Obituaries

2002

Virgil Huelskamp
 Virgil N. Huelskamp, 85, 610 Elm St., Celina, died at 7:10 a.m. Jan. 1 at his residence.
 He was born Aug. 25, 1916, in Coldwater, to Frank and Elizabeth Huelskamp. On Oct. 1, 1939, he married Mona Powell and she died Nov. 6, 1991.
 Surviving are a son and his wife, Jerry D. and Leslie, and a daughter and her husband, Judi and Joe Randall, all of Celina; a stepson, Dale Esteppe; a brother, Stanley of Lima; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
 Deceased is a brother, Cletus.
 He was the retired vice president  of International Upholsters Union and had also served as president and business representative of the organization. He was a lifetime member of Local 220 at Mersman Brothers, where he served as steward, secretary and president. He helped establish the Mercer County Labor Council and served as financial secretary of the Grand Lake Labor Council and president of the Ohio Labor Council.
 In 1997, he was recipient of a Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award and citizen of the month and volunteer of the month awards from WKKI Radio and Mercer Savings Bank. He was a member of Living Hope Assembly of God Church, St. Marys, and the Gideons.
 Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, the Revs. John Nunnally and Charles Hedges officiating. Burial will be at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
 Calling is 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
 Contributions can be made to The Gideons, Celina Area Visiting Nurses or Hospice.

Bevan Ellis
 Bevan ìChrisî Ellis, 70, 5521 Miller Road, Celina, died Feb. 6 at Community Hospital, Coldwater.
 He was born Feb. 9, 1931, in Celina, to John and Mary (Hole) Ellis. On May 2, 1985, he married Anita Morgan who survives.
 Survivors are two sons, Denny and Bob, both of St. Marys; four daughters, Cindy Bonifas, Lori Moyar and Becky Sell, all of St. Marys, and Sandy Sadler, Wapakoneta; a stepson, Jay Zizelman, Troy; three stepdaughters, Leslie Humbert, and Mindy and Krissy Zizelman, all of Celina; three brothers, John of St. Marys, Chuck of Celina, and Robert of Cullman, Ala.; three sisters, Hope Fetters and Linda Ross, both of Celina, and Delores Reynolds, Muncie, Ind.; 36 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
 Deceased is a son, Tommy.
 He was retired from West Ohio Gas Co., and was a member of Abounding Grace Church, where he served as a trustee.
 Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, the Rev. Rick Brosher officiating. Burial is at North Grove Cemetery, Celina.
 Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and one hour prior to services Sunday at the church.

Joseph Alexander
 Joseph F. Alexander, 73, formerly of 112 Stella St., Celina, died at 1:45 a.m. Feb. 7 at Celina Manor Nursing Home.
 He was born July 28, 1928, in St. Marys, to Joseph F. Sr. and Lillie M. (Place) Alexander.
 Survivors are two sisters and their husbands, Dorothy and John Hoenie, and June and Louis Goodwin, all of Celina; a sister, Alice Barger, Bluffton, Ind.; and a brother, Norman G. of Celina.
 Deceased is a brother, Robert L.
 He was retired from the former New Idea plant in Coldwater.
 Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Richard VanHorn officiating. Burial is at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.
 Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Isaac Mallory
 Isaac Thomas Mallory, stillborn, died at 10:43 a.m. Feb. 15 at Community Hospital in Coldwater.
 He is survived by his parents, Thomas and Tara Robin Mallory of Celina.
 Survivors are his grandparents, Ed and Sherry Tobin, Celina, Deloras and Tom Rish, Kenton, and Denny and Robin Mallory.
 He was a member of New Life Christian Center in Celina.
 Graveside services are 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Burge Cemetery in Montezuma, the Rev. William Lewis officiating. Burial will follow.
 A memorial service will be held at the church at 2 p.m. Sunday. Arrangements are being handled by Cisco Funeral Home in Celina.

     Earl Ahrens
 Earl T. Ahrens, 75, 1110 Sunset Drive, Celina, died at 3 a.m. Feb. 28, 2002, at Lima Memorial Hospital. Death was due to natural causes.
 He was born July 24, 1926, in Port Washington, to Herman and Ella (Fark) Ahrens. On Jan. 6, 1951, he married Madonna Bollenbacher and she survives.
 Also surviving are a son and his wife, David and Barb of Celina; three daughters and their husbands, Carol and Ken Gray, Diane and Don Norris and Denise and Randy Laux, all of Celina; two brothers and their wives, Herman and Lorene of Landsdale, Pa., and Ralph and Marilyn of Ossion, Ind.; a sister and her husband, Ruth and Eddison Klingler, Kenton; and 11 grandchildren.
 He retired from the former Mersmanís factory and Erb Lumber, both of Celina, after 31 years of service. He was a World War II veteran and a member of Celina American Legion Post 210.
 Services are 3:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Pauls United Church of Christ, Rockford, the Rev. John Fleming officiating. Burial is at the church cemetery.
 Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, and after 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.
 Contributions can be made to the church.

Mildred Granger

      Mildred Granger 85, formerly of Celina, died at 12:40 p.m. March 16, 2002, at The Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford.

       She was born June 23, 1913, in Mercer County, to Joseph B. and Frances ( Siebert ) Cordier. On June 23, 1934, she married Kenneth L. Granger and he died Dec. 11 1984.

        Surviving are a son and his wife, Dr. John K. and Beverly of Celina; two daughters and their husbands, Linda L. and Ronald Smith, Granger, Ind. and Gail L. and Trevor Wilson, Chardon; and five grandchildren.

        Deceased is a brother, John F. Cordier.

        She was a homemaker and a 1930 graduate of Celina High School. She was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church.

         Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina, the Rev. Don Ramsey officiating. Burial will be at Swamp College Cemetery, Celina.

         Calling is 4-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

          Contributions can be made to the church.

  Howard Craft
 Howard M. Craft, 79, 17370 River Road, St. Marys, died at 8:17 p.m. March 14, 2002, at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys.
 He was born Feb. 11, 1923, in Auglaize County, to Carl F. and Golda L. (McBride) Craft.
 Surviving with his wife, the former Marilyn H. Shimp, are two sons and their wives, Myron and Sharon and Joel and Sue, all of St. Marys, and two sons, H. Marion of Lynn Haven, Fla., and Reuben of Indianapolis, Ind.; two daughters, Trelia and Sarah, also of Indianapolis; a brother, Bernard C. of Crawfordsville, Ind.; a sister, Eilene Hauenschild, Cincinnati; three grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
 Deceased are three brothers, Warren, Wayne and Richard, and a sister, Frances.
 He formerly worked at Weston Paper and Reynolds & Reynolds Co. He was a graduate of St. Marys High School and a World War II veteran, serving with the Armyís First Armored Division of Combat Engineers in North Africa and France. He was a member of Walnut Grove United Methodist Church and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, both of St. Marys. He was also a member of the Auglaize County Farm Bureau.
 Private funeral services will be held at Cisco Funeral Home, Celina.
 Calling is 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.