Council 14502 - St. John XXIII Remembers

Mark C. Frederick, November 2016

Mark C. Frederick, 40, of Pemberville, Ohio passed away November 1, 2016. He was born in Toledo, Ohio on September 18, 1976 to Joseph and Kathleen (Long) Frederick.

Mark was a 1995 graduate of Eastwood High School. He went on to obtain his Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in 2000. In the past, he worked as a crisis counselor for The Link in Bowling Green. Mark enjoyed deer hunting, being in the woods, mushroom hunting, fishing in the Portage River and Lake Erie, golfing and playing euchre. He loved and respected nature and each changing season.

He was a member of St.John XXIII Catholic Church in Perrysburg, Ohio where he also served as an usher. Mark was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Knights of Columbus and New Rochester Mens Club. He participated in the New Rochester Luminarias.

What he enjoyed most of all was spending time with his family and friends. He will be remembered by them as a warm and compassionate person with a big heart.

Mark is survived by his parents Joe and Kathy Frederick of Pemberville, Ohio, his brother Joe (Tara) Frederick of Columbus, Ohio, his two nephews Zach and Josh and maternal grandmother Laetta Long of Willard, Ohio. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles; Fred Eldred of Willard, Ohio, Walt (Judy) Frederick of Middlesex, North Carolina, Ann (Tom) Herner of Norwalk, Ohio, Mike (Marge) Frederick of North Royalton, Ohio, Bob (Barb) Frederick of Brookfield, Connecticut, Agnes Balduff of Norwalk, Ohio and Dave (Diane) Long of Willard, Ohio and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Walter and Marion Frederick, maternal grandfather Albert Long and aunt Mary Lu Eldred.

David Joseph Nirschl, February 2016

Sir Knight, David Joseph Nirschl, age 67, of Rossford, Ohio passed away after a long battle with cancer on Monday, February 15, 2016, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on April 14, 1948, in Konstanz, Germany and moved to the United States at age 6. David was a 1967 graduate of Central Catholic High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science from the University of Toledo.

He proudly served his country in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. David was a licensed social worker and corrections officer employed with the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department retiring in 2014. He married his wife, Nancy (Szul) and together they raised two daughters.

David was a member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church, where he was a Lay distributor, usher, a Fourth Degree member of The Knights of Columbus Council 14502 and the Monsignor Yates Assembly 2800, and a member of Faith Alive.

He was also involved in music at St. Francis de Sales for 18 years and History of Music Director for Servants in Song. David enjoyed jet skiing and vacations to Black Lake. His greatest joy was spending time with family, especially his daughters. He was a loving husband and father and will be dearly missed.

David is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Nancy; children, Christine (Richard) Eckel and Nicole Nirschl. Also surviving are in-laws and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mary Alice (Taylor) Nirschl; daughter, Adrienne Nirschl; in-laws, Joseph and Barbara Szul; along with many aunts and uncles.

Hector Ramirez MD, December 2015

Born in Tecpan, Guatemala, to Hector Manual Ramirez and Blanca Colon de Ramirez. Hector had two brothers, Guillermo and Arturo, both deceased. He began to show an interest in medicine at an early age by practicing surgeries and procedures on his stuffed animals. Hector graduated from Liceo Guatemala in 1956, and went on to begin studying medicine at the Universidad de San Carlos de Boromeo, Guatemala, graduating on March 25, 1966. The next day, on March 26, he married Maria Waleska Bianchi.

Hector and Waleska and their 18 month old son, Hector, Jr., moved to the United States in 1968. Hector did his internship and first year of residency at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital, University of Kentucky. He then transferred to the Medical College of Ohio, where he finished his residency and fellowship in Vascular Surgery and became the first Vascular Surgeon to graduate from the Medical College of Ohio.

Hector also had an interest in art and painting. In school, he would assist his friends studying architecture with their drawings. He took a couple of courses at Lourdes College where he learned to use watercolors.

