Obituaries
Obituaries for Bissler & Sons' Funeral Home and Crematory
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
Bruce Hansford
May 6, 2023
Bruce William Hansford, age 94, died May 6, 2023. Bruce was born in Kent on June 24, 1928 to Oren Donald Hansford and Nina Goothier and lived in Kent his entire life. He graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1946 and married his high school sweetheart Nancy Greer on October 2, 1948. They raised two children, Susan and...
Anne Marie (Mahoney) Moore
May 5, 2023
Anne M. Moore (nee Mahoney), passed away peacefully on Friday, May 5, 2023, knowing that she was loved. She was born on June 23, 1936, at home in Pottsville, PA to the late John and Mary Mahoney. She was a 1953 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School. Anne retired from RXD Pharmacy in Minersville, PA after 25 years of...
Jeffrey W. Snyder
May 4, 2023
On the afternoon of May 1, 2023, Jeffrey William Snyder passed away at his home in Kent, Ohio. Born to the late William L. Snyder, and Carole M. Snyder (Frye) on April 2 1959, in Akron Ohio, Jeff is survived and loved by his two children, Margo Harmon (Larry) and Steve Snyder. Also survived by his sister Pam Baughman...
Heather C. Crow
Apr 30, 2023
Heather C. Crow, age 49 of Ravenna, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 30, 2023 at UH Portage Medical Center. She was born January 6, 1974 in Stow.
She was 1992 graduate of Stow Munroe High School. Heather graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was involved in a service sorority....
Dr. Stanley H. Christensen
Apr 29, 2023
Dr. Stan H. Christensen, PhD, died on April 29, 2023, at 9:10pm while surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his wife and lifelong partner of 65 years, Bernie Christensen. Stan leaves behind an incredible legacy of Teaching, Mentoring, Volunteering, drumming, and involvement on several Charity boards. Stan was a Physics Professor at Kent State University...
John D. Bee
Apr 18, 2023
John D. Bee (Tenor), retired college professor, college dean, university administration agitator, wine importer, and general bon vivant & raconteur died on April 18, 2023.
John was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on November 30, 1943, to Raymond and Helen Bee. With his older brother Robert, the family moved several times in West Virginia and Ohio, ultimately...
Susan L. Friedman
Apr 15, 2023
Susan L. Friedman, age 73 of Ravenna, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Ft. Myers, Florida. She was born January 20, 1950 in Ravenna to the late Ronald and Leona Haiflich of Charlestown, OH.
Susan was known by Susi to her close friends and family. Some of her favorite other names to be called were Mom,...
Adam Smith
Apr 15, 2023
Adam J. Smith, age 47 of Aurora, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 15, 2023 while vacationing in Florida. He was born December 21, 1975 to Tim and Mary Smith and grew up in Kent, Ohio.
Adam had a love for many things; home projects that let his creativity and craftmanship shine, playing golf and other games,...
Louis I. Campbell
Apr 14, 2023
Louis I. Campbell, age 94, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023 at Danbury Senior Living.
Lou was born August 5, 1928 in Parkersburg, WV to the late George and Laura (Bay) Campbell. He moved to Ohio as a young boy. After graduating from Ravenna High School, he worked at the Ravenna Arsenal...
Dorothy (Shoemaker) Oliva
Apr 11, 2023
Dorothy (Shoemaker) Oliva, 87, of Ravenna, died on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, with her family by her side.
Dorothy was born to the late Joseph and Mary Monica (Barrow) Shoemaker on January 20, 1936. She grew up in Brady Lake and graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1954. In 1955, Dorothy married Richard M. Oliva, and...
Barbara A. Schrader
Apr 10, 2023
TOGETHER AGAIN - Barbara A. Schrader, age 75 of Brimfield Twp. for over 30 years, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023 at Akron General Medical Center. She was born August 23, 1947 in Cleveland, OH to the late Albert and Dorothy Swikey.
Barbara lived most of her childhood in Nordonia, Oh and graduated from Nordonia HS in...
Andrew J. Demeza
Apr 7, 2023
Andrew J. deMeza, 60, of Kent, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2023 of cancer. Andy was born to William and Gertrude deMeza in Kingston, Ontario on February 3, 1963. Raised in Stow, Ohio, he graduated in 1981 from Stow High School where he found his love of tennis, a game he continued to play for 43 years. A...
Eric W. Olson
Apr 5, 2023
Eric Walter Olson, age 60, of Kent, Ohio passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Eric was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Earle and Rosemary (McCafferty) Olson. He was raised in Medina and settled in Kent after graduating from Kent State University.
Eric was the manager of the Medina Municipal Airport for...
