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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2001
John Baumgardner
John Thomas Baumgardner, 90, of 7 W. Market St., Tiffin, died at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, in Autumnwood Care Center in Tiffin.
Born Nov. 4, 1911, in Tiffin, to the late Carl and Gertrude (Ehrenfried) Baumgardner, John lived on Melmore Street until 1945. His father and grandfather, Martin Baumgardner, founded Baumgardner Products Company, Tiffin's oldest building supply and concrete products manufacturing business. The Baumgardner Products Company was operated by John's father, Carl, until 1953, and is still located at 47 Miami Street.
John attended grade school at St. Joseph, graduated from Calvert High School in 1929, and attended the University of Detroit and Heidelberg College. He met Luella Dehn at Heidelberg, and they were married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1936. John worked in the family business in Tiffin until Luella died in 1945, after which he moved to Toledo, and then Detroit. In Detroit he worked as a writer and, in 1953, married the late Nida Marie Blago. John and Nida moved to Berthoud, Colorado, in 1969. In Berthoud, John founded a company that manufactured concrete decorative stones, benches, and tables and continued his writing. His artistic creations in concrete will memorialize him for a long time to come in homes throughout the United States.
John was a member of the original 12-step group founded by Dr. Bob in Ohio, and for much of his life was dedicated to helping others overcome alcohol and other addictions. He was an active and caring member of AA groups in Tiffin, Toledo, Detroit, and Berthoud. He was an avid horticulturist with extensive knowledge and experience in soil chemistry. He composed piano music and wrote poetry; some of his poetry was published in the Advertiser-Tribune.
Survivors include: two sisters, Sister Betty Baumgardner of Fremont and Mary Crates of Charlotte, N.C.; three sons, Jan Baumgardner, M.D., and Carl Forest, P.H.D, JD., both of Boulder, Colorado, and Martin Baumgardner of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Mary Sue Shay, B.S. (nursing), of Champaign, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A third sister, Martha Hamilton, of Charlotte, N.C., is deceased, and a fifth child, Frances Elizabeth Baumgardner, died shortly after birth.
The Rev. James Say will celebrate a Memorial Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tiffin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2002, followed by a luncheon at the Upper Room of the St. Joseph Activity Center. A private burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
There will be no visitation. Hannay-Traunero Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. On-line condolences may be left at www.funeralplan.com/traunero.
Barbara T. Fanning
Barbara T. Fanning, 72, of 237 Circular St., Tiffin, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hoffman-Gottfried Funeral Home.
Visitation hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday
A complete obituary will be in Wednesday's paper.
Kathryn L. Sacksteder
Kathryn L. Sacksteder, 87, of 182 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at Mercy Hospital of Tiffin.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tiffin.
Visitation hours are from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hoffman-Gottfried Funeral Home.
A complete obituary will be in Wednesday's paper.