Obituaries

Jane Hoffman, 89, died on Friday, May 27, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.

She was born on Nov. 11, 1926 in Lima, Ohio, to Francis and Lucille (Razor) Blosser who preceded her in death. On Oct. 11, 1947, she married Dallas Eugene Hoffman and he died on Nov. 24, 2010.

Janet Kay (Binkley) Sweigart, 73, died on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in her sleep.

She was born on Aug. 24, 1942, in Lima, Ohio, to  Charles “Big Ed” and Mildred (Garrison) Binkley. Both parents have preceded her in death. She married John A. “Jack” Sweigart, Jr. on Sept. 1, 1963. Her husband preceded her in death in 2009.

Janet retired from Bluffton Hospital as an ER nurse. She graduated from Lima Memorial School of nursing and had worked on the 1st intensive care unit at Lima Memorial Hospital. She had also worked as an oncology nurse for Dr. Sharon Cole.

Lucille Bucher, 94, died May 24, 2016, at 6:10 p.m. at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.  Lucille was born Aug. 20, 1921, in Pandora to the late Albert and Sarah (Hilty) Burry.  On Feb. 19, 1942, she married Victor Bucher who preceded her in death on June 11, 2006.

Jon R. Parkins, 56, died on May 13, 2016, at the James Center in Columbus. He was born March 29, 1960, in Bluffton, Ohio, to William H. Parkins and Katherine V. Parkins, both of whom preceded him in death.

Jon graduated from Bluffton High school in 1978, and later attended Malone College on a track scholarship as well as Ohio State University.

He was employed at Tower Automotive of Bluffton. He was a competitive track and field athlete and later coach of men’s track and field, girls’ softball, and both boys’ and girls’ basketball.

Dean D. Dearth, age 83, died on May 13, 2016 at 11:50 PM at Lima Memorial Health System, Lima. 

He was born on May 17, 1932, in Orange Township, Hancock County, Ohio, the house he lived in, to J. Kenneth and Mabel L. (Montgomery) Dearth who preceded him in death.   On Aug. 26, 1950, he married Sarah B. Willeke and she survives in Ada. 

Clarence Martin Kooker, 87, died May 11, 2016, at 5:55 p.m. at Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. 

Clarence was born Nov. 14, 1928 in Quakertown, Pa., to Clarence S. and Florence (Bleam) Kooker.  After the death of his birth mother, his father remarried and Clarence was raised by Helen (Ahlum) Kooker.  On June 30, 1951, Clarence married Mary Nunemaker Kooker who survives.

Clarence graduated from Quakertown High School in Quakertown.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Bluffton College and his Master's degree from Bowling Green State University. 

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