Howard J. Bechtel
MANSFIELD — Howard J. Bechtel, 86, of Mansfield died Jan. 7, 2006, in Lexington Court Care Center.

He was born July 21, 1919, in Knox County to Alva and Zella (Leedy) Bechtel, and was raised on their family farm on Hazlett Road. A World War II Army veteran, Howard served with the Telecommunications Signal Corps. He retired July 1, 1984, from the Tappan Co. in Mansfield after more than 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Leah C. (McClead) Bechtel, whom he married Nov. 12, 1944; two daughters, Linda Mishey of Mansfield and Gay Grafton of Ontario; two grandchildren; a brother, Harold Bechtel of Fredericktown; two sisters, Erma Roberts of Fredericktown and Edith Alexander in North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Neal Grafton; a sister, Arlene Kunkle; and a brother, Eldon Bechtel.

The funeral will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home, with Pastor Tj Waters officiating. Military honors will immediately follow, provided by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. Burial will follow in Forest Cemetery, Fredericktown. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Donna Rae Harrmann
GAMBIER — Donna Rae Harrmann, 56, of Gambier died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at her home.

Donna was born April 12, 1949, in Mount Vernon and had spent all of her lifetime in the Knox County area. She was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School, class of ’67. She had been employed as an OB Technician at the Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, was a member of the Gambier Community Quilters, provided in-home child day care for 16 years, loved to tend to her gardens and delivered for the Meals On Wheels program here in Knox County. She was a member of the St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville.

Surviving are her husband, C. Thomas Harrmann; her daughters, Abby Harrmann of Gambier and Kelly Harrmann of Gambier; her son, Corey Harrmann of Dublin; her father, Harold D. Graham of Mount Vernon; three sisters, Linda Clutter of Mount Vernon, Georgia (Eugene) Ridenbaugh of Gambier and Tina (Randal) Lowe of Mount Vernon; and three brothers, Tom Graham, Gary (Peggy Stewart) Graham and Wesley Graham, all of Mount Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Lou (McCoy) Graham. Donna was a friend to many and she never knew a stranger.

Friends may call Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where a prayer service will begin at 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church in Danville with the Rev. Richard Snoke as celebrant. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (N.O.C.C.), 500 N.E. Spanish River Blvd., Suite 8, Boca Raton, FL 33431. This obituary and to send a condolence to the family online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Harold N. Nauman
FREDERICKTOWN — Harold N. Nauman, 83, of Sparta Road, Fredericktown, passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital.

He was born Feb. 14, 1922, in Chesterville to the late Albert and Florence (Reynolds) Nauman. Harold was a self-employed farmer was a member of the Farm Bureau and a member of the Chester Baptist Church in Chesterville.

He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Gutheil of Mount Vernon; a son, Howard (Gail) Nauman of Mount Vernon; five grandchildren, Andrew Gutheil, Allan Gutheil, Laura Gutheil, Benjamin Nauman and Emily Nauman; three sisters, Mary Jane (Jack) Kemmer of Chesterville, Betty Stevens of Marion and Anna Mae Sherman of Lexington; and two brothers, Kenneth (Betty) Nauman of Mount Vernon and Paul (Patty) Nauman of Chesterville.

Friends may call Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown. A service will be Thursday, at the funeral home, beginning at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Chuck Wythe and the Rev. Marvin Gassman officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville.

This obituary and guest registry can be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Gerald Pealer
DANVILLE — Gerald Pealer, 78, of rural Danville died early today, Jan. 9, 2006, in The Laurels of Mount Vernon following a month-long illness. Funeral arrangements are pending at Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville.

Martin B. Peterson
MOUNT VERNON — Martin B. Peterson, 75, of Mount Vernon died Jan. 8, 2006, at the Whispering Hills Care Center in Mount Vernon.

He was born March 11, 1930, in Frankfort to Willard R. and Elizabeth (Briggs) Peterson. He was a graduate of Frankfort High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts in agriculture and a B.A. in education from Ohio State University. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and was a letterman in OSU varsity football in 1951. He earned his master’s degree in economics from Ohio University. He was a teacher in the Mount Vernon Schools, retiring in 1985. He was a past president of the Mount Vernon Education Association. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the AMVETS and the VFW. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Frankfort. Martin has been an active member of BPO Elks Lodge 140 for over 21 years. During that time he has served as Exalted Ruler two times, Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Esteemed Loyal Knight, Esteemed Leading Knight, secretary, trustee, manager of the Club Room, manager of Bingo Operations, committeeman in charge of Student of the Month and committeeman in charge of Elks Scholarships.

He is survived by his wife, Betty (Smith) Peterson, to whom he had been married 50 years; two sons, M. Brent Peterson of Mount Vernon and Jay (Missy) Peterson of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; one daughter, Beth (Tim) Bucher of Worthington; one brother, Russell (Sue) Peterson of West Liberty; one sister, Jane (George) Hamman of Ross County; and seven grandchildren, Hannah and Nate Peterson of Mount Vernon, Tim and Pete Bucher of Worthington, Chandler and Bailey Peterson and Chris Holden of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by one daughter, Susanna Lynne Peterson; and one brother, Charles Peterson.

Friends may call Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. There will be an Elks Service on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Frankfort Presbyterian Church in Frankfort. Burial will be in the Frankfort Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary along with an online registry may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Robert M. Shaw
BUTLER — Robert M. “Bob” Shaw, 67, of Butler died Jan. 7, 2006, in the MedCentral Mansfield Hospital following an apparent heart attack.

He was born Jan. 6, 1939, in Decker, Mich., to Keith and Clara (Krueger) Shaw. Bob worked with 3M as a sales account executive. He was a member of the Richland County Beekeeepers Association, Mid Ohio Walleye Club and Mt. Sinai United Methodist Church at Butler.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Vivian C. (Reinelt) Shaw; their three daughters, Laura Kissel of Powell, Christine White of Granville and the Rev. Rebecca Piatt of Westerville; five grandchildren; three brothers, Kenneth, Allan and Dale Shaw; six sisters, Aletha Mahaffy, Mabel Caverly, Linda King, Joyce Westerlund, Judi Smiley and Sheri Voss.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Russell and Roger Shaw.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home, where the funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Ken Kinley will officiate. Burial will follow in Bunkerhill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to the Worthington Township Rescue Squad may be made at the funeral home.