1958 - Ottoville Obits

1-4-1958

Rosella M. Lane

1-19-1958

Vincent O. Wannemacher

            Vincent O. Wannemacher, 57, resident of west of Ottoville, was found dead in the basement of his home early Sunday morning.

            According to investigating officials, Mr. Wannemacher died sometime after midnight Saturday after he left work at the Ottawa Weather-Seal plant, where he was a night watchman.

            Mrs. Wannemacher called the Putnam County Sheriff’s department when she noticed the family car in the driveway, but could not locate her husband. Deputy Sheriff George Klausing went to the home and found Mr. Wannemacher hanging from a rope in the basement. Dr. A. P. Daniel, deputy county coroner, returned a verdict of suicide. Officials were informed that Mr. Wannemacher had been in failing health for some time.

            He was born at Ottoville on January 7, 1901, and was married on December 28, 1946, to Rosemary Schaffer. He is survived by his wife; two children, Louise and John, at home; three brothers, Sylvester and Leo, of Ottoville, and Lawrence, of Ottawa; and two sisters, Mrs. Matt Schumacher, of Ottawa, and Mrs. Flo Cassel, of Toledo.

            Funeral services were held in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, Wednesday morning at nine o’clock. The Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, officiated. Burial was made in the parish cemetery.

3-6-1958

John J. Brickner

John J. Brickner, 55, Ottoville farmer, died at 1:30 Thursday afternoon of last week in St., Rita’s Hospital, Lima, following a serious illness of one day.

Mr. Brickner was born at Ottoville on July 31, 1902 and was married to Philomena Warnecke on May 20, 1931.

He is survived by his wife; five daughters, Sister Mary Lucinda, C.PP.S., of Columbus Grove; Mrs. Lauretta Kroeger, of Landeck; Doris Ann, Rose Marie and Carolyn, at home; five sons, Walter, of Ottoville; Clifford, of Delphos; and Ralph, Steven and John, at home; two grandchildren; four brothers, Andrew, of Greensburg township; Joseph, of Delphos; and George and Leo, of Ottoville; and a sister, Mrs. Armella Deitering, of Wapakoneta.

Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, officiated at services in the church Monday morning at 9:30. Burial will be made in the church cemetery.

3-14-1958

Louise M. Schmitt

            Funeral services were held in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, Tuesday morning at 9:30 for Mrs. Louise M. Schmitt, 82, who died at the home of her daughter Friday afternoon at four o’clock. Her death followed an extended illness.

            Mrs. Schmitt was born at Ottoville on July 3, 1875, and was married to Peter Schmitt who preceded her in death in 1918.

            She is survived by four sons, Joseph Schmitt, of Ottawa; Sylvester, of River Rouge, Mich.; Eugene, of Muskegon, Mich.; and Elmer, of Ottoville; six daughters, Mrs. William Weber, of Brooksville, Fla.; Mrs. Frank Korte, Ottawa; Mrs. Andrew Altenburger, Mrs. Robert Fortener, Mrs. Carl Greulich, and Mrs. Joseph Honigford, all of Ottoville; 52 grandchildren; 183 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Albert and William Perrin, both of Ottoville.

            The Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, pastor of the Ottoville parish church, officiated at the services. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

3-25-1958

Kathryn Plescher

            Mrs. Kathryn Plescher, 85, resident of Ottoville, died in St. Rita’s hospital, Lima, at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning after a serious illness of one month.

            She was born at Ottoville on March 12, 1873, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Bendele. She was married to Albert Zahner who died in 1909, and she was also married to John Plescher who preceded her in death in 1936.

            She is survived by three sons, Albert Zahner, of Toledo; Dr. Frank Zahner, of Ottoville; and Herbert Plescher, of Ottoville; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, Andrew Bendele, of Ottoville; and Leo Bendele, of Delphos; five sisters, Mrs. John Wieging and Mrs. Frank Wieging, both of Ft. Jennings; Mrs. Barbara Maurer and Mrs. Anna Kehres, of Delphos; and Mrs. Tillie Giesken, of Chesaning, Mich.

