Obituaries
Obituaries for Bissler & Sons' Funeral Home and Crematory
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
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,...
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...
Christina Bartow
Aug 30, 2025
Christina Bartow, age 61, of Tallmadge, OH, died on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Aultman's Compassion Care Center.
Christina was born February 21, 1964 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH to the late George and Susan (Corley) LaPorte.
She is survived by sons, Corey (Lara) Bartow, and Daniel Bartow; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Alexis and Griffin Bartow; brother, John (Kolleen) LaPorte; nieces, Joleen, Emma, and Alyson....
Marianne Lilly
Aug 18, 2025
Marianne Lilly, age 69, of Kent, OH, passed away Monday August 18th after a short battle with cancer at Anna Maria in Aurora.
Marianne was born November 22nd, 1955 to the late Joseph and Josephine Minerovic in Cleveland, Ohio.
She spent her working years in numerous positions for the Kent City School district and retired from her role in the treasurer’s department...
Claude E. Conkle Jr.
Aug 13, 2025
Claude E. Conkle Jr., age 65, of Rootstown, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 in the comfort of his home. He was born in Akron on March 15, 1960 and proudly served in the United States Navy. Claude was very patriotic and had a big heart. He enjoyed painting, fishing, hunting and woodworking and loved teaching those skills to...
Joseph A. Betkoski
Aug 12, 2025
Joseph A. Betkoski, 89, of Kent passed away on August 12, 2025.
He was born May 29, 1936, in Glen Lyon, PA, a small coal mining town in eastern Pennsylvania, the older of two sons to the late Stanley and Mary Betkoski.
Joe graduated from Newport Township High School where he was enrolled in college preparatory classes. He was active outside the...
John E. Henry Jr.
Aug 7, 2025
John E. Henry Jr., 71 of Kent, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in the comfort of his home, with his family by his side. He was born on March 3, 1954 to the late John Sr. and Irene Henry and was a 1972 graduate of Kent State High School.
John was employed as chief engineer at Colonial Machine, retiring...
Pamela Sharon Wilson
Aug 5, 2025
Pamela Sharon Wilson, age 70, of Kent, OH, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Pamela was born August 7, 1954 in Richlands, VA to the late Thurel and Joan (Blevins) Beavers.
Class of 1972 Roosevelt High School.
Cremation has taken place. A full obituary and memorial service will take place at a later date.
Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home...
Donald L. Swauger
Aug 5, 2025
Donald L. Swauger, 88, of Kent, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at UH Portage Medical Center. He was born in Kent on December 30, 1936 to the late Robert and Nellie Swauger and was a 1956 graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School.
Donald was employed as a machinist with Eaton Corporation for several years and was a member of...
Julie Evelyn Nygaard
Aug 2, 2025
Julie Evelyn Erickson Nygaard was born on February 12, 1942, in Jamestown, New York, and spent her early years on her family’s dairy farm in Ashville, New York, surrounded by her Swedish parents, Stan and Evelyn Erickson, and grandparents. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sister, Lynette Erickson.
After graduating from high school, Julie’s...
William H. Snodgrass Jr.
Jul 25, 2025
Willliam H. Snodgrass Jr., 69, of Ravenna, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025 from a genetic lung cancer, at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. He was born on August 16, 1955 to the late William Sr. and Geraldine Snodgrass. William was a truck driver for over 30 years, driving for Panther Trucking, Fed Ex, Orange Freight and LA...
Colleen Marie Reaman
Jul 19, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Colleen Reaman (Deagan) after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was a lifelong resident of the Akron area. Colleen spent her life making a lasting impact in the lives and communities around her.
A proud graduate of St. Vincent High School and an attendee of The University of...
Carol Irene Birkner
Jul 15, 2025
Carol I. Birkner, age 96, who entered eternal rest on July 15, 2025.
Carol was born December 25, 1928 in Lakewood, OH to the late Elmer E. & Elsie (Hoffmeyer) Keidel.
She was a proud graduate of Lakewood High School, Class of 1947, Carol continued her education at Kent State University, where she cultivated a lifelong love for learning and community engagement....
Shirley A. VanValkenburg
Jul 14, 2025
Quilter, rug hooker, Title IX activist and retired Kent State University Professor Shirley Ann Van Valkenburg died July 14, 2025 at the age of 88.
Raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Shirley was the daughter of Clio and Judge J. Wade Van Valkenburg, at one time the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Early on, Shirley displayed remarkable athletic ability and competitiveness, excelling...
Janet Tauscher
Jul 13, 2025
Janet (Frankwich) Tauscher, 91, of Kent, Ohio, formerly of Red House and Nitro, West Virginia, and Whitaker, Pennsylvania, died July 13, 2025.
Janet was born October 2, 1933, in Whitaker, PA, the oldest of four children. She grew up on River View Blvd in Homestead, PA and graduated from Munhall High School in 1951. Following graduation, she worked as a comptometer...
James Dennis Cook
Jul 12, 2025
James Dennis Cook, 68, of Kent, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born in Ravenna to James and Ethel Cook on December 23, 1956. Friends and family knew him as Jim. He was married for 40 years to his wife Deborah Cook. He was employed by Klaben Ford in Kent...
Merrilee Nelson
Jul 11, 2025
Once upon a time she was fire chief in a little town in the mountains of Washington state; bartender at an ancient rambling inn somewhere on the outskirts of ski country; management consultant at a design firm in Hong Kong and resident there at the storied Helena May; child-cowgirl, post-hole digger, fence-mender and adventurer who got her fervent wish to...
