William Dale Funk
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 68
William Dale Funk, 68, 522 W. Dicks St., Lebanon, Ind. died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003 at 11:30 a.m. at his home of natural causes.
He was born July 7, 1934, in Greenville, the son of Solomon Gail and Helen (Rex) Funk.
In 1959, he married Barbara Simpkins, who survives.
He is also survived by three daughters, Diane Hankins of Lebanon, Ind., Mrs. Bernie (Debbie) Abston of Frankfort, Ind. and Mrs. Mike (Jennie) Venis of Lebanon Ind.; two sons, William Dale Funk Jr. of Pittsboro, Ind. and Danny Funk of Lebanon, Ind.; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Barb Starrett of Sidney; three brothers, Jerry Funk and Leonard Funk of Sidney and Willard Funk of Jacksonville, Fla.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandson and a sister.
Mr. Funk retired in 2000 after 36 years as a plumber for R.T. Moore in Indianapolis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines during the Korean War, serving from 1952-1955. He lived in Greenville until the 1960s.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Myers Chapel of Memories in Lebanon, Ind. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, with graveside military services.
Calling hours will be Wednesday from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boone County Cancer Society.

Margaret C. Goffena
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 91
URBANA - Margaret C. "Mick" Goffena, 91, 91 Sterling House, formerly of Sidney, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 1:55 a.m. at Urbana Mercy Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 11, 1911, in Shelby County, the daughter of Henry and Henrietta (Schemmel) Weiskittle.
On April 21, 1950, she married Leroy Goffena, who died June 27, 1982.
She is survived by a daughter, Kathryn Goffena of Russells Point; a sister, Joan Miller of Leesburg, Fla.; two brothers, Edward Weiskittle and Donald Weiskittle, both of Port Jefferson.
Three sisters and six brothers are deceased.
Mrs. Goffena was a retired beautician from the former Bee Zee Beauty Shop in Sidney. She was a former member and past president of Sidney American Legion Auxiliary and a volunteer at Wilson Memorial Hospital. She attended Holy Angels Catholic Church.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church Tuesday at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Gerald Bensman officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.
No calling hours are planned.
Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Holy Angels Church, 324 S. Ohio Ave.
 
Cletus Rindler
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 84
ST. HENRY - Cletus Rindler, 84, a resident of The Gardens at St. Henry, formerly of Burkettsville, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 3:30 p.m. at The Gardens.
He was born Feb. 8, 1918, in Burkettsville, the son of Sebastian and Catherine (Bohman) Rindler.
On May 10, 1941, he married Delores Hoehne. She died Nov. 12, 1991.
He is survived by seven sons, including Ken Rindler and Tom Rindler, both of New Bremen, and Greg Rindler of Fort Loramie; seven daughters; 38 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers; and three sisters, including Mrs. Albert (Lucille) Hoelscher and Mrs. Jerry (Armella) Moeller, both of Fort Loramie.
A son is deceased.
Mr. Rindler was retired from farming and from Pax Steel Products of Coldwater. He attended St. Bernard Catholic Church of Burkettsville and was a member of the parish's Men's Society.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Matt Jozefiak officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m.

Elsie Wright Skillen
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 101
HOUSTON - Elsie Wright Skillen, 101, 4848 Dawson Road, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at Fair Haven Shelby County Home at 3:25 p.m.
She was born Aug. 20, 1901 in Houston, the daughter of Leander and Susanna (Short) Wright.
On June 13, 1959, she married Benson Skillen, who died in 1965.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by four sisters and three brothers.
Mrs. Skillen retired in 1961 after 40 years as a teacher with the Versailles Local Schools. She was a member of Houston Congregational Christian Church since 1919. She was a graduate of Houston High School Class of 1919 and had attended Anna Normal School until 1921. She was a 1951 graduate of Wittenberg University. She was a member of the Altruruan Club in Versailles for 25 years, the National Education Association and Ohio Education Association.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Houston Congregational Christian Church, with Pastor James Manuel officiating. Burial will be in Houston Cemetery in Houston.
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at Cromes Funeral Home and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Houston Congregational Christian Church.

