Bill H. Haller, 87, died at 7:15 p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2017, at at Lima Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.
Bill was born Dec. 12, 1929 in Van Buren, Ohio, to the late Herbert and Vera (Pierce) Haller. On Dec. 14, 1956, he married Shirley (Lamb) Haller who survives. They were married for 60 years and had three children, Linda Rieck of Cairo, James Haller of Lima and Timothy (Gina) Haller of Lima; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by two sisters, Eileen Koehring and Jo Stonehill.
Former Bluffton resident, Thomas G. Clark, 59, of Fishers Ind., a 2008 Olympic referee and longtime leader within USA Wrestling, died on Friday, March 10, 2017, at home. He was born on Feb. 22, 1959, to James A. and Mary (Canaan) Clark in Bluffton, Ohio. His parents preceded him in death.
Former Bluffton resident, Phyllis Mary Bixel, 94, died Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Freeman S.D.
She was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Carlton and Erma (Sanford) Newton on Aug. 17, 1922.
Phyllis graduated from Western Michigan University in 1945 with a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and spent her first years of employment working at the Kalamazoo State Hospital, where her husband-to-be, James W. Bixel, was also employed as musical director through Civilian Public Service.
Julia A. Gable, 97, died Feb. 2, 2017, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.
Julia was born Aug. 6, 1919, in Hancock County near Garner, Iowa, to the late Otto and Amelia (Katter) Schroer who preceded her in death. On Aug. 6, 1941, she married Rev. Vernon Oppermann and he preceded her in death on July 28, 1958. She then married Karl Gable on Dec. 9, 1965 who preceded her in death on Nov. 21, 2002.
Steven C. Swank, 55, died March 11, 2017 at Bluffton Hospital. Steve was born Oct. 19, 1961 in Bluffton to the late Charles and Helen (Zuercher) Swank.
Steve was a 1980 graduate of Bluffton High School. He was the owner/operator of S & K Mower of Bluffton that he owned for 25 years before becoming a custodian at Allen East High School.
He was a retired member of the Bluffton Fire Department after serving over 30 years where he had served as a captain. Steve was a past member of the Bluffton Sportsman’s Club and the Sons of the American Legion.
Thomas G. Clark, 59 of Noblesville, Indiana, and formerly of Bluffton, Ohio, died at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