            She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville, and the Alter Rosary Society of the parish.

            Funeral services will be held in the Ottoville parish church Friday morning at 9:30. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, the pastor will officiate. Burial will be made in the church cemetery.

3-26-1958

Aloysius Rellinger

Brother of local resident dies

Word has been received hear of the death of Al Relllinger, of Toledo, former Ottoville resident. Mr. Rellinger or passed away suddenly Wednesday evening, March 26, following a heart attack.

He is survived by his widow, Isabel, and a sister, Mrs. Joseph Brinkman, W. 4th St., Delphos, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Rellinger will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Toledo on Saturday, March 29, at 9:30 AM and burial will be in the Catholic cemetery there.

3-29-1958

Anna C. Hedrick

            Mrs. Anna C. Hedrick, Dewey Lake, Dowagiac, Mich., resident, died Saturday evening, March 29, in the Lee Memorial Hospital, where she had been a patient for the past six days.

            She was born January 5, 1884, in Ottoville, the daughter of Henry and Mary Utrup. She was married to George H. Hedrick on December 21, 1915 in Toledo. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Silver Creek.

            Besides her husband she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Wannemacher, of Columbus; Mrs. Rose Martin, of Ft. Jennings; and Mrs. Emma Kelnley, of Delphos; three brothers, Henry Utrup, of Sister Lakes, Mich.; and Frank and Albert Utrup, both of Ottoville.

            Funeral services were held Wednesday morning of last week at 10 o’clock in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Father Phillip Cook officiating. Burial was made in the Sacred Heart cemetery.

            Mrs. Elizabeth Wannemacher and son, Louis, of Columbus and Mrs. Rose Martin, Frank Utrup, and Mrs. And Mrs. Alphonse Utrup of Ft. Jennings, attended the funeral.

4-30-1958

Charles H. Wurst

            Requiem High Mass will be sung at 11 a.m. Saturday morning in St. Gerard’s Catholic Church for Charles Henry Wurst, 77, 1017 N. Elizabeth, who died at 4 p.m. Wednesday at his home. He died suddenly following a heart attack.

            Rev. Vincent Kelly C. SS. R will celebrate and burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery. The Holy Name Society and Parish Rosary will be recited at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Cantwell-Sweet Mortuary. The body will remain at the Mortuary until time for services.

Mr. Wurst, a retired bricklayer, was a native of Ottoville, Ohio. He was born Feb. 23, 1881, and resided in Lima for the last 50 years. He was a member of the St. Gerard's Catholic Church.

In addition to his wife, Bernadine, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Dwight Eversole, 190 E. Kildare: three sons, Ralph C. Wurst, 1258 N. West: Dr. Harold A. Wurst, Bartlesville, Okla.: Dr. Clarence A. Wurst, Springfield, Miss., and 17 grandchildren.

5-1-1958

William H. Perrin

            William H. Perrin. 75, retired laborer and lifelong resident of Ottoville, died Thursday afternoon of last week in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, following an illness of six years.

            He was born at Ottoville on October 11, 1882. On November 18, 1914 he was married to Helen Weber.

            Surviving with his wife are a son, Joseph, of Ottoville; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph Fleming, of Lima; nine grandchildren; and a brother, Albert Perrin, of Ottoville.

            Mr. Perrin was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society of the parish.

            Funeral services were held in the Ottoville church Monday morning at 9:30. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, officiated. Burial was made in the church cemetery.       

Clara L. Grothouse

            Funeral services were held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church, Delphos, for Mrs. Clara L. Grothouse, 76, Delphos, who died on Wednesday of last week in St. Rita’s hospital.

            A native of Ottoville, she was born January 12, 1882. She married Frank Grothouse on June 5, 1907, and he is deceased. Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

5-2-1958

Henry J. Bensman

Continental Man Killed By Train

            Investigation was completed Saturday in the death of a Continental man whose station wagon was struck by a freight train here Friday.

