Obituaries

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Carol Ann Fields, 85, passed away October 22, 2023 at her residence. Carol was born May 28, 1938 in Berne, Indiana to the late Francis and Ruth (Eicher) Moser. On August 16, 1957 she married Jack Fields who preceded her in death on December 23, 2020. 

Carol graduated from Bluffton High School. She retired from Cooper Tire in Findlay where she was a secretary. Carol was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Bluffton. She enjoyed working outside, going on walks, baking pies, gardening and restoring furniture. Carol and Jack loved going to dinner and their door was always open to their family and friends. She enjoyed cooking for others and when you came to visit, Carol insisted on making sure you ate. Carol and her husband spent over 25 years wintering in Ft. Myers, Florida where they made many friends and enjoyed entertaining them with fish fries. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

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Mabel Irene Howard, 95, passed away at 8:44 p.m. on October 15, 2023, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center

Mabel  was born November 10, 1927, in Bluffton, OH, to the late Otis Christian and Rhoda Katherine (Amstutz) Burkholder. On March 18, 1972, she married Estill "Eddie" Howard who preceded her in death on April 25, 2010.

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Donita Louise Luginbill, 82, passed away October 19, 2023 at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. Donita was born June 23, 1941 in Bluffton to the late Myron and Norma (Luginbuhl) Luginbill.  

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William "Bill" K. Place, 67, peacefully passed away October 14, 2023, at St. Rita's Medical Center surrounded by the love of his family. 

William was born January 26, 1956 in Lima to William and Helen (Clark) Place who preceded him in death. He later married Sally (Pulfer) Place who survives. 

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Ernest E. Porzelius, 94, passed away October 13, 2023, at 2:15 p.m., at Willow Ridge - Betty House.

Ernest was born February 1, 1929 in Secor, IL, to Walter and Catherine (Boeringa) Porzelius who preceded him in death. He married Violet Schwartz in 1957. They had 51 loving years together. Vi preceded him in death in 2008. 

Also preceding him in death is his son, Jim Porzelius (August of 2023), his brother, Fred, and his sisters Mary and Dorothy. 

Survivors include three daughters, Kathy Sawatzky of Little River, KS, Joan LoBianco of Bluffton, and Kris (Matt) DeVoe of Schoolcraft, MI; nine grandchildren, Melissa Sawatzky Hodgson, Tracy Sawatzky White, Nicole LoBianco Agner, Lauren LoBianco Brenneman, Tessa Porzelius, Kyler Porzelius, Leah DeVoe Westra, Sadie DeVoe, & Davis DeVoe; and twelve great-grandchildren. 

Ernie went to seminary in Chicago, IL, and met Vi when he was attending a conference near her home. That began a courtship through letter writing, which led to their marriage on August 10, 1957. 

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Claudia Diane (Ream) Schiffke passed away peacefully on September 17, 2023.  Claudia was born to Claude and Marcine Ream in Bluffton, Ohio. She received her High School Diploma from Cory-Rawson High School. She was married to Thomas Ury and together they had a daughter, Tammy. Thomas passed away in 1963. 

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