BURDGE
    Geraldine L. “Jerry” Burdge, 78, of Van Wert, died at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, February 10, 2008, at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert.
    She was born May 26, 1929, in Frederick, Md., the daughter of the late John W. and Katherine L. (Roth) Minker. On September 4, 1949, she married Richard G. Burdge Sr., who died December 15, 1984.
    Mrs. Burdge was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, TWIG II, Order of Eastern Star, and the American Legion Auxiliary in Van Wert and was a former member of Phi Beta Psi Sorority and Women of the Moose for many years.
    Survivors include a son, Richard (Cheryl) Burdge of Van Wert; two daughters, Diana (Gary) Werts and Malinda (Terry) Shellabarger, both of Van Wert; nine grandchildren, Aaron (Tina) Werts, Timothy (Cory) Werts, James (Tiffany) Werts, Amber (Freddy) Rodriguez, Tony (Vicky) Shellabarger, Kandi (Adam) Stripe, Mandi (Eric Dangler) Taylor, Sarah (Jeff Snyder) Burdge and Jon Burdge, and 19 great-grandchildren.
    Nine brothers and sisters also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 14, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. William C. Haggis II officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
    Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 13, and an hour prior to services Thursday at the funeral home.
   
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Van Wert Community Band.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.

 

NELSON
    Catherine S. “Cathy” Nelson, 52, of Van Wert, died at 7:15 a.m. Sunday, February 10, 2008, at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima.
    She was born March 25, 1955, in Van Wert, the daughter of Margaret (Myers) Tangeman, who survives in Van Wert, and the late Anthony Tangeman.
    Survivors include a son, Ray Anthony Nelson of Ohio City; one daughter, Valerie Sue (fiancé John Moorman) Nelson of Van Wert; and two brothers, Robert (Cheryl) Tangeman and Steve (Dorothy) Tangeman, both of Van Wert.
    A brother, Jeffery Tangeman (in infancy) and one sister, Christine, also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 13, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
    Visitation is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 12, at the funeral home.
   
Memorials: St. Rita’s Regional Cancer Center in Lima.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.

 

ETZLER
    Emma K. Etzler, 97, of Convoy, died at 10:50 p.m. Sunday, February 10, 2008, at Convoy Care Center.
    She was born January 18, 1911, in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Edwin and Bertha (Krueckeberg) Steele. She married Walter H. Etzler, who died August 1, 1973.
    Survivors include four children, Alvin (Lois) Etzler of The Villages, Fla., Dorwin (Phyllis) Etzler of Knoxville, Tenn., Marilyn (Al) Waldron of Convoy and Laura (Ken) McCloud of McLean, Va.; one brother, Lorenz (Irene) Steele of Ohio City; a sister, Lucile (Marvin) Stoppenhagen of Ossian, Ind.; one sister-in-law, Anita Steele of Decatur, Ind.; five grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
    A son, Eugene Frederick Etzler; four brothers, Wilbert, Alton, Harry and Herman Steele; and a great-grandchild, also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 15, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, with the Rev. Michael Saylor officiating. Burial will be in Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Convoy.
    Visitation is from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 14, at Gearhart, Mack & Jurczyk Funeral Home in Convoy.
   
Memorials: The Lutheran Hour or The Lutheran Hour Worship Broadcast at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.

PRATT
    Cory Lee Pratt, 28, of Bedford, Texas, and formerly of Scott, died Sunday, February 10, 2008, in Grapevine, Texas, as a result of an automobile accident, along with two other friends.
    He was born September 17, 1979, in Paulding County, the son of Stanley Pratt and Debra (Zartman) Pratt, both of Scott.
    Other survivors include a special friend, Lisa Mullins of Colleyville, Texas; a son, Logan Joseph Pratt of Euless, Texas; two sisters, Amber Pratt of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Audrey Pratt of Scott; his maternal grandmother, Jean Zartman of Payne; his paternal grandfather, Joseph Pratt of Scott; and two nephews.
    A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 21, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Michael Zacharias officiating. Burial will be in Scott Cemetery, with military graveside rites performed by the combined honor units of American Legion Post 178 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, both in Van Wert.
    Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
   
Memorials: To the family for a trust fund for Logan Pratt.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.