7 p.m. today, Wednesday. The rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.

12-18-1973

Cornell O. Martz

            Cornell O. Martz, 68, Ottoville, died at 8:45 Tuesday morning in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, after suffering from an extended illness.

            Born on December 14, 1905 in Delphos, he was the son of John and Josephine (Wahmhoff) Martz. He was married on May 6, 1944, in Ottoville to Loretta Brinkman and she survives.

            Other survivors include two daughters, Miss Ann Martz, Boston, Mass.; Mrs. Stephen (Elizabeth) Stechschulte of Continental; two sons, Robert of St. Louis; and Richard of route 2, Ft. Jennings; one son James died at the age of three; two grandchildren; and three sisters, Mrs. Lucille Wiechart, Lima; Mrs. Ralph (Helen) Pohlman, Delphos; and Mrs. Anthony (Rita) Goergens, Delphos; two brothers preceded him in death.

            Mr. Martz was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Ottoville and the Holy Name Society. He was a retired employee of the Baldwin-Lima Hamilton Corporation.

            Funeral Mass will be offered in the church at 11 a.m. Friday, Rev. Louis Huffman officiating. Burial will be made in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

            Visitation is after 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, at the Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp Funeral Home, Ottoville. The parish rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday.

12-24-1973

William H. Landwehr

William H. Landwehr, 76, died Monday at 1 a.m. in St Rita's Hospital.

Born Sept 14, 1897, in Ottoville, he was a son of Henry and Catherine Ricker Landwehr. He married Clara B. Merschman Feb. 18, 1925, and she survives.

Also surviving are a son, Norbert of Delphos; three daughters, Mrs. William (Leona) Fisher and Mrs. James (Alice) Youngpeter, both of Delphos, and Mrs. Harold (Helen) Garwood of Wi11shire; three brothers, Charles of Kalida and Henry and John of Ottoville; three sisters, Mrs. August (Anna) Koenig of Leipsic, Mrs. Carl (Elizabeth) Koenig of Adrian, Mich., and Mrs. Wilma Siefker of Delphos; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A retired employee of D.W.G. Cigar Corp., he was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Services will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in St John's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight to Harter and Son Funeral Home where parish wake services will be held Tuesday at 8 p.m.