Mary Clara Like

McComb -- Mary Clara Like, 105, died 3:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at The Meadows of Ottawa. She was born in Miller City on December 5, 1910. She is the daughter of John and Anna (Schieber) Brinkman. Mary grew up with an outspoken mother and humble father, John worked for the railroad and Anna was a full time homemaker.

Mary attended school in Miller City in the early years of 1916. She would walk home with her other siblings to await chores, gardening, and washing after school. Many years later Mary attended a social dance and met a young man who "fell head over heels" for her. Albert Like asked for permission to marry John and Anna Brinkman's daughter. The couple were married on April 14, 1931. The young couple moved to Leipsic and attended St. Mary's Catholic Church. Albert was a farmer. Mary was a farmer's wife, busy with raising their ten children. With Mary's experience having a big family, she would garden anything she could grow. She planted potatoes, onion, beans, and carrots.

Mary also sewed clothes for all of her ten children: Imogene Like of Ottawa, June (Larry) Loudon of Columbus Grove, Ronald (Anne) Like of McComb, Donna Cooper (deceased), Norma (Ken) Wagner of Findlay, Shirley Trenkamp of Ottawa, William Like of Leipsic, Charles (Sharon) Like of McComb, Daniel (Sigrid) Like of McComb, and Gerald Like of North Carolina.  She also has 29 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.  Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Albert who died October 10, 1995; 3 brothers: Joseph, Herbert and Bernhardt Brinkman; 3 sisters: Loretta Iden, Wilhelma Unterbrink and Helen Brinkman and 3 grandchildren.

Mary was the sixth generation to see her hard work pay off. She enjoyed needle point and tatting, as well as had a great love for the rosary and adoration to the blessed Virgin Mary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Leipsic, with Fr. William Pifher officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Leipsic where there will be a rosary at 5:30 p.m. by the Rosary Altar, and Wednesday one hour prior to mass at the Parish Life Center.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund.

Condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com