Obituaries for February 7, 2008

Death notices for Laura L. "Dotty" (Norbeck) (Wehage) Avey and Dennis C. Johnson.

AVEY
    Laura L. “Dotty” (Norbeck) (Wehage) Avey, 90, formerly of Van Wert and Ossian, Ind., died at 12:26 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008, at Woodcrest Nursing Center in Decatur, Ind.
    She was born September 1, 1917, in Rockford, the daughter of the late Benjamin and Clora (Shaffer) Norbeck. She first married Herman Wehage, who died in 1965. She then married Glen Avey, who survives in Ossian.
    Mrs. Avey had been a homemaker and had formerly worked in clothing retail sales and also worked at the family-run bakery in Delphos. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian and a former member of First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert. She belonged to the Ladies Aid and Christian Fellowship of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and was an avid traveler. She had wintered in Arizona for many years.
    In addition to her husband, survivors include two children, John (Susan) Wehage of Van Wert and Clora (David) Meyer of Avilla, Ind.; four stepchildren, David G. Avey of Magley, Ind., Donald H. (Sandra) Avey of Ossian, Joan M. Nixon of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Janet L. (Richard) Reinhart of Brownsburg, Ind.; six grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
    Three brothers, two sisters and two stepgrandchildren also preceded her in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 10, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Rev. William Brege officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
    Visitation is from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, February 9, at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer’s Association or Family Hospice of Berne, Ind.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at agfhc@embarqmail.com.

JOHNSON
    Dennis C. Johnson, 86, of Van Wert, died at 1:03 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008, at Van Wert County Hospital.
    He was born October 24, 1921, in Van Wert County, the son of the late Doyt Clifford and Gertrude (Stemen) Johnson. On June 13, 1942, he married Ona Mae (Sliger) Johnson, who survives in Van Wert.
Mr. Johnson was a retired farmer and retired from the Kresge Warehouse in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was a member of the former Greenbrier United Brethren Church and a 1940 graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School.
    In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Jerry L. (Dea) Johnson of Van Wert and Doyt F. (Nina) Johnson of Winchester, Ind.; four daughters, Bonnie L. (Tom) Fiedler and Beverly L. (Michael) Kantzer, both of Fort Wayne, Barbara K. (Jim) Buttermore of McComb and Deborah (Jerry) Gordon of Hoagland, Ind.; a sister, Sibyl Bardsley of Decatur, Ind.; 11 grandchildren, Timothy Johnson, Jennifer Gerold, Michael, Brian and Laura Johnson, Mark Faller, Tammy Koch, Matt and Dan Buttermore, Shannon Gordon and Ashley Lees; and nine great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Maeghon, Lucas, Jeremy, Andrew, Zachary, Samantha, Katie and Kaylyn.
    A sister, Kathryn Rider, also preceded him in death.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 10, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, with Pastor Steven G. Waterman officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City.
    Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, February 9, at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army.
    Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at cowanfh@yahoo.com.