Josephine Ann (Schwallie) Henry
Apr 5, 2023
Josephine “Joann” Henry, 88, of Kent, Ohio passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2023 just 2 months shy of her 89th birthday.
Joann was born to Bertha and Aloysius Schwallie on May 28, 1934.
She spent her youth on the family farm in southern Ohio and was a resident of Kent since 1960.
Joann...
Wendell J. Gieger
Apr 4, 2023
Wendell J. Gieger, beloved husband, father and grandfather went home to meet the Lord 4 April 2023. Wendell was born on August 19, 1952 to Wendel and Anna Gieger of Kent, Ohio. Wendell was a graduate of Kent State University and later from Webster College, receiving a M.A. in Health Facilities Management. Wendell retired from the United States Air...
Walter C. Knapp Ii
Apr 3, 2023
Walter C. Knapp II was born on February 19, 1952, to Walter and Thelma Knapp. He grew up in Brimfield and later moved to Kent when he was in high school. After graduating from high school, Walter went on to serve his country in the United States Army.
After completing his service, Walter attended Muskingum Area Technical...
Grace L. Lowry
Apr 1, 2023
Grace L. Lowry, age 86, of Brimfield, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023. She was born October 1, 1936 to Bert and Alta DeVos in Ravenna, Ohio. They moved to Kent in 1940.
Grace attended DePeyster Grad School and delivered papers for the Akron B.J. on Franklin Ave. from 1947-1951. While attending Kent Roosevelt H.S. from...
Matthew S. Loos
Mar 30, 2023
Matthew S. Loos, age 51 of Suffield Twp., passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born December 20, 1971 to Robert and Mary Jo Loos.
Matt spent a majority of his youth growing up in Suffield, attending St. Joseph School in Randolph and later graduating from St. Vincent-St. Mary...
Richard John Koberna
Mar 28, 2023
Richard John Koberna of Hudson, Ohio passed away in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 after a long illness. Richard was born to Lillian and Emil Koberna on June 6, 1940 and spent his life in the greater Cleveland area before settling in Hudson in the mid 70’s. He is survived by his wife, Charlene (née Barney); sons,...
Katherine W. Ripley
Mar 28, 2023
Katherine W. Ripley, age 91 of Rootstown, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023. She was born October 24, 1931 in Edmond, Oklahoma, to the late Ralph and Rosalie Odor.
Katherine’s many talents included art, singing, inventing, and making custom jewelry. She received a music scholarship to Central State College and won several local and state singing contests....
Bruce Hansford
May 6, 2023
Bruce William Hansford, age 94, died May 6, 2023. Bruce was born in Kent on June 24, 1928 to Oren Donald Hansford and Nina Goothier and lived in Kent his entire life. He graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1946 and married his high school sweetheart Nancy Greer on October 2, 1948. They raised two children, Susan and...
Anne Marie (Mahoney) Moore
May 5, 2023
Anne M. Moore (nee Mahoney), passed away peacefully on Friday, May 5, 2023, knowing that she was loved. She was born on June 23, 1936, at home in Pottsville, PA to the late John and Mary Mahoney. She was a 1953 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School. Anne retired from RXD Pharmacy in Minersville, PA after 25 years of...
Jeffrey W. Snyder
May 4, 2023
On the afternoon of May 1, 2023, Jeffrey William Snyder passed away at his home in Kent, Ohio. Born to the late William L. Snyder, and Carole M. Snyder (Frye) on April 2 1959, in Akron Ohio, Jeff is survived and loved by his two children, Margo Harmon (Larry) and Steve Snyder. Also survived by his sister Pam Baughman...
Heather C. Crow
Apr 30, 2023
Heather C. Crow, age 49 of Ravenna, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 30, 2023 at UH Portage Medical Center. She was born January 6, 1974 in Stow.
She was 1992 graduate of Stow Munroe High School. Heather graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was involved in a service sorority....
Dr. Stanley H. Christensen
Apr 29, 2023
Dr. Stan H. Christensen, PhD, died on April 29, 2023, at 9:10pm while surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his wife and lifelong partner of 65 years, Bernie Christensen. Stan leaves behind an incredible legacy of Teaching, Mentoring, Volunteering, drumming, and involvement on several Charity boards. Stan was a Physics Professor at Kent State University...
John D. Bee
Apr 18, 2023
John D. Bee (Tenor), retired college professor, college dean, university administration agitator, wine importer, and general bon vivant & raconteur died on April 18, 2023.
John was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on November 30, 1943, to Raymond and Helen Bee. With his older brother Robert, the family moved several times in West Virginia and Ohio, ultimately...
Susan L. Friedman
Apr 15, 2023
Susan L. Friedman, age 73 of Ravenna, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Ft. Myers, Florida. She was born January 20, 1950 in Ravenna to the late Ronald and Leona Haiflich of Charlestown, OH.
