Obituaries

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Jack E. Earl, age 88, of Lakeview, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 8:24 AM at Vancrest of St. Marys. 

He was born on August 2, 1934, in Uniopolis, Ohio to the late Kermit and Hazel (Steele) Earl.  On August 5, 1955, Jack married Fairlie Hanson and she preceded him in death on June 5, 2022.  

Jack is survived by his three children: Steven (Linda) Earl, Sr. of St. Marys, Kathleen (Robert) Shaw of Ada, and Dianne (Ed) Ducker of Lima; nine grandchildren: Steven Roy (Jessica) Earl, Jr., Forest (MacKenzie) Earl, Rob (Brittany) Shaw, III, Sarah (Quinton) Schmidt, Adam Shaw, Danny (Tara) Kellermeyer, Wess (Brandy) Kellermeyer, Trey Ducker and Andrew Ducker; sixteen great grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law: Karen Kestle and Imogene Earl.  

He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Earl and a sister, Marilyn Dubenion. 

Jack was a ceramic artist. He has pieces of art displayed across the world, including in the Smithsonian Museum. Jack was the first artist in residence at Kohler Company. He was an Associate Professor of art at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). A former instructor of art at the University of Toledo. Jack authored a book of poems and stories, “Just For The Fun Of It.”  He was a member of Mt. Olivet Church of God in Christ, Lima.  

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Ronald F. Goshe, 84, passed away June 14, 2023 at his residence in Arlington.  Ron was born January 29, 1939 in Alvada to the late Linus and Margaret (Kessler) Goshe.  On November 25, 1961 he married Mary Eschenbrenner Goshe and she survives.

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Volunteer work included serving as Bluffton Lions Club president

James "Jim" Bemiller, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away on Friday, June 9, 2023. He grew up in the farm country of north central Ohio and lived in Mansfield for 47 years, before moving to Bluffton in 2010.

Jim was born on April 26, 1937, in Johnsville, Ohio, to the late Lee and Lucille (VanBuren) Bemiller. He was a 1955 Honors Graduate of Fredericktown High School and he enjoyed serving as an officer in Future Farmers of America, and working the family farm with his parents and siblings. He was a proud graduate of The Ohio State University and earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics in 1959. He went on to earn his M.S. in Rural Sociology in 1961, and an M.S. in Social Work in 1963, both from Ohio State.

While in graduate school he met and married the love of his life, Joan L. (Pence) Bemiller, in 1961, and together they built a strong and caring family. They were a loving team and enjoyed traveling, camping, supporting their children and grandchildren in their pursuits, and visiting with family and friends. Jim and Joan shared 52 wonderful years together until her passing on April 22, 2013.

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Conrad John Nuzum, age 78, went to be with his Lord on the evening of Saturday, June 10, 2023, with the love of his family surrounding him at home. He was born October 9, 1944, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, to Olin D. and Anna (Wilkinson) Nuzum. Later in life, Conrad met Judy Rottmeyer and married on February 22, 2007. 

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Hazel Evelyn (Dillon) Underwood, age 90, took her first steps on the streets of gold Friday afternoon, June 9, 2023. 

Hazel was born January 1, 1933 to the late John and Ollie (Cline) Dillon. As a child she was a member of the Perryton Church of Christ, where she met her future husband, Harrison. She graduated from Frazeysburg High School in 1951 and enrolled in the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, where Harrison was also a student. They married on April 19, 1952. Hazel invested her time in supporting her husband and raising their five children while Harrison finished school and began a preaching ministry that spanned 60 years. In 1961, Hazel began attending classes at night and in the summer to get her teaching degree, graduating from Ashland College (now Ashland University) in 1971. She taught for thirty years in schools in Ohio and Kentucky, teaching in elementary and junior high grades and later becoming a reading specialist. 

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Gwendolyn Lee Lemmon, 84, formerly of Delaware, Ohio, passed away May 30, 2023, at Willow Ridge - Betty House.

Gwendolyn was born July 19, 1938 in Buffalo, NY, to Harry and Ruth (Newell) Berrisford, who preceded her in death. 

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