            The vehicle driven by Henry J. Bensman, 68, a foreman at the Raabe Grain Company, was hit an demolished as it lacked only 18 inches of clearing the railroad crossing. Bensman was thrown 65 feet along the tracks and was killed instantly.

            Injured and in serious condition in Defiance City Hospital as a result of the crash a passenger who was in the station wagon. Miss Ruth Ream, 64, of Continental, an employee at the Raabe Company.

            According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s department, the two had left the grain company at 11:25 a.m. in the station wagon to eat lunch.

            As the vehicle crossed the three-track Sixth St. crossing, protected by signs only, it was hit by an east bound freight train traveling at 50 miles per hour.

            Dr. Charles Kidd, acting coroner, ruled the death was accidental and resulted from a skull fracture and body lacerations. Miss Ream sustained a fractured arm, internal injuries, and mouth cuts.

            Born March 1, 1890 in Ottoville, Mr. Bensman was a son of Joseph A. and Rosa (Bendele) Bensman. He resided in Putnam County all his life and had lived in Continental since 1931.

            On June 1, 1915, he married Odelia Miller, who survives. Also surviving are son, Herbert, of Belle Center; two daughters, Miss Hildegard Bensman and Mrs. John (Geraldine) Houck, both of Holgate; Mrs. Richard (Gertrude) Deaubler, Ridgeway; Mrs. Mac (Agnes) Shadle, of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Mrs. Robert (Bernadine) Houck, Continental; brothers, S. J. Bensman, Lima; Edward, of New Haven, Ind.; I. J. Bensman, Palmdale, Calif.; sisters, Mrs. Charles (Helen) Ricker, of Ft. Jennings; Mrs. John (Rose) Sholl, Mrs. Wayne (Monica) Slater and Mrs. Bernard (Veronica) Stoody all of Ft. Wayne; Mrs. Frank (Catherine) Hohlbein, of Ottoville; and Mrs. Alfred (Barbara) Hutt, of Botkins; and 20 grandchildren.

            Mr. Bensman was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church, Continental.

            Services are at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the church. The Rev. Eugene C. Arnoldi will officiate with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ottoville.

            The body is at Walls-Walker Funeral Home where friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday. The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

5-27-1958

Alphonse G. Brinkman

            Alphonse G. Brinkman, 56, farmer of near Ottoville, was found dead in a field where he had been planting soybeans Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock. Mr. Brinkman was seen slumped over the steering wheel of his tractor by a passing motorist, who notified neighbors. Dr. P. A. Daniels, Putnam County Coroner, investigated and stated that death was due to a heart attack.

            Mr. Brinkman, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brinkman, was born on October 8, 1901, on the farm where he died. He was never married. Surviving are three sisters, Miss Verna Brinkman, who teaches at Ft. Jennings but resides at home; Mrs. Anna Schweller, Monroe, Ind.; and Mrs. Leona Smith, Columbus Grove; and two brothers, Fred, of Michigan; and Cletus of Landeck.

            Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10:30 in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville, of which he was a member. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz will officiate. Burial will be made in the church cemetery. The body will be at the Kolkmeyer Funeral Home in Delphos until time for services.

6-5-1958

Margaret Sanders

            Mrs. Margaret Sanders, 70, of west of Ottoville, died at 7:45 a.m. last week Thursday while enroute to Lima St. Rita’s Hospital.

            Funeral services were at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Ottoville. Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz officiated and burial was in St. Mary’s cemetery.

            Mrs. Sanders was born in Landeck on September 12, 1887. She married John G. Sanders on September 9, 1908, and he survives.

            Also surviving are three sons, Gilbert, Edward and Tony, all of Ottoville; two daughters, Mrs. Bernette Jackaway, Chicago; and Mrs. Margaret Grothouse, of Ottoville; a brother, John Thines, of Ottoville; a sister, Mrs. Frank Miller, of Ottoville; two half sisters, Mrs. Barbara Otte, of Ottoville; and Mrs. Rose Lewis, in Michigan; one half brother, Jacob Tithoff, of Delphos; and 16 grandchildren.