Robert R. Smithers
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 78
DeGRAFF - Robert R. Smithers, 78, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 11:45 p.m. in his residence.
Born Nov. 23, 1924, in Rossford, Ohio, he was the son of the late Raymond Roy and Carrie Craine Smithers.
On June 17, 1950, he married the former Susanne Koch Shawan. She survives.
Other survivors include three children, Mrs. Daniel (Lisa) Smithers and Mrs. Michael (Sarah) Minnich, both of DeGraff and Mrs. Al (Lisbeth "Betsy") Wharton of Lewis Center, Ohio; a foster daughter, Mrs. Tom Marrion (Helene) Paxton of New Jersey and 12 grandchildren.
Two sisters and one brother preceded him in death.
A 1942 graduate of Rossford High School, he attended Bowling Green State University. He transferred to the Ohio State University where he earned his bachelor's of science degree n agricultural science. He graduated summa cum laude in 1950.
It was at the Ohio State University that he began his career teaching Rural Sociology. While at the Ohio State University he helped establish the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
In 1952 the Smithers moved to the family homestead, Rollicking Hills Farm in DeGraff. In 1957 he and his wife founded Rollicking Hills Farm Camp. From 1957 to 1986, more than 5,000 young folks learned about farming, nature and conservation.
Mr. Smithers was employed by the Ohio Farm Bureau Co-operative from 1950 through 1958 when he began a long and distinguished education career.
He served at Riverside Local Schools from 1958 until 1986 as a teacher, chairman of the Science Department and principal. During his teaching career he received postgraduate college education from Ohio Northern University, Antioch College, Wright State University and Urbana University. Batelle Memorial Institute and the Ohio Academy of Science honored him twice as an outstanding science teacher. He also won several National Science Foundation grants.
Following his 1986 retirement, he continued working in education as a substitute teacher at for the Riverside Local Schools until 1990. He then became the Education Coordinator n for the Logan County Soil and Water Conservation Service.
As a dedicated environmental steward, teaching young and old about conservation of natural resources, he received recognition from the Soil and Water Conservation Service, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.
A member of the DeGraff United Methodist Church he served as the Sunday School Superintendent.
He also served tirelessly in his community on the Logan County Agrarian Club, Riverside Environmental Association of which he was the co-founder, the Ohio Alliance for the Environment and the Ohio Conservation Outdoor Education Association.
He also served as a volunteer with the Ohio River Valley Llama Association, the International Llama Association, the Buckeye Leadership Workshop, the Ohio Farm Bureau, the Ohio Bed and Breakfast Association and the Miami Grange. 
A member of the Boy Scouts of America, who earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America and a Scout Leader for the Girl Scouts of America.
In 2000 he was named Riverside Local School's Citizen of the Year.
In 2002 he was named Logan County Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
A community memorial service celebrating Mr. Smithers' life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Riverside School's Auditoria. Use the north parking lot entrance.
Contributions in his memory can be made to Riverside Emergency Medical Services, the DeGraff United Methodist Church or the Log Cabin Restoration Fund in care of Citizens Bank of DeGraff.
The Rexer-Riggin-Madden Funeral Home in DeGraff is handling the funeral arrangements.

Cleal Tyler Jr.
Died: Saturday, January 25, 2003
Age: 70
QUINCY - Cleal "Dusty" Tyler Jr. 70, Ohio 235, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 8:03 a.m. at Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy.
He was born Dec. 8, 1932, in Kalamazoo, Mich., the son of the late Cleal Tyler Sr. and Naidia (Berman) Tyler, who survives in Kalamazoo, Mich.
On. June 22, 1978, he married Doris Ann "Nan" Franke in Troy, and she survives. 
He is also survived by four daughters, Sherry Gibson of Illinois, Jenny West of Florida, Nora Thompson of Cincinnati and Becky Rowe of Texas; three sons, Cleal Tyler III of Sidney, Pat Tyler of Troy and Joe Tyler of New Carlisle; stepdaughter, Linda Gibbs of Union City, Ind; four stepsons, Eddie Schaffer of Piqua, Jamie Schaffer of New Carlisle, Scott Schaffer of Troy and David Schaffer of Fletcher; 24 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Elizabeth Crawford of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a brother, Dick Tyler of Portage, Mich.
Mr. Tyler retired in 1972 after 20 years with the U.S. Air Force, where he was an aircraft mechanic. He worked for Emery Worldwide for 13 years as a forklift driver and bus driver. He was of the Christian faith.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Rexer-Riggin-Madden Funeral Home, with the Revs. John Wilbur and Troy Gilmore officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Quincy.
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Richard J. Hasselbeck
Died: Friday, January 24, 2003
Age: 78
HILLSBORO, OHIO - Richard J. "Dick" Hasselbeck, 78, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, in the Highland District Hospital in Hillsboro.
Born Feb 23, 1924, in Cincinnati he was the son of the late Jacob and Elizabeth Landewich Hasselbeck.
He was first married to Yula Lear Hasselbeck, who preceded him in death. He later married Bonnie Dee Holt Hasselbeck. She preceded him in death.
Survivors include four sons, Peter Hasselbeck and David Hasselbeck, both of Sidney; Paul Hasselbeck of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Joe Hasselbeck of Cheyenne, Wyoming; two daughters, Mrs. Darren (Theresa) Hampshire of New Weston, Ohio, and Mrs. Ron (Mary) Zile of Sardinia, Ohio; one brother, Ralph Hasselbeck of Dent, Ohio, and 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents and his first and second wives, one son and three brothers preceded him in death.
Mr. Hasselbeck was an Army Air Corp veteran serving during World War II with the Flying Tigers.
He was a member of the Flying Tigers Association.
He retired from Alcoa in Sidney where he had been employed as an engineer.
According to his wishes there will be no visitation or services.
The Hope Miller-Thompson Funeral Home in Hillsboro is in charge of arrangements.
To sign the online guest book go to www.thompsonfuneralshomes.com.

Marcellus Clemens Holthaus
Died: Friday, January 24, 2003
Age: 88
FORT LORAMIE - Marcellus Clemens Holthaus, 88, Basinburg Road, Fort Loramie, died Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at 6:15 p.m. at his residence.
He was born Sept. 20, 1916 in Fort Loramie, the son of Bernard and Caroline (Prenger) Holthaus.
He is survived by a sister, Catherine Holthaus of Fort Loramie; four brothers, Lester Holthaus, Victor Holthaus and Anthony Holthaus of Fort Loramie, and Bernard Holthaus of Anna.
He was preceded in death by a sister, a brother and a niece and a great-niece.
Mr. Holthaus retired in 1979 after 34 years as a group leader with Copeland Corp. in Sidney. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served in the European Theater as a tank battalion sergeant and received the Bronze Star. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, the Men's Sodality and the Apostleship of Prayer of the church.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fort Loramie, with the Rev. Steven Shoup officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with full military honors. 
Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Loramie Rescue Squad or St. Michael Church.