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— In Memoriam — CARL W. SCHLENKER, SR., 92, died January 15, 2012, at The Gardens of Wapakoneta. At the age of 12, after the death of his father, he began a farming career that spanned his life. After his marriage to Mildred Cook in 1940, he began breeding purebred Holstein cattle and at one point had the highest-producing herd in Auglaize County. He was secretary of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, helped organize the Auglaize County Holstein Association, and served as its first president. Through the years he had a diversified farming operation including registered shorthorn cattle, a farrow-to-finish hog operation, egg produc-tion, grain and sheep. In the 1960’s he had the highest commercial ewe flock in Ohio. He helped organize the Wapakoneta Producers Livestock Association and served on its advisory board, and he was director and president of the Wapakoneta Farmers Grain Co. In 1960 he was appointed to the U. S. Farm Policy Council under Secretaries of Agriculture Claude Wickard and Orville Freeman. In 1961 he spoke at the Midwest Governor’s Bread Basket Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was president of the Auglaize County National Farmers Organization and state secretary. He was a charter member and Ohio Director for the National Corn Growers Association for 10 years. In 1970 he helped launch a farm program at WIMA radio, where he served five years as farm director. He spoke at the Vocational Agriculture Convention in West Germany in 1972. In the late 1980’s he was the first president of the Ohio Grain Producers Association, where he was recognized for his lifetime service to agriculture. After retiring from active farming, he and his wife participated in mission work in southern Mexico. He was a lifelong member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Wapakoneta and served on the Church Council. He continued as a member of the Ohio Farmers Union and the Wapakoneta Senior Citizens. Survivors include daughters Mary Jo (Richard Roth) of Wapakoneta and Judith (Frederick) Platfoot of Botkins; sons Carl, Jr. (Peggy), Thomas (Patricia) and Chris (Deborah) Schlenker, all of Wapakoneta; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in law and a brother- and sister-in-law. He was preceded in death by his wife, brother John Schlenker, sister Pearl Schiller, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, son-in-law Wayne Clements, step-father John Gibson and two great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gardens of Wapakoneta Activity Fund, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Wapakoneta, or St. Rita’s Hospice. DENNIS RAYMOND “SMITTY” SMITH, 71, of Urbana, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at the James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio University Medical Center. He was born October 11, 1940, in Maplewood, a son of the late Kenneth and Wilma Abbott Smith. Known as “Smitty,” Dennis owned Smitty’s Hoof
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Trimming Service for more than 25 years. He enjoyed his family, his work and his cattle, and was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan. Dennis is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bea, whom he married November 21, 1959, along with his children, Tim (Shawna) Smith of Cable, Steve Smith of Springfield, Judy (Bob) Helming of St. Paris and Jacquie (Dave) Wray of Mason; grandchildren Brittany and Zach Smith; Lauren, Hannah and Connor Smith; Ryan, Jessica and Jami Helmig; Alexis, Jordan and Michele Smith; Ethan and Eli Edwards; and Sarah and Monica Wray; a sister Janet (John) Small of Maplewood; two sisters-in-law, Mary Jane (Bruce) Ware of Antioch, Tennessee, and Marlene Baker of DeGraff; a brother-inlaw, Ray (Anne) Hanback of Columbus; several nieces and nephews; and good friends Jay Fledderjohn of St. Mary’s and Gary and Susie Hamman of New Washington. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Smith; a grandson, Rick Helmig; and a granddaughter, Emma Edwards. Donations may be made to the Lymphoma Society.
NORMAN D. ALGER, 84, passed away February 15, 2012, at Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ravenna. He was born in Cleveland, the son of the late Horton B. and Helen (Carlton) Alger. In World War II, he served his country in the Submarine Service of the U. S. Navy. A lifetime Mantua area resident, he graduated from The Ohio State University in 1952 with a degree in Animal Science and Agronomy. He began farming in 1952, and since 1987, he was a partner with two of his sons in the Alger Dairy Partnership. He was a member of the Milk Marketing Cooperative, where for 30 years he held various positions of leadership, and a member of the DHI Cooperative and Portage County Farm Bureau. He was inducted into The Ohio State University Dairy Science Hall of Service in 1985. He was a former member of the Mantua Township Zoning Commission, American Legion Post 193 and Royal Order of Moose in Port Charlotte, Florida. Norman took pleasure in researching his family heritage, and this was instrumental in the development the baseball diamond in Mantua Township known as Kathy’s-Mel Harder Field, which was dedicated to her grandfather, former Cleveland Indians baseball player Mel Harder. He was an avid reader and enjoyed golf and spending the winter months in Florida with his wife Marilyn (Mantsch) Alger, whom he married December 20, 1952, and who survives at their home. Also surviving are sons Keith (Cristina) Alger of Silver Springs, MD, Brian (Kathy) Alger and Randall Alger, both of Mantua, and Kermit (Cathy) Alger of LaGrange, KY; sister Doris Ann (Lewis) Smith of Boise, ID; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Mantua-Center Christian Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.