1951 - Ottoville Obits

2-11-1951

Gary Korney (Infant)

2-15-1951

Anthony A. Ruen

            Anthony A. Ruen, 44, a carpenter, died in his home at Continental at 2:45 a.m. Thursday of last week from a heart attack. He had not been previously ill.

            A son of Henry and Mary Ruen, he was born at Ottoville on October 16, 1906. His father survives in Ottoville.

            Mr. Ruen married Mary E. Breece on August 18, 1931 and moved to the Continental vicinity in 1941. Besides his father, he is survived by his wife and four children, James, Eugene, Norbert and Connie Kay, all at home.

            Sisters and brothers living are Mrs. Mary Felkey and Mrs. Dorothy Mesker, both of Delphos; Mrs. Clara Brinkman, of Lima; Mrs. Henrietta King, of Ottoville; Mrs. Frances Walke, of Cleveland; Albert and William Ruen, of Ottoville. Two brothers are deceased.

            Mr. Ruen was a member of the Continental Fish and Game Club.

            He belonged to St. John’s Catholic Church at Continental, where the funeral was held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. David Moore officiated. Burial was made in St. Paul’s Cemetery at Hamler.

2-20-1951

Mary Wurst

            Mrs. Mary Wurst, 83, of Ottoville, died in Lima St. Rita’s Hospital at 2 a.m. Tuesday. She had been a patient in the hospital since January 24.

            Mrs. Wurst was born September 18, 1866, a daughter of John and Mary Eberle. She married Andrew W. Wurst, and he died on October 1, 1943.

            Two sons, Andy, of Ottoville; and Isadore Wurst, of Detroit, survive. There are six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

            She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville where funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday. Rev. Henry Gerwert will officiate and burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

2-22-1951

Joseph J. Eickholt (Infant)

            Joseph John Eickholt, six-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Eickholt, of Ottoville, died at the family home at 5:50 a.m. Tuesday following a serious illness of three days. The baby was born August 15, 1950.

            The following brothers and sisters survive; Thomas, Robert, Gerald, and Jane. Also surviving are the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo. J. Eickholt and Mr. and Mrs. William Turnwald, all of near Ottoville.

            An Angel’s Mass was offered at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Immaculate Conception Church at Ottoville. Burial was in St. Mary’s cemetery.

4-4-1951

Frank B. Honigfort

            Relatives have received word of the death of Frank B. Honingfort, formerly of Lima, in Long Beach California Friday.

            Mr. Honingford was born in Ottoville and formerly was employed at the Lima State Hospital. He moved to California a number of years ago.

            Surviving are his widow Irene; four brothers, Edward, Cloverdale; William, Ottawa; J.J., Kalida; George, Lima State Hospital; two sisters. Mrs. Rose Brinkman, Cloverdale; Mrs. Charles Schimmoeller, Spencerville.

            Services were held in Long Beach.

4-10-1951

William H. Rekart

            William H. Rekart, lifelong resident of the Ottoville community, died at his home one and one-half miles east of that village at 11:50 Tuesday forenoon. He had been in failing health for three years and seriously ill five days. His death was caused by complications.

            Mr. Rekart was born at Ottoville on November 29, 1876, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rekart and at the time of his death was 74 years of age.

            On May 14, 1903, he was married at Glandorf to Miss Theresa Morman. She preceded him in death on November 17, 1917. He was married November 21, 1923 to Miss Regina Verhoff, who survives.

            Children surviving are, Arthur, of Fergeson, Mo.; Mrs. Paul Bullard, of South Bend, Ind.; Mrs. Otmer Wannemacher, of Delphos; Mrs. Albert Brandehoff, of Lima; and Mrs. Irvin Martz, at home. He also leaves 14 grandchildren; two brothers, Edward, of Norwalk; and Frank Rekart, of Van Nuys, Calif.; and four sisters, Miss Anna Rekart, Mrs. Al Fournier and Mrs. Joseph Acher, all of Toledo; and Sister Mary Joseph, LaCrosse, Wis. A son, Marvin died in 1944.

            Mr. Rekart was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Friday morning at nine o’clock. Rev. Henry Gerwert, the pastor, will officiate. Burial will be made in the parish cemetery.

4-25-1951

Nicholas Bedink

            Nicholas Bedink, 86, well known and respected Ottoville resident and former businessman of that village died at his home Wednesday morning at 7:30 following a serious illness of two weeks. His death was due to complications and infirmities.

            Mr. Bedink was born in Vienna, Austria, on December 6, 1864, a son of Albert and Anna Bedink. He came to this country in his youth and has resided in Ottoville since that time.