While working in his medical practice, he served on the board of the American College of International Physicians for two years. Then he became President of the Foreign Graduate Physicians of Northwest Ohio, a position he held for two years. Hector was also a member of the Rotary Club of Maumee, OH, for several years and served as President of the club from 1987-88. While a member of Rotary, he received two awards for services to the community. At the same time, he and his wife, Waleska, worked hard for the people in Guatemala and with the support and help of the Maumee Rotary and Rotary International, founded an orphanage for girls in Mazatenango, Guatemala, which is still open and functioning today.

Very early in his practice he found himself getting involved in medical missions. At the very beginning to Haiti and then to the Dominican Republic. After his stroke he worked closely with Dr. Richard Paat, and together they started a medical mission to Guatemala, which Dr. Paat continues today.

Dr. Ramirez and his wife have 5 children; the oldest was born in Guatemala and the other four in Toledo, Ohio. In time they all got married and produced 11 grandchildren, of which Hector and Waleska are very proud of.

Our deepest sympathy goes to his children and grandchildren, Hector Jr. and his daughter Taylor; Pablo and Ann Forbes-Ramirez and their children Logan, Melina and Caleb; Luis and his wife Traci and their children Tucker, Maya and Sonia; Ana Belongea and her husband Chad and their three daughters Caitlyn, Alesandra and Anaka, and Lisa Kemper and her husband Brian and their little boy, Fitzgerald.

Father Thomas E. Wehinger, May 2014

Fr. Thomas E. Wehinger, age 78, died peacefully on May 23, 2014 in his home, surrounded by his dear friends and family. He was born on November 1, 1935 to Cecil and Mary Wehinger in Mansfield, Ohio.

Fr. Tom was known for his gentleness, patience and dignity. In his early years of the priesthood he was involved with the Catholic Family Movement and ministering to the Spanish Speaking community. He was the first priest involved in Cursillo, the first priest to initiate Christ Renews His Parish in the Toledo Diocese 1977, and the first priest spiritual director for Teens Encounter Christ in Tiffin 1967-1968. Fr. Tom initiated Operation Love in 1967 and engaged 75 Tiffin Franciscan Sisters to minister to the migrants in Sandusky and Seneca Counties. His assignments included: Saint Mary Parish, Vermilion, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Toledo Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Toledo, Saint Joseph Parish, Maumee, Saint Mary Parish, Vermilion, Little Flower of Jesus Parish, Toledo, Saint Mary Parish, Tiffin, Saint Mary Parish, Leipsic, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bono, Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Defiance, Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, St. Michael’s Ridge, Saint Joseph Parish, Maumee, and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Toledo, where he retired in 2007. Fr. Tom also served as the Dean of the Defiance Deanery from 1976-1981 and was a member of the Alliance of Pastors for Parish Renewal in the 1970s.

Since retiring from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, he was active in ministering to the incarcerated men and to some women in the many prisons in Ohio and one in Michigan.
Fr. Tom was the Celebrant of the Eucharist every weekend at St. John XXlll Catholic Community, and at the parishes of Genoa and Oak Harbor. He also frequently ministered the Sacrament of The Anointing of the Sick to those at hospice, and frequently visited those hospitalized and home-bound.

Fr. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Mary Wehinger and
his two twin brothers Dick and Chuck. He is survived by his nephews Jim and Kenneth Wehinger, his niece Lisa Berber, uncles Richard and Frank Wehinger and many cousins.
He is also survived by the Pollnow Family whom he has considered his second family for the past 37 years, and by many who loved him.

Gary Berger, March 2013

Gary J. Berger, age 68, of Perrysburg, Ohio died Friday, March 29, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Toledo on May 15, 1944 to John and Mary (Bott) Berger and on April 24, 1965 he married Miriam Swartz. Gary was a Veteran of the United States Army and worked over 33 years as a Strategy Advisor for Towers Watson. He was a member of Blessed John XXIII Catholic Church. Gary was a world traveler for both pleasure and business and he was an avid shopper. He loved spending time with the planning and construction of his own home, but what he loved best was working with his clients on their employee surveys and strategic initiatives. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Miriam Berger; daughters, April (Lance) Oman, Stephanie (Kurt) Souza and Christine (Gerrit) Van Rooyen; 4 grandchildren; as well as his beloved pet Oliver Chewy