Nov. 19, 1963-Feb. 16, 2013

Patty Ann Wittler, 49, of Hudson, Ind., went home to be with her Lord and savior on Saturday, at her home after a four year battle with cancer.

She was born Nov. 19, 1963, in Coldwater, Mich., to Richard and Sara (Hornbrook) Smith, who survive in Fremont, Ind.

On July 20, 1991, she married Rob Wittler, who survives at Turkey Lake, Ind.

Also surviving is her daughter, Jessica (Wittler) Kleman; a son-in-law Brandon; and grandson Evan of Elida; sisters Diane Benroth of Rimer and Debbie (Wayne) Grubbs of Sarasota, Fla.; brothers Tom (Diana) Smith of Battle Ground, Ind., and Mark Smith (Jennifer) of Fremont; and seven nieces and nephews and many aunts and uncles.

Mrs. Wittler attended Fremont High School, Purdue University, International Business College and Indiana Wesleyan, where she received her bachelor’s degree in accounting. The past five years Patty worked in various positions at Cooper Standard in Auburn. Most recently, Patty worked as an IT Budget Analyst where she was able to travel to Germany & Poland. Prior to that, she worked 13 years in the accounting department at Northern Indiana Fuel & Light Co. in Auburn.

She enjoyed gardening, boating, cooking, and entertaining family and friends at the lake. She especially enjoyed spending time with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson. She also enjoyed spending time with her sister and family in Sarasota. Patty & Rob attended Calvary Chapel of Stroh.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Stroh Church of Christ, 4540 S. 1100 West, Hudson, Ind., Pastor Gary Rifenburg officiating. With a meal to follow. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Teeters Cemetery east of Fremont, Ind.

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to funeral services Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family or Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.

Arrangements by Dale Johnson Funeral Home of Hudson.

Condolences may be sent to www.dalejohnsonfh.com.

Sept. 3, 1924 - Feb. 17, 2013

E. Louise Barnt Ditto, 88, of Spencerville and formerly of Delphos, died at 8:35 a.m. Sunday at Roselawn Manor in Spencerville, where she had resided for two and a half years.

She was born Sept. 3, 1924, in Delphos to Henry and Violet Armeda (Davis) Pavel, who preceded her in death.

On Oct. 9, 1940, she married Richard Roy Barnt Sr., who passed away March 6, 1975. On May 14, 1988, she married Kenneth Ditto, who died May 21, 1998.

Survivors include her children, Mary Lou (Roger) Rahrig and Donald T. (Rita Zimper) Barnt of Spencerville, Douglas H. (Connie) Barnt of Clinton, Ky., Anna M. (Mark) Linville of Roseville, Mich., David W. (Rhonda) Barnt of Metropolis, Ill., and Billie J. (Timothy) Voress of Lima; two stepsons, Clyde (Judy) Ditto of Elida and Tom (Pam) Ditto of Delphos; two “adopted daughters”, Cindy Fairburn and Brenda Goodman Klett; one sister, Evelyn M. Wrocklage of Spencerville; one brother-in-law, Bill Tuttle of Spencerville; two daughters-in-law, Jeanne Barnt of Clinton, Ky., and Phillis A. Barnt of Batesville, Ariz.; and 20 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by two sons, Richard R. Barnt, Jr. and Dennis M. Barnt, Sr.; a brother, William Pavel; and a sister, Pat Tuttle.

Mrs. Ditto was a homemaker and wonderful cook and baker. She was a lifetime member of the Monticello United Brethern in Christ Church and its Women’s Missionary Society and a “Prayer Warrior” of the church.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Monticello Church, the Reverend Andrew J. Atkins officiating. Burial will follow in the New Salem Cemetery, south of Monticello.

Family and friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville and after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Nov. 5, 1931-Feb. 15, 2013

Father Louis S. Heitz, 81 of Cridersville died at 9:32 a.m. on Friday at St. Rita’s Medical Center surrounded by loving family.

Born Nov. 5, 1931, in Fort Jennings, he was the son of Otto and Rose (Stauterman) Heitz, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by three sisters Mary (Virgil) German, Joan (George) Ross and Betty Grace; a sister in-law, Dorothy Heitz; and 21 nieces and nephews, 47 great nieces and nephews and 28 great, great nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by one sister, Catherine Heitz; three brothers, Robert, Frank and Ralph Heitz; and one brother in-law, Oris Grace.

Father Heitz attended Minor Seminary at St. Meinrads in Meinrad, Ind., and Major Seminary at Immaculate Conception in Conception, Mo. Father was ordained on April 6, 1957, in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Conception, Missouri.

Father Heitz had been a resident of Otterbein Independent Living in Cridersville for the past 10 years, where he continued his priestly ministry saying Mass for residents who were fondly known as his parishioners. Father also continued to administer the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. During this time, niece Jean (Steve) Hull and nephew David (Debbie) Heitz became an integral part of his daily life allowing Father to continue his service to the Church.