            On November 15, 1899 he was married to Miss Theresa Ricker at St. John’ s Church, Glandorf. His widow survives with four children, Mrs. William Looser, Mrs. Lawrence Brinkman and Joseph Bedink, all of Ottoville; and Carl of Detroit; 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Two children, Mrs. Louis Weber and Cornelius and his sisters and brothers preceded him in death.

            Mr. Bedink owned and operated “Nick’s” restaurant at Ottoville for a number of years and after retiring from that business engaged in the shoe repair business.

            Funeral services will be held in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville, of which he was a member, at nine o’clock Saturday morning. Rev. Henry Gerwert, the pastor, will officiate. Interment will be made in the parish cemetery.

4-28-1951

Gottfried J. Wannemacher

            Gottfried J. Wannemacher, 87, a citizen of Ottawa for a number of years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alfred Brinkman in Ottawa Saturday evening at 8:50. He had been seriously ill for four days.

            Mr. Wannemacher was born at Ottoville on February 11, 1864, a son of Joseph and Mary Wannemacher and had resided in this county all of his life. He was married to Amelia Boehmer who preceded him in death on August 12, 1949.

            He is survived by four children, Mrs. Joseph Rekart, of Delphos; Mrs. Sylvia Byrne, Hollywood, Calif.; Mrs. Alfred Brinkman, Ottawa; and Alvin Wannemacher, Toledo; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Henry Wannemacher, of Ottoville. Two children, Robert and Leona, four brothers and sisters, preceded him in death.

            Funeral services were held in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. Rev. Leo A. Landoll, the pastor, officiated. Burial was made in St. Joseph’s cemetery at Ft. Jennings.

5-12-1951

Clara M. Looser

            Miss Clara M. Looser, 67, of one mile south of Ottoville, died at 8:30 p.m. Saturday following an illness of one week.

            She was born at Ottoville on September 27, 1886, the daughter of Bernard and Mary Looser. She was never married.

            Surviving are the following brothers and sisters, Henry, of Dayton; Joseph, of Ft. Jennings; Mrs. Catherine Leis, of Ottoville; William, of Ottoville; Charles Looser, of Ottoville; a half-brother F. A. Schmersal, of Delphos. One brother is deceased.        

            Miss Looser, was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville where the funeral was held at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Henry Gerwert officiated and burial was in St. Mary’s cemetery.

           

5-28-1951

Veronica Miller

            Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in the Immaculate Conception Catholic church, at Ottoville, for Mrs. Veronica Miller, 79, of that village. Mrs. Miller died suddenly of a heart ailment at 10:30 p.m. Monday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. George Grothuse, Delphos.

            Born in Ottoville on May 26, 1872, she was a daughter of Mathias and Bernadine Eickholt. She married Martin Miller on May 24, 1892, and he died in 1935.

            The following children survive; Isadore, Delphos; Hugo, Duluth, Minn.; Stephen,
Roman, Bruno, Marcus and Wilbert, all of Ottoville; Mrs. Grothouse, Delphos; and Mrs. George Hilvers, Ottoville.

            There are two sisters and a brother living; Clara Eickholt, and Mrs. Caroline Hessian, of Delphos; and Andrew Eickholt, of Ottoville; also surviving are 33 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

            Mrs. Miller was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and its Alter Rosary Society. Rev. Henry Gerwert will be in charge of the last rites. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

           

Theodore Van Oss

            Theodore Van Oss, 82, Delphos, died at 4 p.m. last week Wednesday in Lima St. Rita’s Hospital following an illness of three years. He was the father of Mrs. Hildegard Byrne and Mrs. Velma Rigdon, Ottoville.

            He was born in Delphos on April 12, 1869. He married Elizabeth Kiefer of Ottoville on May 2, 1895, and she survives. Besides Mrs. Byrne and Mrs. Rigdon, two other children also survive; Mrs. Zita Gasser, of Delphos and Linus Van Oss, of East Liberty.

            There are four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Also living are two sisters and a brother; Mrs. Anna Kaple, Lima; Mrs. Elizabeth Vincke, Ottoville; and Joseph Van Oss, of Delphos.

            The funeral was held in St. John’s Catholic Church, Delphos, at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial was in the church cemetery.

6-9-1951

Frances Wurst

            Funeral services were held in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, Tuesday morning of last week. For Mrs. Frances Wurst, who died the previous Saturday at her home following an illness of 18 months.

            Mrs. Wurst was born in Bayern, Germany, on September 6, 1868, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Kaes. She was 82 years of age. On May 14, 1887 she was married to Henry D. Wurst at Grand Rapids Mich. He preceded her in death on July 7, 1931.

