Mausoleum gravesite, Toledo Memorial Park, Sylvania, Lucas, OH

Obituary:
Rita M. Kappus, age 79, passed away Friday, November 22, 2013, at her home in Toledo. She was born February 28, 1934, in Tiffin, Ohio to Arthur and Bertha Huss. She and her eight siblings were raised in Tiffin where she graduated from Calvert High School. Rita moved to Toledo to attend the Mercy School of Nursing and graduated in 1955. She worked at the Children's Hospital of Michigan for a short time before marrying Dr. Richard Kappus in 1956. Rita raised their four children and became an active participant in their school activities filling various roles including girl scout leader. She was a volunteer at the Red Cross. Rita was also an avid tennis player. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Rita is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard Kappus; children, Jean (Denny) Meyer, Ann (Dave) Schaefer, John Kappus, and Mark (Brenda) Kappus; grandchildren, Laura (Nick) Garza, Lindsey Meyer, Andy Schaefer, Katie Schaefer, Jack Schaefer, and Jackob Kappus; sister, Helen Packham, and brother, Bernard Huss. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Paul, John, Bill, and Tom Huss; and sisters, Patricia Hager and Agnes Roth.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4100 Harvest Lane Toledo, Ohio 43623. Memorial contributions may be made to ProMedica Hospice, 5200 Harroun Road, Sylvania, Ohio 43560. Arrangements by the Walker Funeral Home, 419.841.2422
The Kappus family would like to express their special thanks to Kassa, Debbie, and Randi of ProMedica Hospice for the care they gave to Rita.
- Toledo Blade, Nov. 24, 2013

Obituary:
Christina Marie Garza, 61, of Defiance, passed away Thursday, February 6th, 2014 at her home.
She was born in Toledo, Ohio on August 1, 1952, she was the daughter of the late Zoila (Gomez) and Benjamin Gonzalez who survives her of Toledo.
She was a member of St. John Catholic Church and the VFW auxiliary Post #3360.
Christina married Robert P. Garza Sr. on November 16, 1968
She had worked at Big Lots since 1998.
Surviving are
daughters: Angelique Vela of Defiance, Calista Garza of Defiance
sons: Robert (Cynthia) P. Garza Jr. of Defiance, Valentino Garza of Defiance, Alejandro (Mollie) Garza of Defiance, Nicholas Garza of Defiance,
sisters: Emilia Garner of Toledo, Julia Gonzalez of Toledo, Belinda Gonzalez of Toledo, Noemi Gonzalez of Toledo, Belen Gonzalez of Genoa, Lydia Stephens of Camden, Mi., Elizabeth Garza of Toledo, and her father Benjamin Gonzalez of Toledo.
She is also survived by 7 grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her mother Zoila, brother Daniel Gonzalez, sister Rebecca Gonzalez, husband Robert, daughter Zoila and granddaughter Rebecca.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John Catholic Church, Defiance, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13th, with Father Todd Dominique officiating.
Friends are invited to call Tuesday 4-8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m. -11 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church. The rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Entombment will be in Riverview Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers and other gifts please give donations to the family to help pay for funeral expenses.
- Lawson-Roesner Funeral Home, Defiance, OH

News Item:
AYERSVILLE, Ohio � Authorities believe a 68-year-old Highland Township man shot and killed three generations of women in his family and himself � violence that stunned some who knew the family from this rural region of Defiance County.
Robert Garza, Sr. � who lived with his wife, Christine Garza, 61; daughter Zoila Garza, 42; and granddaughter Rebecca Garza, 15, in a Bowman Road house � is suspected of the triple homicide and then shooting himself.
A family member checked on the Garzas, who last had been seen at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and found their bodies Thursday night.
The grisly discovery left Defiance County Sheriff David Westrick searching for what prompted the shootings � which shocked others.
�I didn�t think he had any demons,� said Mike Williams, veterans� service officer with Defiance County Veterans Affairs.
Mr. Williams had known Garza for several years and helped him receive treatment and compensation for disabilities related to his service in the Vietnam War. Garza served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967.
He showed no signs of violence, said Mr. Williams, who last spoke with Garza in September.
-The Toledo Blade, Feb 8, 2014

