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Joanne Niswander was an author

Posted by Staff on October 12, 2022 - 1:38pm

Joanne Miriam Vercler Niswander, 93, of Bluffton passed away on October 8, 2022. Joanne was born September 24, 1929 on a farm in Meadows, Illinois to the late Elmer and Naomi (Claudon) Vercler.  Joanne graduated from Chenoa High School in Chenoa, Illinois and Bluffton College.

She met Dean Niswander at Bluffton College and they married on August 20, 1950.  She and her husband Dean lived in Bluffton where they enjoyed raising their six children, were active with the community, church, and school.  In 1964 they moved to Okemos, Michigan. While there, Joanne was a secretary at Okemos schools, and later served as secretary to Lansing District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church. In 1976, they moved to Gibsonburg, Ohio where Joanne was a docent at the Toledo Museum of Art until 1990.  In 1991, Dean and Joanne moved back to Bluffton where they both volunteered for Bluffton College, traveling across the country as Alumni Ambassadors for nine years.  They were honored as Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna of Bluffton College in 1996 and received the first Ray Ramseyer Philanthropy Award in 2003.  

Section: 
Obituaries
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Home team at Steinmetz Field

Posted by Paula Scott on October 12, 2022 - 8:24am

Does the fall sports season seem long or short? High school athletes are wrapping up their regular seasons. See the Icon's Sports section for news on sectionals and seeding. PHOTO by Marvin Foster.

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BHS boys soccer seeded 2nd 

Posted by Staff on October 12, 2022 - 8:05am

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton boys soccer team was voted the second seed at the 12-team Tiffin Columbian Div. III sectional/district draw.

As such, Northwest Conference champion Bluffton (8-6-1) received a first round bye. The Pirates will host the Oct. 19 winner between fifth seed Milan Edison and 12th seed Mansfield St. Peter's Saturday, Oct. 22 at noon in one sectional final.

That sectional final winner then advances to the Tiffin district semifinals October 26 at 7 p.m. 

Section: 
Sports
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BHS volleyball overtaken by Mustangs

Posted by Staff on October 12, 2022 - 7:57am

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School volleyball team won the first two sets, but visiting backyard rival Allen East rallied to take the final three to capture their Northwest Conference season finale showdown Tuesday evening, October 11.

The tough loss dropped the overall Bluffton record to 13-8, and they finished 4-4 in the league to end up fifth in the nine-team league.

AE came from behind to win the 18-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 16-14 thriller, clinching it in a tight fifth set.

Section: 
Sports
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BHS girls soccer shuts out Cory with big 2nd half

Posted by Staff on October 12, 2022 - 7:53am

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton girls soccer team scored all five of its goals in the second half to decisively defeat visiting local rival Cory-Rawson 5-0 Tuesday night.

The shutout non-league victory upped the Lady Pirate record to 13-2. It was Bluffton's seventh straight win since losing at Riverdale 1-0 on September 10.

Meanwhile, the Hornet girlss fell to 4-11-1 with the loss.

Pirate Karson Hauenstein netted the first goal 52 minutes into the fray on an assist from Sami Scoles.  

Section: 
Sports
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Michael and Terry Downey celebrate 50th anniversary

Posted by Staff on October 12, 2022 - 7:24am

Michael and Terry Downey celebrated 50 years of marriage with an anniversary party at the Jones Mansion, Findlay Ohio.

Downey is a former resident of Beaverdam Ohio, while the former Terry Chidester has always resided in Bluffton. They were joined in holy matrimony on Oct. 15, 1972 at the First Presbyterian Church, Monroe Michigan by Rev. Paul Markman.

They are the parents of three children, Michael (Heather) Downey II, of Shawnee, Christian (Jamie) Downey-Thompson, of Bluffton, and Nicholas (Caroline Eastman) Downey, of Louisville Kentucky. They have 2 grandchildren.

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People
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