Gary L. Waldvogel, age 70, of rural Defiance, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017, at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice. Prior to his retirement in 2000, he had worked as a custodian for Northwest State Community College for 26 years.
Gary was born in Napoleon on March 10, 1946, the son of George and Harriet (Schlosser) Waldvogel. On March 10, 1973, he married Bernadine “Bernie” Gaff, and she preceded him in death on May 18, 2016. He served in the Navy Seabees during the Viet Nam War. He was a member the Grand Rapids Sportsman’s Club and a former member of the Stryker American Legion Post. He enjoyed playing horseshoes and bingo.
Surviving are children; Sue (Rex) Ruby of Evansport, Bill (Roxann) Burkhart of Defiance, Jim (Cheryl) Burkhart of Defiance, Brad (Nancy Roehrig) Burkhart of Defiance and Bruce (Shelly) Burkhart of Weston; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Waldvogel of Stryker, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernie, both parents, and brother, William Waldvogel.
Visitation for Gary will be held from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 7, 2017 at the Grisier Funeral Home in Stryker, where the funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, with Pastor Dave Oliphant, officiating. Interment will follow in the Zion Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be given to Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.grisierfh.com