Obituaries

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Alice June (Hochstettler) Kliewer was born June 21, 1934, to Andrew A and Esther (Zimmerman) Hochstettler at their farmhouse near Bluffton, Ohio. She entered into the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ on June 23, 2026, in Henderson, Nebraska.

June trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord in 1941 at the age of 7, at a children’s meeting during their Church Bible Conference in Bluffton, Ohio. She was baptized at the age of 14 upon her profession of faith at the Evangelical Mennonite Church, Bluffton, Ohio.

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On June 9, the New York Times published a remembrance of Bluffton College graduate John Basinger, who memorized all 12 books of the epic poem Paradise Lost by John Milton. 

Basinger was an actor and college professor. He was married to film historian Jeanine Basinger. Beyond his noted accomplishment of memorizing Milton's work, he led a remarkable life which is explored in the New York Times piece John Basinger, Who Memorized All 12 Books of ‘Paradise Lost,’ Dies at 92.

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Chad Alan Shepler, of Jenera, Ohio, was welcomed into the arms of the Lord Tuesday, June 16, 2026. He was born on August 3, 1995, in Fremont, Ohio, to surviving parents, Tammy (Ivan) Spallinger (Lunsford) and Todd Shepler. 

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A Celebration of Life for Pamela Bricker will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Bluffton First Methodist Church.

A memorial service for Pam will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the church.

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Alexandra "Allie" Nicole Hover, 26, passed away on June 12, 2026, in St. John’s, Ohio. Allie was born on June 5, 2000, in Lima, Ohio, to Richard Hover Jr. and Amy Woolum.  

Allie graduated from Bluffton High School and Apollo High School. She was a sanitation supervisor for Bob Evans Foods in Lima. Allie attended the Lima Community Church. She loved nature, hiking, fishing, flowers and plants, crocheting, arts and riding motorcycles. One of her greatest joys was animals, especially her fur babies, Meeka, Shred, Moo Moo, June Bug and Bear.

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Pamela Ann Bricker, 78, passed away on June 9, 2026, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. Pam was born on August 3, 1947, in Crestline, Ohio, to the late Paul and Alyce (Fike) Morton. On June 16, 1968, she married Jay Bricker, who preceded her in death on April 23, 2017. 

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