Obituaries

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J. Kurt Beach, 68, of North Baltimore died Thursday June 13, 2019.

He was born on June 4, 1951, to the late John J. Beach and Helen A. Beach (Emans) in Bluffton, Ohio. He would marry Rebecca S. (Huss) King in May 1970. They had two sons; Jeffery K. (Nicole) Beach of Forest, and preceded in death by their infant son, Jeremy J. Beach on Nov. 20, 1974.

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Betty E. Kantner, 88, died June 18, 2019, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton.  Betty was born March 21, 1931, in Pandora to the late Gerald and Lela (Oberly) Basinger.  On Dec. 16, 1951, she married Forest "Bud" Kantner who preceded her in death on March 16, 2015.

Betty graduated from Pandora High School and was a homemaker.  She was a life member of Grace Mennonite Church in Pandora and volunteered with the Bluffton Hospital Auxiliary. 

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Lynn R. Gilbert, 66, of Elida, died on June 16, 2019, at The Meadows of Ottawa.  He was born on Oct. 9, 1952, in Bluffton, Ohio, to the late Donald E. and Donna J. (Welch) Gilbert.  Lynn was married to Pamela K. Webb from 1972-1981.

Lynn had 31 years of service at Lima Ford Engine Plant. He worked 8 of those years at Cooper’s former Bowling Green plant. Lynn belonged to the URW, AFGM, IVOE and UAW.

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James Allen Ream, 70, died June 7, 2019, at his residence in Lima.  Jim was born Dec. 29, 1948 in Bluffton to the late Claude and Marcine (Ingalls) Ream who preceded him in death. On Feb. 23, 1969 he married Linda Williams Ream who survives.

Jim worked at Phillips Corporation in Ottawa was a member of High Street Freewill Baptist Church in Ada. 

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A graveside memorial service is planned for 11 a.m., Saturday, June 22, Ebenezer Menonite Church cemetery for Ruth E. Amstutz, 90, who died Sept.4, 2018.

Click here for her obituary posted in September.

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Timothy James Michel, 64, of Maysville, North Carolina and formerly of Bluffton died June 4, 2019, at Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, North Carolina. 

Tim was born May 8, 1955, in Allen County, Ohio to the late James Michel and Wanda (Buettner) Heffner. He was married to June Downing Michel who survives in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Tim graduated from Bluffton High School in 1973. After graduation, he drove tractor-trailer. In 1983, he joined the U.S. Marines Corp. Tim retired from active duty on May 31, 2004, and then served in the reserves until Dec. 1, 2013. 

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