            Mrs. Sanders was a member of the Immaculate Conception church.

6-13-1958

Arthur Weseli

            Arthur J. Weseli, 58, of route 2, Ft. Jennings, died Friday at 4:20 p.m. at Lima St. Rita’s Hospital. He had been seriously ill two days.   

            He was born in New Breman on February 28, 1900. In 1925 he married Elsie Gelli, who survives.

            Other survivors include a son, Donald F. at home; two brothers, Fenton, of Columbus Grove; and Melvin, of Euclid; two sisters, Mrs. Evelyn Shepard, of Bradford; and Mrs. Vivian Dreier, of South Euclid.

            He was a draftsman at the New Idea Farm Equipment Company in Coldwater.

            Funeral services will be Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Kolkmeyer Funeral Home, Delphos. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ottoville.

            Friends may call at the funeral home.

6-18-1958

Bernard H. Liebrecht

Bernard H. Liebrecht, 78, of Rt. 3, Continental, died today at 4:30 a.m. at his home of a heart attack. He had been ill three weeks.

He was born May 17, 1880, in Ottoville the son of Joseph and Maria Liebrecht.

He was married to Flora Heidenescher, Nov. 10, 1908, who survives.

Other survivors include a son, Sylvester; a daughter, Mrs. Casper Vennekotter, both of Continental; a niece, Mrs. Mary Saum, of Ft. Jennings, a nephew, Joseph Heidenescher of Cloverdale; two brothers, John of Kalida and William of Ottoville; a sister, Mrs. Fred Krienbrink of Kendallville, Ind, three half-sisters, Mrs. Ollie Kastner of Dayton, Mrs. Lawrence Verhoff of Continental, and Mrs. Andy Bricker of Cloverdale: three half-brothers, Frank of Dayton, Arnold of Ottoville and Lawrence of Delpbos, and seven grandchildren.

He was a township trustee for several years, the director of Putnam County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a janitor at St. Isadores Church, Cuba. He was a member of St. Isadore’s Church and the Holy Name Society.

Requiem High Mass will be sung Saturday at 9 30 a.m. at the church with Rev. Melchoir Lochtfeld as celebrant. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The body will remain in the Fischer-McCrate Funeral Home where friends may call.

The Rosary will be recited Friday at 8 pm. m the church.

8-6-1958

John A. Plescher

            Funeral services were held in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, for John A. Plescher, 63, who died in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, on Wednesday.

            A farmer of northwest of Ottoville, Mr. Plescher was born at Ottoville on November 2, 1894, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Plescher. He was married at Ottoville on January 28, 1925, to Susanna T. Bohn. She preceded him in death on September 5, 1949.

            Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Rita Schmitz, Glandorf; and Mrs. Ruth Calvelage, of Delphos; two sons, Arthur and Robert, both at home; seven grandchildren, and a brother, Herbert Plescher, of Ottoville. A daughter, Marcy C. Plescher, died on 5-21-1956.

            Burial was made in the parish cemetery at Ottoville.

8-15-1958

Ralph Kramer

            Ralph Kramer, 60, Ottoville barber, was found dead in his home Friday noon. Following and investigation by county authorities, the coroner ruled his death was due to a heart attack.

            He was born at Ottoville on April 8, 1888, a son of Theodore and Anna Kramer. He had been a barber all of his adult life and continued to operate the shop founded by his father. He was never married.

            He was catcher for the Ottoville baseball team in 1915 at which time he was offered several opportunities to try out for the major leagues, but rejected those offers.

            He is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Vern Rower, Mrs. Fred, Muller and Mrs. Edna Kramer, all of Toledo; Mrs. Claude Cason, of Miami, Fla.; and Mrs. Charles Powell, of Delphos.

