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Bluffton Forever: Could be Ohio's oldest New Year's tradition

Posted by Staff on December 30, 2023 - 7:42am

By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com

Here's your invitation to be part of what could be the oldest continued New Year's tradition in Ohio: Singing traditional German carols composed by David Rothen, a Swiss pioneer in rural Bluffton. The event is sponsored by the Swiss Community Historical Society.

New Year's Caroling, in German and English, takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31. Carolers meet in the lobby of Maple Crest Senior Living, 700 Maple Crest Court. After rehearsal, the group will sing in the halls of Maple Crest. Music scores will be provided and first-time carolers are welcome to join.

Section: 
Historical Bluffton
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PHOTO Happy New Year 2024 from the Icon

Posted by Paula Scott on December 30, 2023 - 7:10am

Happy Holidays! The Bluffton Icon will be in holiday mode through New Year's Day on Monday, January 1. Content will be updated with breaking news including sports and obituaries, but our office will be closed. Please continue to send information 24/7 to [email protected] and leave messages at 567-400-4266.

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Wilbur D. Willeke worked for Excello/Airfoil Textron

Posted by Staff on December 29, 2023 - 2:52pm

Wilbur D. Willeke, age 93, of Ada, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Vancrest of Ada.  

He was born on November 7, 1930 in Dunkirk, Ohio to the late Glenn and Hester (Wilcox) Willeke. On August 24, 1952 Wilbur married Wilma A. Boecher and she survives in Ada. 

Section: 
Obituaries
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Pirate swimmers fare well at Lima Holiday meet

Posted by Staff on December 29, 2023 - 10:02am

By Cort Reynolds

LIMA__The Bluffton High School swim teams finished a strong eighth in the combined standings at the annual, 29-team Lima Holiday Invitational Thursday, December 28, at the Lima YMCA.

The Pirate girls ended up seventh out of 24 teams with 132 points. Ottawa-Glandorf won the girls team crown with 270.5 points, followed by St. Marys (247) and Versailles (208).

Shawnee won the boys meet with 284.5 points. St. Marys was second (235) and O-G came in third (221). Bluffton ended up eighth among the 23 boys squads with 116 points.

O-G won the combined meet with 491.5 points, with St. Marys close behind in second at 482. Shawnee ended up third (451). 

Section: 
Sports
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Pirate girls basketball nips Kenton

Posted by Staff on December 29, 2023 - 8:01am

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton girls basketball team edged visiting Kenton 47-46 Thursday night, December 28, in a non-league battle.

Bluffton improved to 4-5 with the narrow win, while Kenton fell to an identical 4-5 mark after the close defeat.

The Pirate girls led 11-10 after the first period, and extended their lead to 24-16 at intermission as Macy Schaadt drained three triples. 

Bluffton saw its cushion sliced to 32-28 following the third quarter. Kenton won the high-scoring final stanza 19-15, but their rally came up a point short.  

Pirate junior post Ayla Grandey led all players with 18 points. She scored 10 points in the second half, and eight in the first half.

Schaadt contributed 14 points, while Blair Utendorf added six markers.

Section: 
Sports
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Ralph Allen Nonnamaker was a farmer and owned Ralph’s Market

Posted by Staff on December 28, 2023 - 1:18pm

BLUFFTON__Ralph Allen Nonnamaker passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Home in Arlington, Ohio. Ralph was born on February 15, 1943 to the late Howard and Alma (Slusser) Nonnamaker. His first wife, Gloria (Rettig) Nonnamaker preceded him in death. On February 20, 1966 he married Jean (Montgomery) Nonnamaker. They were married for 57 years.

Ralph was a 1961 graduate of Cory-Rawson High School and then graduated from Toledo Meat Cutting School. He was a farmer and owned Ralph’s Market in Bluffton before working and retiring from Wonder Bread. He retired again from A to Z Meats in Bluffton.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Jean Nonnamaker; four children, Monica (Dennis) vonStein of Rawson, Jill (Michael) Woodward of Bluffton, Gina (Kevin) Burkholder of McComb, Cody (Stephanie) Nonnamaker of Jenera; eleven grandchildren, Miles (Melissa) vonStein, Brooke (Brandon) Anspach, Caleb (Carlie) vonStein, Morgan (Mitchell) Karhoff, Shelby (Jim) Armand, Chelsea (Cody) Basinger, Aubry (Dalton) Ream, Mariah (Addison) Diller, Logan, Blake and Makenzie Nonnamaker; fifteen great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Section: 
Obituaries
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