            She is survived by nine children, Mrs. Joseph Schwertner, Frank Wurst, Mrs. Norman Stokes and Mrs. Clarence Wessell, all of Ottoville; Mrs. Paul Stallkamp, Ed Wurst and Mrs. Leo German, of Delphos; Mrs. Alois Klausing, of Van Wert; and Mrs. Huley Reau, Erie, Mich.; 38 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Four children preceded her in death.

            Rev. Henry Gerwert officiated at the last rites and burial was made in the church cemetery.

7-15-1951

Richard P. Horstman

Ottoville Man Drowns as Plane Hits Water Off Cleveland Airport

Richard Horstman Sank in Plane, Three Companions Safe

            Richard Horstman, 31, resident of Ottoville, was drowned and three other Ottoville men swam to safety when their light plane zoomed off the Lakefront Airport runway into Lake Erie while landing at Cleveland, Sunday.

             Mr. Horstman was trapped by his safety belt in the rear seat of the maroon Stinson 150. Rescue attempts by five persons who dived to the plane in 12 feet of water failed to free him.

            Mr. Horstman and his companions had flown to Cleveland to attend the ballgame at the stadium. Piloting the ship was Robert Wannemacher, 35, Ottoville jeweler, who has had approximately 200 hours flight time.

            With Mr. Wannemacher in the front seat was Cyril Horstman, 41, brother of the crash victim. Joseph Van Oss, 28, Ottoville, was the fourth passenger, and he was riding with Richard Horstman in the rear seat.

            The quartet had left the Tri-county Airport on the Woodrow Gudakunst farm near Grover Hill shortly after 10 o’clock. The plane was owned by Mr. Gudakunst and was borrowed by Mr. Wannemacher for the trip.

            Mr. Wannemacher told Civil Aeronautic Authorities and John A. Doyle, Jr., airport manager, that the craft had run about 30 feet along the landing strip when he touched the brakes. The left wheel grabbed, he stated sending the plane into a spin.

            The plane shot into an inlet in the lake about 500 feet from the east end of the runway. The plane skidded along the surface of the water, stopping about 30 feet from the shore. It sank within three minutes, it was stated.

            Mr. Wannemacher informed officials that he opened the ships door as he saw the plane approaching the water. He, Van Oss and Cyril Horstman got out safely. As the ship began to settle he called to Richard Horstman to get out.

            Mr. Wannemacher added that he doesn’t know if Richard answered him or not. Wannemacher reached in and pulled at Horstman’ Finally the plane sank and he went down with it, breathing about a foot of air trapped in the cabin.”

            Mr. Wannemacher added that he stayed under for what seemed to about five minutes yelling for Horstman to unfasten his belt and tugging at him. When the air pocket finally filled with water he was forced to give up.

            Meanwhile, Robert C. Schiller, 27, and Frank C. Vituj, 25, airport mechanics, sped to the scene in the field’s fire truck. The plane sank as they arrived and Schiller dived in and swam to the trapped man. He stated that he thought Horstman was trying to free himself.

            However, approximately 15 subsequent dives by the two mechanics and two unidentified passersby failed to loosen the safety belt.

            Not until the plane was hauled to shore by a police tow truck 30 minutes later was Horstman freed. It was then found that he had turned the buckle on his safety belt inside out, and as a result it could not be released in the regular manner.

            The body of Mr. Horstman was removed to Charity Hospital, where doctors worked unsuccessfully for almost an hour to revive him.

            Mr. Horstman was born at Ottoville on February 10, 1920, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Horstman. He graduated from Ottoville High School and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of that village.

            He worked in Parkersburg, W. Va., and at Delphos before accepting a position with Artkraft Manufacturing Company of Lima last November.

            He is survived by his parents with whom he resided; four brothers, Cyril, Ralph, Leo and Cletus, all of Ottoville; and two sisters, Mrs. Rosemary Wannemacher, Ottoville, and Mrs. Mary Ann Bollinger, Cloverdale.

            Funeral services were held in Ottoville church Wednesday morning at 9:30. Rev. Henry Gerwert, the pastor, officiated. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

7-31-1951

Louis E. Leatherman

Louis Edward Leatherman, 70, died Tuesday at his home in Clarendon Township. He was born July 28, 1881 at Ottoville, Ohio, son of Jacob and Sarah Leatherman came to Clarendon Township in 1940. He was a member of the United brotherhood church. Surviving are his wife, Maybelle; three sons, Rudolph of lima, Ohio, Dayton at home and Raymond of Detroit; a sister, Mrs. Maggie Ruble of Toledo; and a brother, Charles Leatherman of North Baltimore, Ohio. Services will be conducted by the Rev. J. C. Schaull from the Vernor Chapel at 2 PM Thursday and burial will be in the West Clarendon Cemetery.

