Crescent-News Call Center Account

Robert (Bob) Mix, who suffered from Alzheimer's, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 83 on Feb. 19, 2021. His devotion to God, love of family and doing crossword puzzles were his greatest joys in life. He was a quiet man with a big heart who loved helping others. Bob was ordained as a pastor into the ELCA on May 21, 1966. He served God faithfully in the Lutheran ministry for over 50 years which led him to parishes in Iowa, Ohio and Minnesota. Born in Lorain, Ohio, on June 23, 1937, to Hilda (Bremer) Mix and Robert E. Mix, Bob grew up in Detroit, Mich., and was a lifelong fan of the Tigers and Lions. More recently he had lived in Napoleon, Ohio, for over 20 years before moving...

Shirley Elaine Fritz, 88, Bryan, Ohio, died of natural causes on the morning of Monday, February 15, 2021. Born November 22, 1932, and raised on a farm near Hicksville, Ohio, Shirley was the daughter of Russell and Orpha (Kimmel) Hilbert. She met her husband of 60 years, Ward Fritz, while attending the Farmer School. After graduating from Defiance College, Shirley became a teacher, primarily of high school English at Fairview High School. She also directed plays, acted as class advisor and supervised yearbook publications. Over her 30-year career she taught thousands, including children and grandchildren of her earliest pupils. Her life, her warmth and caring positively affected...

Kristine S. Grenda (Pruitt), 63, Whitehouse, Ohio, and Bradenton, Fla., passed away February 11, 2021, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio Toledo. She was born January 2, 1958, in East Lansing, Mich., to Bernard and Beverly (Swan) Grenda. She is survived by her daughters, Lauren Wood and Riley Pruitt; mother, Beverly Grenda; significant other, William Brown; grandchildren, Declan Wood and Maya Jones; sister, Karen Killian; and brother, Eric Grenda. Kristine was preceded in death by her father, Bernard Grenda. Kristine was born on January 2, 1958 in East Lansing, Mich. Her early childhood was spent there, then Allen Park, Mich., until settling in Livonia, Mich., at the age of 11. She was a...

Mary Ann Wade, 82, Phoenix, Ariz., who lived in Delta, Ohio, until 2011, died peacefully at home February 10, 2021, after a short illness. She was a beautician, homemaker, and worked at Campbell Soup Company. She was a former member of First Church of God in Wauseon and United Methodist Church in Delta. She served as den mother of Cub Scouts and supported her family in Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow. She was preceded in death by husband, Melvin; and grandson, Joshua (Timothy); parents, William and Loretto Damaske; and brothers, Frederick and Theodore. She is survived by a sister, Wanda Bedlion (Gary); sons, Timothy, Robert (Anita) and Daniel (Elias Flores); five grandchildren and...

Former Defiance City Schools superintendent, Michael Richard Struble, 70, Defiance, Ohio, passed away on February 10, 2021, after a short battle with leukemia. A memorial service will be held in Defiance at a later date, which will be publicly communicated. Mike was born in Napoleon, Ohio, on February 7, 1951. He graduated from Defiance High School in 1969 and continued his education at Miami University graduating in 1973. He later earned a master's degree from Ohio University in 1979. He worked in education for 46 years as a teacher, coach, athletic director, principal, and superintendent. Mike served Defiance City Schools from 2006-19 before retiring. He was the driving force in the...

Thomas "Tom" Balser, 76, Paulding, Ohio, formerly of Montpelier, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 9, 2021. He was born September 4, 1944, in Wauseon, to the late Harold Balser and Agnes (Abbott) Balser. He was a brother to the late Larry (Bobbi) Balser, Sandy (Eugene) Yungmann, Bob Balser, the late Ron Balser, Rick Balser and the late Jodi Balser. Tom was raised in Wauseon, Ohio, and graduated from Wauseon High School in 1962. He then attended and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Morehead State University and later obtained his master's degree from the University of Toledo in administration. He then married Dee Miller on February...

Robert Alan "Bob" Dimock, 74, Fort Myers, Fla., passed away February 6, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family and dear friends. Bob was born May 25, 1946, in Sherwood, Ohio, to Harvey "Bud" and Marjorie (Sohn) Dimock. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1964. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force upon his high school graduation. His 22-year career took him all over the world, including two tours in Thailand working on B-52 bombers during the Vietnam War. He retired as a master sergeant in 1986 from Homestead AFB, Fla. In June of 1986, Bob moved his family to Fort Myers, Fla. Fort Myers was where he met his wife, Karen. They had family and friends there. After 22 years in...