Obituaries

Held a doctorate in Christian church history and American religion from Boston University

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Former Bluffton resident David Joseph Rempel Smucker, 71, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, died March 12, 2021, following a long and courageous struggle with kidney disease.

Click here to read a column titled "Remembering Dave Smucker."

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Ronald E. “Ron” Hackworth, 78, died on Monday, March 15, 2021, at 8:03 p.m. at the Cleveland Clinic.

He was born on May 14, 1942, in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, to the late Maynard and Rushie (Wright) Hackworth. On Oct. 1, 1966, Ron married Mary F. Smith who survives in Ada.

Also surviving is a son, Todd (Nicole) Hackworth of Dunkirk; two daughters: Michelle (Keith) Vossberg of Tampa, Florida, and Erin Swick of Ada; four grandchildren: Casey, Morgan, Gabbi and Garrett; and a sister, Donna Guyton of Ada.

Member of St. Mary's Catholic Church

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Alfred A. Hohenbrink, 95, died March 17, 2021, at the Meadows of Ottawa. Alfred was born Aug. 31,1925 in Kalida, Ohio, to the late August and Philomena (Avery) Hohenbrink. He was married to Ruth Beutler Hohenbrink who survives in Pandora.

Alfred was a self-employed farmer and truck driver. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bluffton, the Ottawa Eagles #2234 and Moose Lodge #199 in Lima.  

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Maybelle Marion Schifferly, 104, died early Wednesday morning, March 17, 2021, at Kenton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  Maybelle was born June 17, 1916, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Edward and Elizabeth Schoonover. On Dec. 23, 1939. she married William Samuel Schifferly who preceded her in death on July 15, 1988.

Maybelle worked at Bluffton Hospital for eight years and was a homemaker who did child-care from her home. She was a member of the Bluffton Missionary Church.  

Worked at Triplett, General Dynamics and retired from Nashville Diesel College

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Gareth “Jake” Basinger, 81, died March 11, 2021 at Venice Regional Hospital in Venice Florida. He was born June 2, 1939, in Orange Township to the late Lendon and Dorothy Basinger.

Jake was a graduate of Bluffton High School and served in the United States Army.  On June 8, 1963, he married Tommie Robinson.

Jake is survived by his wife, Tommie Basinger of Bluffton; two children, Gina (Drew) Chambers of Powell, Ohio, Scott Basinger of Bluffton; and five grandchildren, Alec Chambers, Andrea Chambers, Brady Basinger, Brett Basinger and Brien Basinger.

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Gareth “Jake” L. Basinger, 81, of Bluffton died at Venice Regional Bayfront Health in Venice, Florida.  Arrangements are pending at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services – Bluffton.

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