Obituaries

Gretchen O. Lehman, 91, of Pandora, died at 7:50 pm March 8, 2013, at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.  She was born Aug. 21, 1921, in Berne, Indiana, to the late B. Franklin and Nan Marie (Eckrote) Sprunger. On June 28, 1942 she married Richard B. Lehman and he died June 19, 1991.

Mrs. Lehman was a homemaker and had also worked as a cook at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. She was a member of the Pandora Missionary Church, the International Missionary Women, and was a charter member of Asi-No-Mas Club. She volunteered at Et Cetera Shop, Bluffton, and Hilty Memorial Home. 

James E. Bertsche, 91, of Goshen, Ind., died at 9:55 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at Greencroft Health Care after a three month illness.

He was born June 20, 1921 in Bluffton, Ohio to Harry and Emma Steiner Bertsche. He married Genevieve “Jenny” Shuppert June 9, 1946, in South Bend, Ind.

She survives along with three children, Sandra (Rod King) of Goshen, Linda (Jim Yoder) of Port au Prince, Haiti and Tim (Laura Gilbertson) of Morton, Illinois; a sister, Ruth Covington, and seven grandchildren. Local survivers include two first-cousins, Alice Niswander and Fred Steiner.

Marvin M. "Bud" Miller, 85, died at 5:48 p.m. Feb. 27, 2013, at Lima Memorial Health Systems. He was born on Aug. 25, 1927, in Lima, to Winson J. and Bernice L. Ackerman Miller, who have preceded him in death. On Nov. 4, 1951, he married Bernita L. Winget, who survives in Bluffton.

Mr. Miller served in the United States Army from 1945-47. He was a lifelong farmer, who also retired in 1983 from the Allen County Engineer's Office. He was a member of the Bluffton First United Methodist Church and the Farm Bureau. .

Frederick Fritchie, 90, died at 3:15 a.m. Feb. 26, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.

Services will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at English Lutheran Church. Friends may call one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.