Joan Rita Pfahler

LEIPSIC—Joan Rita Pfahler, 96, of Leipsic died 4:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at Putnam Heritage, Ottawa.  She was born September 30, 1919, in Fort Wayne, IN to the late Charles and Mary (Hake) Ottenweller.  On July 11, 1940 she married Richard J. Pfahler, who passed away on September 25, 2012.

Joan is survived by her children:   Sister Diane Marie Pfahler, SND of LaGrange Park, IL, Sister Mary Dean Pfahler, SND of Perrysburg, William (Lorene) Pfahler of Canfield, Thomas (Mary) Pfahler of Dayton, Elaine Christy of Ottawa, Mary (Jack) George of Land O Lakes, Florida, and Chris (Amy) Pfahler of Ottawa; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and sisters Phyllis Lowry, Rosaline Buescher and Jane (Richard) Brandt.

She was preceded in death by a son:  Richard Dean Pfahler; son-in-law:  Ken Christy; brothers:  Bishop Albert Ottenweller, Raymond Ottenweller; and sisters:  Sister Mary Jogues Ottenweller, SND and Beatrice Ottenweller.

Joan was a 1937 graduate of Leipsic High School.  Before her marriage she was employed at the Bank of Leipsic.  After lovingly raising her children, she worked at White's Drug Store, Leipsic.  She was a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Leipsic and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Leipsic.  After retiring, she and Dick volunteered with the American Red Cross.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a. m. Monday, May 2, 2016  at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Leipsic, with Father William Pifher and Fr. Tony Fortman officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be Sunday 4 to 8 p.m. at Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Leipsic, where a scripture service will be held 7:30 p.m. There will be an additional one hour of visitation prior to funeral mass at the Parish Life Center at St. Mary's.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Sisters of Notre Dame Toledo, Ohio or Putnam County Hospice.  The family would like to thank the staff at Putnam Heritage for their loving care of Joan for the past five years.