            Funeral services were held Tuesday morning in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, of which Mr. Kramer was a member. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

9-12-1958

Hilda Kehres

            Miss Hilda Kehres, 64, resident of Delphos and formerly of Ottoville, died at 1:45 Friday morning in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, following a cerebral hemorrhage. She suffered the attack the previous evening.

            A practical nurse, Miss Kehres was born at Ottoville on May 25, 1894. She is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Henrietta Evers, of Minster; Mrs. Frank Reckart, of Van Nuys, Calif.; and Sister Mary Reginalda, C.PP.S., of Brunnersdale; and a brother, Casmir Kehres, of Ottoville.

            Funeral services were held Tuesday morning in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz, the pastor, officiated. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

Henry J. Eickholt

            Funeral services were held in St. John’s Catholic Church, Delphos, Saturday morning for Barney J. Eickholt, 73, of that city, who died Wednesday in his home following a heart attack. Burial was made in the parish cemetery.

            He was born at Ottoville on September 26, 1885, and was married to Rena Weck on January 29, 1916. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son; 12 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two sisters; and two brothers. His brothers, John and Edward, reside in Ottoville.

10-12-1958

Jerome Rode

            Rode, 24, was born May 28, 1934 at Landeck. He was a farmer and was also employed at Suever Stone Quarry at Landeck.

            He was married August 17, 1957 to Dorothy Miller in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville.

            Surviving are his wife, an infant daughter, Annette Frances; his parents; three sisters, Mrs. John Trentman, of Delphos; Mrs. H. H. Koester, of Ottoville; and Sister Mary Antonia of St. Francis Convent, Tiffin; two brothers, Arthur Rode Jr., of Landeck; and Ronald Rode, of Landeck; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Gengler, of Landeck.

            He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, the Delphos Knights of Columbus and the Ottoville Church Choir.

             Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ottoville.

            Friends may call at the Kolkmeyer Funeral Home, Delphos, after 7 p.m. today.

10-21-1958

Rosemary E. Sanders

            Funeral services were held Friday morning in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, for Mrs. Rosemary E. Sanders, 33, who died Tuesday night of last week in St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. She was seriously ill for only one day.       

            Mrs. Sanders was born at Ottoville on April 29, 1925 and was the foster-daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Wieging at that village. On November 10, 1951, she was married to Joseph Sanders.

            She is survived by her husband; her foster parents; her mother Mrs. Zorna Logsdon, of Fostoria; and three half-sisters, Mrs. Joseph Perrin, of Ottoville; and Mrs. Carl Schultz and Mrs. John Tornow, both of Fostoria. An infant daughter, Cheryl Lynn, died in 1954.

            Mrs. Sanders was a member of the Ottoville Catholic Church, the Alter Rosary Society of the church and the Ottoville auxiliary of the V.F.W.

            The Rev. Msgr. J. F. Frommherz officiated at the funeral rites. Burial was made in the parish cemetery.

Anna M. Markward

            Mrs. Anna M. Markward, 90, died at the home of her son, Fred Markward of route 3, Delphos, Tuesday morning. The widow of George Markward was born at Ottoville on August 19, 1868.

            In addition to the son with whom she resided, she is survived by two other sons, a daughter; 19 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and a sister.

            Funeral services were held in St. John’s Catholic Church, Delphos, Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

12-19-1958

Edward Miller

            Edward Miller, 96, Ottoville, died at 9:15 p.m. last Friday in St. Francis Home, Tiffin, following an illness of two days.

            Funeral; services were held at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville. Burial was made in St. Mary’s cemetery, Ottoville.

            Mr. Miller was born in Fremont on October 13, 1862. He married Elizabeth Ockuly in 1886 and she preceded him in death. He was formerly employed at the Mersman furniture factory in Celina.

            Surviving are two stepsons, Dr. John Ockuly, of Delphos; and George Ockuly, of Marysville; and a brother George Miller, of Ottoville.

            He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the St. Joseph Society of the church and the Ottoville branch of the Catholic Knights of Ohio.