8-17-1951

Katherine Merschman

Last rites for Mrs. Katherine Merschman, 76, of Miller City, who died at her home here Friday from a heart attack, will be held at 9 a.m. Monday in St. Nicholas Catholic church here. The Rev. Herman Lammers will officiate and burial will be made in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Merschman was born in Ottoville Aug. 27, 1874. She was a member of St. Nicholas church. She was married to Frank Merschman who survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Aloysius Merschman, William and Harry of Delphos and Lawrence of Miller City; three daughters, Mrs. William Laudick of Delphos, Mrs. Ed Wallen of Lima and Mrs. John Krontz of Columbus Grove; one sister, Mrs. Mary Myers of Kalida; two brothers, Conrad Klima of Delphos and Fritz Klima of Ottoville; 34 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

The body will remain at the Fischer funeral home in Ottawa until time for services.

9-1-1951

Mary Miller

            Mrs. Mary Miller, 81, wife of Frank H. Miller, Ottoville, died in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, at 8:10 a.m. Saturday following an illness of six months.

            Mrs. Miller, the former Mary Moritz, was born on September 15, 1869 at Blakeslee, Ohio. On May 14, 1895, she was married to Mr. Miller at Ottoville. Surviving are her husband; eight children, Joseph and Mrs. Rose Recker, of Ft. Jennings; Mrs. Mary Wehri, of Kalida; Frank A. Miller, of Ottawa; Mrs. Lena Dickman, Mrs. Barbara Landwehr, Otto and Isadore Miller, all of Ottoville; 42 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Joseph Moritz, of Lima.           

            Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30 in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville. Rev Henry Gerwert, the pastor, officiating. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

10-7-1951

Carl Obringer

Former Ottoville Boy War Casualty

            Carl Obringer, Jr., 22, a former resident of Ottoville, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Obringer of Piqua, was killed in Korea on October 7^th, according to recent information received by the parents. The young man is a nephew of Arnold Lauer, Putnam County Treasurer. He had been in Korea about a year.

            The young man was born at Ottoville where he attended school until a change in the district transferred him to Hoaglin Jackson school in Van Wert County from which he graduated. The family moved to Piqua about four years ago.

10-8-1951

Catherine Weber

            Mrs. Catherine Weber, 83, resident of Ottawa in recent years, died in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, Monday afternoon at 2:40 after an illness of four months.

            Mrs. Weber was born in Van Wert County on January 1, 1868, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kiefer. She was married at Ottoville to Joseph Weber in April, 1888. He preceded her in death in 1935.

            Children surviving are, Edward Weber, of Mio, Mich.; Albert Weber, Delphos; Mrs. Edward A. Eickholt, Ottoville; Mrs. B. J. Wannemacher, Toledo; Mrs. Harley Keller, Swanton; and E. A. Weber, Ottawa. Two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Van Oss and Mrs. Mary Klima, Delphos; 41 grandchildren; and 51 great-grandchildren also survive. Three children are deceased.

            Funeral services will be held in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville Friday morning at 9:30. Rev. Henry Gerwert, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Ottoville cemetery.

11-6-1951

Sebastian Bendele

            Sebastian Bendele, 68, of Harrison, Mich., died at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning, as a result of injuries received Monday morning when he was struck by a falling tree while working in the woods.

            Mr. Bendele was born at Ottoville a son of Sebastian and Katherine Bendele, and in recent years was engaged as a lumberman at Harrison.

            He was married to Elizabeth Altenburger who died December 30, 1921.

            He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances; children, Leonard, of Kalida; Cleo, Harold and Walter, of Detroit; Herbert and Lawrence, of Ottoville; Irvin, of Hicksville; and Mrs. Lucille Lythe, of Van Wert; and 10 brothers and sisters, Mrs. Rose Bensman, Andrew Bendele, and Mrs. Catherine Plescher, all of Ottoville; Mrs. Mary Wieging, and Mrs. Brigida Eggeman, of Ft. Jennings; Mrs. Tillie Giesken, Chessaning, Mich.; Mrs. Barbara Mourer, of Toledo; and Mrs. Anne Kehres and Leo Bendele, of Delphos.

            Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 9 o’clock in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville. Burial will be made in the church cemetery.

Josephine Plescher

            Funeral services were held in St. John’s Catholic Church, Delphos, Saturday morning, for Mrs. Josephine Plescher, and former resident of Ottoville. Burial was made in the church cemetery.         

            She was born in Vienna Austria, and after coming to this country located at Ottoville, where she was married to Mr. Plescher. Following their marriage they resided in Delphos. Mr. Plescher died in 1930, and a son Edward and a daughter, Mrs. Larry Schwertner, preceded her in death. A son, Simon, survives.