John "Bill" W. McVetta, 85, passed away September 6, 2025 at his residence in Mt. Cory. Bill was born May 7, 1940 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late John and Lois June (Nonnamaker) McVetta. He married Rita K. Ranking on June 4, 1966, and they enjoyed fifty-two happy years together prior to her passing on March 2, 2019.
Calvin “Cal” Vernon Oppermann, age 80, of Plymouth, WI, went home to be with his Lord and Savior surrounded by his loving family on August 30, 2025 at the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice Center.
He was born on September 16, 1944 in Bluffton, Ohio, a son of the late Vernon and Julia (Schroer) Oppermann.
Calvin graduated from Bluffton High School in Ohio. He then went on to attend Lakeland College, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
FROM FACEBOOK__Music at the Gazebo coordinator Erik Reneker has announced: "We have decided to cancel the remainder of the Gazebo Concerts for 2025. The cooler evenings have greatly reduced the number of spectators.
"We will begin looking for bands to play the Gazebo Concert series for 2026 in January. The series will be from June - August."
Two dates were remaining on the schedule, September 11 and 25.
The gazebo is located on the lawn of Bluffton Presbyterian Church, 112 N. Main St.
"Ring! Ring! Ring!"
"Hello. Who's calling, please?"
"Hi! It's the year 1991--when this public corded telephone was installed in the lobby of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts!"
Editor's note: Does Bluffton have any surviving pay phones? Email [email protected] if you have a tip.
It’s my fourth anniversary as editor-owner of Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon. I chuckle to recall that I set out with a plan to learn news in year one and advertising in year two. Writing a news story has certainly come easier than tackling QuickBooks Online.