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,...
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...
Christina Bartow
Aug 30, 2025
Christina Bartow, age 61, of Tallmadge, OH, died on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Aultman's Compassion Care Center.
Christina was born February 21, 1964 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH to the late George and Susan (Corley) LaPorte.
She is survived by sons, Corey (Lara) Bartow, and Daniel Bartow; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Alexis and Griffin Bartow; brother, John (Kolleen) LaPorte; nieces, Joleen, Emma, and Alyson....
Marianne Lilly
Aug 18, 2025
Marianne Lilly, age 69, of Kent, OH, passed away Monday August 18th after a short battle with cancer at Anna Maria in Aurora.
Marianne was born November 22nd, 1955 to the late Joseph and Josephine Minerovic in Cleveland, Ohio.
She spent her working years in numerous positions for the Kent City School district and retired from her role in the treasurer’s department...
Claude E. Conkle Jr.
Aug 13, 2025
Claude E. Conkle Jr., age 65, of Rootstown, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 in the comfort of his home. He was born in Akron on March 15, 1960 and proudly served in the United States Navy. Claude was very patriotic and had a big heart. He enjoyed painting, fishing, hunting and woodworking and loved teaching those skills to...
Joseph A. Betkoski
Aug 12, 2025
Joseph A. Betkoski, 89, of Kent passed away on August 12, 2025.
He was born May 29, 1936, in Glen Lyon, PA, a small coal mining town in eastern Pennsylvania, the older of two sons to the late Stanley and Mary Betkoski.
Joe graduated from Newport Township High School where he was enrolled in college preparatory classes. He was active outside the...
John E. Henry Jr.
Aug 7, 2025
John E. Henry Jr., 71 of Kent, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in the comfort of his home, with his family by his side. He was born on March 3, 1954 to the late John Sr. and Irene Henry and was a 1972 graduate of Kent State High School.
John was employed as chief engineer at Colonial Machine, retiring...
Pamela Sharon Wilson
Aug 5, 2025
Pamela Sharon Wilson, age 70, of Kent, OH, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Pamela was born August 7, 1954 in Richlands, VA to the late Thurel and Joan (Blevins) Beavers.
Class of 1972 Roosevelt High School.
Cremation has taken place. A full obituary and memorial service will take place at a later date.
Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home...
Donald L. Swauger
Aug 5, 2025
Donald L. Swauger, 88, of Kent, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at UH Portage Medical Center. He was born in Kent on December 30, 1936 to the late Robert and Nellie Swauger and was a 1956 graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School.
Donald was employed as a machinist with Eaton Corporation for several years and was a member of...
Julie Evelyn Nygaard
Aug 2, 2025
Julie Evelyn Erickson Nygaard was born on February 12, 1942, in Jamestown, New York, and spent her early years on her family’s dairy farm in Ashville, New York, surrounded by her Swedish parents, Stan and Evelyn Erickson, and grandparents. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sister, Lynette Erickson.
After graduating from high school, Julie’s...
William H. Snodgrass Jr.
Jul 25, 2025
Willliam H. Snodgrass Jr., 69, of Ravenna, passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025 from a genetic lung cancer, at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. He was born on August 16, 1955 to the late William Sr. and Geraldine Snodgrass. William was a truck driver for over 30 years, driving for Panther Trucking, Fed Ex, Orange Freight and LA...
Colleen Marie Reaman
Jul 19, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Colleen Reaman (Deagan) after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was a lifelong resident of the Akron area. Colleen spent her life making a lasting impact in the lives and communities around her.
A proud graduate of St. Vincent High School and an attendee of The University of...
Carol Irene Birkner
Jul 15, 2025
Carol I. Birkner, age 96, who entered eternal rest on July 15, 2025.
Carol was born December 25, 1928 in Lakewood, OH to the late Elmer E. & Elsie (Hoffmeyer) Keidel.
She was a proud graduate of Lakewood High School, Class of 1947, Carol continued her education at Kent State University, where she cultivated a lifelong love for learning and community engagement....
Shirley A. VanValkenburg
Jul 14, 2025
Quilter, rug hooker, Title IX activist and retired Kent State University Professor Shirley Ann Van Valkenburg died July 14, 2025 at the age of 88.
Raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Shirley was the daughter of Clio and Judge J. Wade Van Valkenburg, at one time the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.
Early on, Shirley displayed remarkable athletic ability and competitiveness, excelling...
Janet Tauscher
Jul 13, 2025
Janet (Frankwich) Tauscher, 91, of Kent, Ohio, formerly of Red House and Nitro, West Virginia, and Whitaker, Pennsylvania, died July 13, 2025.
Janet was born October 2, 1933, in Whitaker, PA, the oldest of four children. She grew up on River View Blvd in Homestead, PA and graduated from Munhall High School in 1951. Following graduation, she worked as a comptometer...
James Dennis Cook
Jul 12, 2025
James Dennis Cook, 68, of Kent, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born in Ravenna to James and Ethel Cook on December 23, 1956. Friends and family knew him as Jim. He was married for 40 years to his wife Deborah Cook. He was employed by Klaben Ford in Kent...
Merrilee Nelson
Jul 11, 2025
Once upon a time she was fire chief in a little town in the mountains of Washington state; bartender at an ancient rambling inn somewhere on the outskirts of ski country; management consultant at a design firm in Hong Kong and resident there at the storied Helena May; child-cowgirl, post-hole digger, fence-mender and adventurer who got her fervent wish to...
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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