NIESE
William I. Niese, 87, of Van Wert and Miller City, died at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.
He was born December 4, 1922, in Miller City, the son of the late Lawrence and Elizabeth (Schroeder) Niese. In 1950, he married Mildred (Langhals) Niese, who preceded him in death on September 14, 1971. On July 27, 1980, he married Lorraine (Poling) Niese, who survives in Van Wert.
Other survivors include eight children, Joan M. Niese of Oak Harbor, Angela L. (Kevin Champagne) Niese of Eagan, Minn., Alphonse S. Niese of Miller City, Peter J. Niese of Ottawa, Barbara P. (Randy) Niese-Runyan of Defiance, Marie M. (Dan) Niese-Cass of Continental, Carol C. (Donald) Schroeder of New Bavaria, and Lawrence E. Niese of Toledo; three stepchildren, Karen L. (Dr. Stephen) Reed of Lexington, Ky., Keith L. (Sally) Poling of Waterloo, Iowa, and Kathy L. Kotowski of Medina; one sister, Polly Smith of Ottawa; 10 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A son, Daniel W. Niese; one brother, Waldo Niese; and four sisters, Agnes Hueve, Mary Rieman, Louise Weis and Helen Rieman, also preceded him in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 12, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Mike Zacharias officiating. Graveside funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Miller City.
The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Friday, December 11, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert.
Preferred memorials: St. Mary’s Parochial School or Van Wert County Council on Aging.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.
BRANSTETER
Kenneth Eugene Bransteter, 81, of Rockford, died at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at his residence after a lengthy fight with cancer.
He was born March 10, 1928, in Geneva, Ind., the son of the late Branson Argyle Bransteter and Anna Lucille Bollenbacher. On March 1, 1953, he married Reitta (Eichenauer) Bransteter, who survives in Rockford.
Other survivors include three sons, James (Kathleen) Bransteter, Terry (Vivian) Bransteter and David (Amy Jo) Bransteter, all of Celina; a daughter, Connie (Steve) Sapp of Celina; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a niece.
A sister, Betty Carr, an infant grandson, Trent Bransteter, and one nephew also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2009, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in rural Rockford, with Pastor Catherine Costello officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Rockford.
The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Friday, December 11, at the church.
Preferred memorials: St. Paul’s Memorial Fund or Celina Community Health Professionals and Hospice.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to ketchamripley@embarqmail.com.