Susan was known by Susi to her close friends and family. Some of her favorite other names to be called were Mom,...
Adam Smith
Apr 15, 2023
Adam J. Smith, age 47 of Aurora, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 15, 2023 while vacationing in Florida. He was born December 21, 1975 to Tim and Mary Smith and grew up in Kent, Ohio.
Adam had a love for many things; home projects that let his creativity and craftmanship shine, playing golf and other games,...
Louis I. Campbell
Apr 14, 2023
Louis I. Campbell, age 94, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023 at Danbury Senior Living.
Lou was born August 5, 1928 in Parkersburg, WV to the late George and Laura (Bay) Campbell. He moved to Ohio as a young boy. After graduating from Ravenna High School, he worked at the Ravenna Arsenal...
Dorothy (Shoemaker) Oliva
Apr 11, 2023
Dorothy (Shoemaker) Oliva, 87, of Ravenna, died on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, with her family by her side.
Dorothy was born to the late Joseph and Mary Monica (Barrow) Shoemaker on January 20, 1936. She grew up in Brady Lake and graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1954. In 1955, Dorothy married Richard M. Oliva, and...
Barbara A. Schrader
Apr 10, 2023
TOGETHER AGAIN - Barbara A. Schrader, age 75 of Brimfield Twp. for over 30 years, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023 at Akron General Medical Center. She was born August 23, 1947 in Cleveland, OH to the late Albert and Dorothy Swikey.
Barbara lived most of her childhood in Nordonia, Oh and graduated from Nordonia HS in...
Andrew J. Demeza
Apr 7, 2023
Andrew J. deMeza, 60, of Kent, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2023 of cancer. Andy was born to William and Gertrude deMeza in Kingston, Ontario on February 3, 1963. Raised in Stow, Ohio, he graduated in 1981 from Stow High School where he found his love of tennis, a game he continued to play for 43 years. A...
Eric W. Olson
Apr 5, 2023
Eric Walter Olson, age 60, of Kent, Ohio passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Eric was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Earle and Rosemary (McCafferty) Olson. He was raised in Medina and settled in Kent after graduating from Kent State University.
Eric was the manager of the Medina Municipal Airport for...
Josephine Ann (Schwallie) Henry
Apr 5, 2023
Josephine “Joann” Henry, 88, of Kent, Ohio passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2023 just 2 months shy of her 89th birthday.
Joann was born to Bertha and Aloysius Schwallie on May 28, 1934.
She spent her youth on the family farm in southern Ohio and was a resident of Kent since 1960.
Joann...
Wendell J. Gieger
Apr 4, 2023
Wendell J. Gieger, beloved husband, father and grandfather went home to meet the Lord 4 April 2023. Wendell was born on August 19, 1952 to Wendel and Anna Gieger of Kent, Ohio. Wendell was a graduate of Kent State University and later from Webster College, receiving a M.A. in Health Facilities Management. Wendell retired from the United States Air...
Walter C. Knapp Ii
Apr 3, 2023
Walter C. Knapp II was born on February 19, 1952, to Walter and Thelma Knapp. He grew up in Brimfield and later moved to Kent when he was in high school. After graduating from high school, Walter went on to serve his country in the United States Army.
After completing his service, Walter attended Muskingum Area Technical...
Grace L. Lowry
Apr 1, 2023
Grace L. Lowry, age 86, of Brimfield, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023. She was born October 1, 1936 to Bert and Alta DeVos in Ravenna, Ohio. They moved to Kent in 1940.
Grace attended DePeyster Grad School and delivered papers for the Akron B.J. on Franklin Ave. from 1947-1951. While attending Kent Roosevelt H.S. from...
Matthew S. Loos
Mar 30, 2023
Matthew S. Loos, age 51 of Suffield Twp., passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born December 20, 1971 to Robert and Mary Jo Loos.
Matt spent a majority of his youth growing up in Suffield, attending St. Joseph School in Randolph and later graduating from St. Vincent-St. Mary...
Richard John Koberna
Mar 28, 2023
Richard John Koberna of Hudson, Ohio passed away in the afternoon on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 after a long illness. Richard was born to Lillian and Emil Koberna on June 6, 1940 and spent his life in the greater Cleveland area before settling in Hudson in the mid 70’s. He is survived by his wife, Charlene (née Barney); sons,...
Katherine W. Ripley
Mar 28, 2023
Katherine W. Ripley, age 91 of Rootstown, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023. She was born October 24, 1931 in Edmond, Oklahoma, to the late Ralph and Rosalie Odor.
Katherine’s many talents included art, singing, inventing, and making custom jewelry. She received a music scholarship to Central State College and won several local and state singing contests....









