Obituaries
Obituaries for Bissler & Sons' Funeral Home and Crematory
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
Edwin Dexter Castleman
Jul 30, 2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Edwin Dexter Castleman on July 30, 2025 at the age of 76.
Edwin was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Glenville High School before serving in the United States Air Force with a focus on language studies.
He excelled at competitive sports like wrestling and football. Following his military...
Marilyn Diane Castleman
May 22, 2025
Marilyn Diane Castleman, 72, of Ravenna, OH, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
She was born in Memphis, TN. On November 28, 1952, to the late James and Eva (Dockery) Wooten.
She grew up in Memphis and went on to work for the IRS. She has lived in California, New Mexico, and later moved to Ohio. In later...
Ruth Ann Leslie
Sep 30, 2025
Ruth Ann Leslie, age 88, of Thompson, OH, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at her home.
Ruth was born August 27, 1937 in East Liverpool, OH to the late Oliver and Helen (Lang) Johnson.
After Ruth got her nursing degree, she worked on the Nero floor at University Hospital in Cleveland. She moved her career to Home Care for Lake...
Jerry Fiala
Sep 30, 2025
It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we share the passing of Mayor Jerry (Jerome) Fiala, a lifelong resident of Kent, Ohio, who dedicated more than three decades of his life to public service and the community he so deeply loved. Jerry’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Kent, where he was known not only as...
James R. Sprott
Sep 28, 2025
Jim Sprott, age 78, of Ravenna, Ohio, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Jim was born November 24th, 1946, in Ravenna, to J. Harold and Mabel (Vair) Sprott.
He is survived by his wife Sandy (Watson) Sprott; sister Joyce (Sprott) Suter; brothers and sisters-in-law, Connie & Bill Byrd, Marc & Sherre Watson, Greg & Jen Watson,...
Janet Louise Bissler
Sep 25, 2025
Janet Bissler, 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Danbury Assisted Living in Tallmadge Ohio.
Janet was a country girl who was born and raised in Stow, Ohio. She was the baby sister of three brothers who watched over and protected her throughout her childhood. Growing up she was surrounded by love, laughter and adventure. She loved all animals....
Gregory Ray Laubert
Sep 24, 2025
Gregory Ray Laubert, age 66, was born on January 5, 1959 in Ravenna, Ohio. He died, after a five-year battle with cancer on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at UNC Medical Center at Chapel Hill, due to complications during surgery.
After graduating in 1977 from Garfield High School in Garrettsville, OH, Greg began his working life, pursuing a love of bowling that...
Bruce Scott Vasbinder
Sep 23, 2025
Bruce Scott Vasbinder, 75, of Kent, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Bruce lived a life rich in love, adventure, and quiet strength.
Born on April 15, 1950, in Warren, Ohio, Bruce was raised with strong values and a deep appreciation for community. He graduated from high school in 1968...
John J.A. Verthé
Sep 21, 2025
John J.A. Verthé, 78, of Kent, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025. He was born in Brussels, Belgium on April 21, 1947 to the late Jules and Blanche Verthé. John received his education in Brussels prior to coming to the United States. Once here, he earned his master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Akron. John was...
Aidan Veney
Sep 19, 2025
Aidan Veney, 20, of Kent, Ohio, passed away Friday, September 19, 2025. He was born in Akron, Ohio on April 2, 2005 and was a 2023 graduate of Bio-Med Science Academy where he captained the ESports team. Aidan was employed as an EMT with Lynx EMS Transport. He was proud to have been a Boy Scout with Troop #501 in...
Richard R. Kraft
Sep 15, 2025
Richard Robert Kraft, age 71, of Kent, OH, passed away suddenly on Monday, September 15, 2025 at his home.
Richard was born April 5, 1954 in Elyria, OH to the late Robert and Dorothy (Smith) Kraft.
Memorial Services will be at a later date in the spring of 2026.
Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main...
Michael "Mickey" Dawn Peoples
Sep 14, 2025
Michael “Mickey” Dawn Peoples, 82, of Kent, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at KentRidge Senior Living. She was born in Carrollton, OH on October 4, 1942 to the late Mike and Roxie Faye Bosh and was a graduate of Carrollton High School.
Mickey was a member of United Methodist Church of Kent, where she was very involved with Rebecca...
James W. Cone
Sep 11, 2025
James “Jim” Woodbridge Cone, 78, of Kent, passed away Thursday, September 11, 2025, after a two-year battle with cancer.
Born January 6, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jim graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and served in the National Guard. A longtime Kent resident, he built a career as a mechanical designer and carried his passion for creating into his workshop, where...
Roger Dean Muzia
Sep 11, 2025
Roger Dean Muzia, age 72, of Kent, OH, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at UH Portage Medical Center. A talented and highly regarded architect, “Roge” was a notable figure in his community and helped everyone who walked through his office door.
