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Robert Harter
Robert Harter, 1934-2025
March 2025
Robert W Harter, 90, of Van Wert, passed away March 7, 2025. He was born April 28, 1934. Bob was a faithful and dedicated member of the Venedocia Lions Club. He was instrumental in oversight and working in the sausage trailer and cheerfully performed any task requested of him.
Visitation will be held 3-5pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home and Crematory, Van Wert. Memorial services will be held at 5pm on Wednesday, at the funeral home. A private burial will take place at Wright Cemetery, in Jennings Township, Van Wert County. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Venedocia Lions Club or Trinity Global Methodist Church.
Paul Price
Paul Price, 1937-2025
February 2025
Paul E Price, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Ohio Health in Van Wert. He was born on February 21, 1937, in Van Wert County. Paul was the last living charter member of the Venedocia Lions Club. He served as the treasurer for many years in the organization.
There will be a public viewing Thursday, February 6, 2025 1-5pm at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert. In lieu of flowers please consider giving to the Salem Presbyterian Church.
John Lloyd Jr
John Lloyd Jr, 1935-2024
January 2024
John Calvin Lloyd Jr, 88, passed peacefully at Hearth and Home of Van Wert on March 24, 2024. John was born on February 1, 1935, in Delphos. John helped found the Venedocia Lions Club and was a charter member of the club, holding many offices and serving on many committees.
Services will begin at 11:00am Thursday, March 28 at Salem Presbyterian Church of Venedocia; Pastor Tom Emery will officiate. Burial will follow at Venedocia Cemetery. Friends may call 4-7pm Wednesday, March 27 at Cowan & Son Funeral Home, Van Wert and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Salem Presbyterian Church of Venedocia.
Ron Owens
Ron Owens, 1939-2024
January 2024
Ronald D Owens, 84, of Venedocia, passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Ohio Health, in Van Wert. He was born July 16, 1939. Ron was a 50-year member of the Venedocia Lions Club.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Kingsley Church, 15482 Mendon Rd, Van Wert, with Pastor Ron Johnson officiating. Interment will immediately follow in Venedocia Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert. Also, one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kingsley Church or Venedocia Lions Club.
Ron Richards
Ron Richards, 1947-2022
October 2022
Ronald D. Richards, a sixth-generation farmer, entered into eternal life on Thursday, October 6, 2022, from pancreatic cancer. He has been a lifetime resident in the Welsh community of Venedocia born on March 28, 1947. He was an active member of the Venedocia Lions Club as past president and spend time working in the club's sausage trailer.
A memorial service will be held 11:00am, Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Salem Presbyterian Church, Venedocia, Ohio. There will be visitation an hour prior to the service with a Masonic service at 9:30am. Memorial contributions may be made to his church, Salem Presbyterian Church where he was an active Elder and past Trustee.
Lincolnview Band Instrument Fund Donation
Lincolnview Band Instrument Fund Donation
September 2022
The Venedocia Lions Club earmarked the money collected in the club’s donation jar in their sausage trailer at the 2022 Van Wert County Fair for the Lincolnview Band Boosters’ Instrument Fund.
The band is still using school-purchased instruments, such as sousaphones, from 1968. The booster club is currently holding a fund-raising drive to replace the old instruments, spearheaded by Jackie Goins.
At the end of the fair, the lions’ club had collected $660.55 which will go toward the fund-raising effort. The band boosters also work in the sausage trailer during many events to raise funds for their group.
Shown with the donation jar are (left to right) Jerry Koenig, Venedocia Lions Sausage Trailer Chair; Evan Elling, Lincolnview Band member; and Carl Renner, Venedocia Lions member.
VWCO Humane Society Donation
VWCO Humane Society Donation
December 2021
The Venedocia Lions Club has donated $1,000 to the Van Wert County Humane Society’s capital campaign. Construction has begun on a new animal shelter/adoption center on Fox Road in Van Wert, with the move to the new facility scheduled for spring 2022.
Shown presenting the check to Humane Society Capital Campaign Chairperson, Michelle White, are Sausage Trailer Committee member, Robert Harter, and Lions Club secretary, Jerry Koenig.
Venedocia Lions and Van Wert County CERT members
Van Wert County CERT Donation
March 2019
The Venedocia Lions Club recently presented the Van Wert County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) with a monetary donation to aid in their endeavors to provide on-site help to local disaster victims and first responders.
Shown in front of the CERT vehicle, from left to right: Amy Schroeder, CERT member; Mark Klausing, CERT Chairman; Rick McCoy, EMA/CERT member; Bob Harter, Venedocia Lions member; Greg Roberts, CERT member; and Jerry Koenig, Venedocia Lions member.