The following were Father Heitz’s Church appointments: April 24, 1957, assistant pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas in Lafayette, Ind.; June 12, 1957, assistant pastor at Saint Ann, in Lafayette; May 28, 1963, director of Catholic Charities; July 15, 1966, administrator at St. Joseph in Delphi, Ind.; Sept. 4, 1974, pastor at St Joseph in Elwood, Ind.; Aug. 1, 1981, pastor at St. Lawrence in Muncie, Ind.: and July 1, 1996, pastor at St. Joseph in Winchester, Ind..

On Wednesday, his body will lie in state at his home parish, St. John’s Evangelist Church in Delphos beginning at 9 a.m. Immediately following is a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Most Reverend Bishop William Higi, of Lafayette, Indiana, officiating and Father Michael McKinley of St. Joseph, Winchester, Indiana as homilist. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery in Delphos.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home, where a rosary will begin 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions will be used to say Masses for Father Louis.

Aug. 10, 1933

Feb. 16, 2013

Jack L. Myers, 79, of Elida passed away Saturday at Vancrest Healthcare Center in Delphos.

He was born at home in Rimer to Edwin “Ted” and Naomi E. (Sherry) Myers, who preceded him in death.

On June 6, 1954, he was united in marriage to Mary E. (Wreede), who survives in Elida.

Survivors also include one son, Tim Myers of Columbus; three daughters, Laura (Steve) Miller of Celina, Nancy Myers (Jeff Sink) of Findlay and Sherry (Greg) Jacobs of Elida; one sister, Ruth Wassink of Elida; one brother, Terry (Janet) Myers of Elida; six grandchildren; Angela (Kiel) Dennison, Alicia (Ben) Kehres, Nick (Karen) Jacobs, Andrea Wicker, Aaron Jacobs and Heather Jacobs; two step grandchildren, Scot (Kylie) Miller and Mat (Mandy) Miller; and six great-grandchildren; Peyton Jacobs, Mathew Miller Jr., Brandon Kehres, Samantha Kehres, Logan Miller and Lexys Miller.

He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Brandon Jacobs; a sister, Mary Lawrence; and two brothers-in-law, Bob Lawrence and Joe Wassink Sr.

Mr. Myers served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and was a Korean War Veteran. He worked for the Ford Motor Company for 33 years and was the building chairman of the parsonage and the church, superintendent of the church and taught Sunday School for many years. He was affiliated with many sports-oriented clubs and for several years, was the Elida Athletic Booster president.He established and coached teams in the Midget Football League in Elida, coached baseball and softball for 33 years and assisted with running the chains during football games for many years. He volunteered his time at the Lima Senior Citizen’s Center during bingo and also offered his free time at St. Rita’s Medical Center.

Mr. Myers was a member of the Immanuel Methodist Church in Elida, the VFW Post 9648 William N Witteborg, Sr. Memorial Post in Columbus Grove, the American Legion and the Lions Club in Elida and graduated from Vaughnsville High School in 1951.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Immanuel United Methodist Church, Elida. Military Grave Rites will be given by the Delphos Veterans Council. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery in Elida.

Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.

Jan. 11, 1920-Feb. 13, 2013

Lucy L. (Daley) Brickner, 93, of Lima, passed at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday at her residence.

She was born Jan. 11, 1920, in Lima to Pete and Mary (Pisanelli) Daley, who preceded her in death.

She married Richard Brickner on September 4, 1943. He preceded her in death on April 21, 2004.

Surviving are four children; Rocky (Bev) Brickner of Elida, Joe (Connie) Brickner of Shawnee, Kan., Nancy Taflinger of Elida and Patty (John) Singer of Coconut Creek, Fla.; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; three siblings; Tom (Pat) Daley of Findlay, Louie (Barb) Daley of Lima and Mary McMurray of Ventura, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a special son-in-law, Jim Taflinger; and three siblings; Frankie Daley, Vinnie Hughes and Bessie Kunkle.

Mrs. Brickner retired from Westinghouse in 1990. She was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 370 Auxiliary and American Legion Post 96. She was a volunteer for St. Vincent dePaul Society and a 1938 graduate of St. Gerard High School. She was a great mom, a great grandma and a great great-grandma. In her wonderful Italian tradition, she was the matriarch of the family. She never met a stranger and brought a smile to the face of all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her laugh and sense of humor were contagious and the stories of her life experiences left all who listened in stitches. But most of all, she was best known for her kindness, compassion and love. She simply never stopped giving. She will be dearly missed and never forgotten. Her love will live in our hearts forever.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday at St. Rose Catholic Church, the Rev. David Ross officiating. Burial will follow in Gethsemani Cemetery.

Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday at Siferd-Orians Funeral Home, where a Parish Wake will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis TN; or Lima Central Catholic High School.

Condolences may be expressed at www.siferd-oriansfuneralhome.com