Roger was born November 23rd, 1952 in Austin, TX to the late Frank and Marian (Skarda) Muzia and...
Ruth Ann Crawford
Sep 10, 2025
Ruth Ann Crawford, 88, of Kent, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 10, 2025, at KentRidge Senior Living in Kent, Ohio. She was born on July 25, 1937, in Kent, Ohio, to Joseph and Pearl Boyle and was the youngest of seven children.
Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Earl Taliaferro, Jack Lee Fisher,...
Robert John Schumann
Sep 9, 2025
Robert (Bob) J. Schumann passed away on September 9, 2025. Bob was born to Robert E. and Ruth Widman Schumann. Raised in Copley, Bob graduated from Copley High School and from the University of Akron where he was a proud member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. Bob found home wherever his family lived and he and his wife, Beverly, built...
Mary Lou Martin
Sep 8, 2025
Vibrant, high-spirited and happy, Mary Lou Longcoy Martin died on September 8, 2025 at Kentridge Assisted Living.
She was born on October 30, 1931 and was raised in Kent. Mary Lou graduated from Kent State High School, and met her future husband John Martin while they were both students at Kent State University. They were married in 1952.
In her youth Mary...
Gary A. Siciliano
Sep 4, 2025
Gary A. Siciliano, 70, of Kent, passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. He was born in Ravenna on June 11, 1955 to the late Attilio and Marie Siciliano and was a graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School.
Gary enjoyed bowling and loved motorcycles. He was a very polite and cordial person who left a...
James A. Wildhaber
Sep 3, 2025
James A. Wildhaber of Winter Garden, Florida, passed away September 3, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1938, to Dorothy Schonard Wildhaber and Frank Wildhaber. His mother raised him in Chicago, where she waited tables in German restaurants, and where he eventually worked in one of the tallest skyscrapers in the Loop.
After being invited to...
Sandra K. Caniglia
Aug 30, 2025
Sandra Kay (Cowan) Caniglia, 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Munroe Falls, OH on August 30, 2025. Born May 6, 1944 in Streetsboro, OH to Darrell and Carol (Rundquist) Cowan, Sandy grew up in Streetsboro and Ravenna. After graduating from Ravenna High School, she went on to attend The Ohio State University.
Sandy was married to the love of...
Edwin Dexter Castleman
Jul 30, 2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Edwin Dexter Castleman on July 30, 2025 at the age of 76.
Edwin was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Glenville High School before serving in the United States Air Force with a focus on language studies.
He excelled at competitive sports like wrestling and football. Following his military...
Marilyn Diane Castleman
May 22, 2025
Marilyn Diane Castleman, 72, of Ravenna, OH, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
She was born in Memphis, TN. On November 28, 1952, to the late James and Eva (Dockery) Wooten.
She grew up in Memphis and went on to work for the IRS. She has lived in California, New Mexico, and later moved to Ohio. In later...
Ruth Ann Leslie
Sep 30, 2025
Ruth Ann Leslie, age 88, of Thompson, OH, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at her home.
Ruth was born August 27, 1937 in East Liverpool, OH to the late Oliver and Helen (Lang) Johnson.
After Ruth got her nursing degree, she worked on the Nero floor at University Hospital in Cleveland. She moved her career to Home Care for Lake...
Jerry Fiala
Sep 30, 2025
It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we share the passing of Mayor Jerry (Jerome) Fiala, a lifelong resident of Kent, Ohio, who dedicated more than three decades of his life to public service and the community he so deeply loved. Jerry’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of Kent, where he was known not only as...
James R. Sprott
Sep 28, 2025
Jim Sprott, age 78, of Ravenna, Ohio, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Jim was born November 24th, 1946, in Ravenna, to J. Harold and Mabel (Vair) Sprott.
He is survived by his wife Sandy (Watson) Sprott; sister Joyce (Sprott) Suter; brothers and sisters-in-law, Connie & Bill Byrd, Marc & Sherre Watson, Greg & Jen Watson,...
Janet Louise Bissler
Sep 25, 2025
Janet Bissler, 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Danbury Assisted Living in Tallmadge Ohio.
Janet was a country girl who was born and raised in Stow, Ohio. She was the baby sister of three brothers who watched over and protected her throughout her childhood. Growing up she was surrounded by love, laughter and adventure. She loved all animals....
Gregory Ray Laubert
Sep 24, 2025
Gregory Ray Laubert, age 66, was born on January 5, 1959 in Ravenna, Ohio. He died, after a five-year battle with cancer on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at UNC Medical Center at Chapel Hill, due to complications during surgery.
After graduating in 1977 from Garfield High School in Garrettsville, OH, Greg began his working life, pursuing a love of bowling that...