Military Service Plaque, Riverview Memory Gardens, Defiance, OH

Obituary:
Robert Prieto Garza Sr., 68, of Defiance, passed away Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at his home.
He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 4, 1945. He was the son of the late Bruno B. and Consuelo (Prieto) Garza, who survives him, of Defiance.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, serving in Vietnam. He was a life member of VFW Post 3360 and a member of St. John Catholic Church.
He had worked as a pattern maker in layout dimensions control at General Motors - Powertrain in Defiance for 43 1/2 years.
Surviving are daughters Angelique Vela of Defiance and Calista Garza of Defiance; sons Robert (Cynthia) P. Garza Jr. of Defiance, Valentino Garza of Defiance, Alejandro (Mollie) Garza of Defiance, and Nicholas Garza of Defiance; brothers Frank Garza of Ridgeville Corners, Bruno (Jean) Garza of Brunersburg and Daniel (Josephine) Garza of Defiance; and his mother Consuelo "Connie" Garza of Defiance. He is also survived by seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Richard Garza; sister, Maria Garza; his wife Christina; daughter Zoila; and granddaughter Rebecca.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John Catholic Church, Defiance, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, with Father Todd Dominique officiating. Friends are invited to call Tuesday 4-8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and 9-11 a.m. Thursday at St. John Catholic Church. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Entombment will be in Riverview Memory Gardens with VFW Post 3360 conducting honorary military graveside rites.
In lieu of flowers and gifts please give donations to the family to help with funeral expenses.
- Defiance Crescent News, 9 Feb 2014

Roger with his daughter Dana Ellerbrock-Cousino.

 

Burial Monument, St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH

Burial Monument, St John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Glandorf, OH

Obituary:
Gertrude R. Schmitz, 82, died November 8, 2012, at St. Rita's Medical Center.
She was born Jan. 8, 1930, in Ottoville to the late Theodore and Bernadine Hellman Beining. On May 5, 1951, she married Alvin Schmitz, who died June 1, 1989.
Gertrude is survived by a son, Thomas (Gretchen) Schmitz, of Glandorf; four daughters, Marilyn (Roger) Ellerbrock, of Glandorf, Eileen (Dennis) Vennekotter, of Continental, Diane (Douglas) Deitering, of Glandorf, and Nancy (Gary) Erhart, of Kalida; 16 grandchildren, Michelle (Joel) Rampe, Dana Ellerbrock, Jenna Ellerbrock, Rachel (Jeremy Marx) Schmitz, Josh Schmitz, Andrew Schmitz, Evan Barrett, Kyle (Jessica Brown) Vennekotter, Ryan (Cobin) Vennekotter, Cody Vennekotter, Heather Deitering, Ross Deitering, Benjamin Deitering, Emily Erhart, Matt Erhart and Lindsey Erhart; a brother, Ray Beining, of Delphos; and three sisters, Mary (Herb) Hempfling, of Delphos, Alice Arnzen, of Delphos, and Irene (Joe) Schroeder, of Ottawa.
Preceding her in death are a grandchild, Joseph Schmitz; two sisters, Mildred Beckman and Angela Kimmett; and a brother, Rudy Beining.
Gertrude was a homemaker. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, were she was a Eucharistic minister, religion teacher for over 30 years and a member of the Altar Rosary Society, Ladies CHIRP and nurtured the flowers in church. She was a volunteer at The Meadows of Ottawa-Glandorf. She was a companion of the Ministries of the Precious Blood. She was very active in Right-to-life, loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities. She was a wonderful caregiver and enjoyed making food for the sick.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf. Father Tony Fortman will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
-Lima News November 9, 2012

Documents:
Birth Record, State of Ohio