Bruce Scott Vasbinder
Sep 23, 2025
Bruce Scott Vasbinder, 75, of Kent, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Bruce lived a life rich in love, adventure, and quiet strength.
Born on April 15, 1950, in Warren, Ohio, Bruce was raised with strong values and a deep appreciation for community. He graduated from high school in 1968...
John J.A. Verthé
Sep 21, 2025
John J.A. Verthé, 78, of Kent, passed away on Sunday, September 21, 2025. He was born in Brussels, Belgium on April 21, 1947 to the late Jules and Blanche Verthé. John received his education in Brussels prior to coming to the United States. Once here, he earned his master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Akron. John was...
Aidan Veney
Sep 19, 2025
Aidan Veney, 20, of Kent, Ohio, passed away Friday, September 19, 2025. He was born in Akron, Ohio on April 2, 2005 and was a 2023 graduate of Bio-Med Science Academy where he captained the ESports team. Aidan was employed as an EMT with Lynx EMS Transport. He was proud to have been a Boy Scout with Troop #501 in...
Richard R. Kraft
Sep 15, 2025
Richard Robert Kraft, age 71, of Kent, OH, passed away suddenly on Monday, September 15, 2025 at his home.
Richard was born April 5, 1954 in Elyria, OH to the late Robert and Dorothy (Smith) Kraft.
Memorial Services will be at a later date in the spring of 2026.
Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main...
Michael "Mickey" Dawn Peoples
Sep 14, 2025
Michael “Mickey” Dawn Peoples, 82, of Kent, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at KentRidge Senior Living. She was born in Carrollton, OH on October 4, 1942 to the late Mike and Roxie Faye Bosh and was a graduate of Carrollton High School.
Mickey was a member of United Methodist Church of Kent, where she was very involved with Rebecca...
James W. Cone
Sep 11, 2025
James “Jim” Woodbridge Cone, 78, of Kent, passed away Thursday, September 11, 2025, after a two-year battle with cancer.
Born January 6, 1947, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jim graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School and served in the National Guard. A longtime Kent resident, he built a career as a mechanical designer and carried his passion for creating into his workshop, where...
Roger Dean Muzia
Sep 11, 2025
Roger Dean Muzia, age 72, of Kent, OH, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at UH Portage Medical Center. A talented and highly regarded architect, “Roge” was a notable figure in his community and helped everyone who walked through his office door.
Roger was born November 23rd, 1952 in Austin, TX to the late Frank and Marian (Skarda) Muzia and...
Ruth Ann Crawford
Sep 10, 2025
Ruth Ann Crawford, 88, of Kent, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 10, 2025, at KentRidge Senior Living in Kent, Ohio. She was born on July 25, 1937, in Kent, Ohio, to Joseph and Pearl Boyle and was the youngest of seven children.
Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Earl Taliaferro, Jack Lee Fisher,...
Robert John Schumann
Sep 9, 2025
Robert (Bob) J. Schumann passed away on September 9, 2025. Bob was born to Robert E. and Ruth Widman Schumann. Raised in Copley, Bob graduated from Copley High School and from the University of Akron where he was a proud member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. Bob found home wherever his family lived and he and his wife, Beverly, built...
Mary Lou Martin
Sep 8, 2025
Vibrant, high-spirited and happy, Mary Lou Longcoy Martin died on September 8, 2025 at Kentridge Assisted Living.
She was born on October 30, 1931 and was raised in Kent. Mary Lou graduated from Kent State High School, and met her future husband John Martin while they were both students at Kent State University. They were married in 1952.
In her youth Mary...
Gary A. Siciliano
Sep 4, 2025
Gary A. Siciliano, 70, of Kent, passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. He was born in Ravenna on June 11, 1955 to the late Attilio and Marie Siciliano and was a graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School.
Gary enjoyed bowling and loved motorcycles. He was a very polite and cordial person who left a...
James A. Wildhaber
Sep 3, 2025
James A. Wildhaber of Winter Garden, Florida, passed away September 3, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1938, to Dorothy Schonard Wildhaber and Frank Wildhaber. His mother raised him in Chicago, where she waited tables in German restaurants, and where he eventually worked in one of the tallest skyscrapers in the Loop.
After being invited to...
Sandra K. Caniglia
Aug 30, 2025
Sandra Kay (Cowan) Caniglia, 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Munroe Falls, OH on August 30, 2025. Born May 6, 1944 in Streetsboro, OH to Darrell and Carol (Rundquist) Cowan, Sandy grew up in Streetsboro and Ravenna. After graduating from Ravenna High School, she went on to attend The Ohio State University.
Sandy was married to the love of...
Bissler & Sons' Funeral Home and Crematory
is a collection of obituaries for cities throughout Ohio. With services that are updated regularly. Find local obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies.
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