ERNEST LAVERNE CROUT, 68, of Montour Falls,
N.Y., born March 10, 1933, passed away May 19, 2001 in Elmira,
N.Y.
Verne displayed his traction engines and steam rollers at shows
in upper state New York and Pennsylvania. Verne always enjoyed
visiting with friends at other shows.
CLIFFORD ‘CLIFF’ F. KOVACIC, 48, of
Spencer, died Sunday, July 29, 2001, in Medina, Ohio.
He was born March 19, 1953, in Berea, and was a Medina County
resident for 34 years. Mr. Kovacic was a noted collector of steam
traction engines and frequented steam meets across the Midwest,
Dover, Medina and Greenfield Village. His assistance to other
collectors in the endeavor endeared him to many throughout the
area. Mr. Kovacic enjoyed an extensive collection of early
automobiles, which delighted many who attended local fairs, car
meets and rallies. He also was a member of the York Township
Historical Society. His devotion to the Medina County area began
with his development of K&M Construction Co., and along with
his son Billy, founded Liberty Excavating in 1992.
Mr. Kovacic was the beloved husband of Jane (nee Bellville), to
whom he was married 27 years; loving father of Elizabeth, Charles
and the late William (Billy); dearest son of Betty (nee Davis) and
the late William; dear brother of Charles; devoted son-in-law of
Albert and Jean Palmer; cousin of Bud Kovacic; brother-in-law of
Patricia Lambert, Albert Palmer, Megan Huey, Debra Smith, Pamala
Palmer, Shawnee ‘Jo’ Williams and the late Rhonda
Berberich. His pleasant smile will be missed by all who knew
him.
Memorial contributions may be made to Medina County Fair Victims
Fund, c/o Western Reserve Bank, 4015 Medina Road, Medina, OH
44256.
WILLIAM ‘BILLY’ KOVACIC, 26, of
Spencer, who provided many a pleasant memory to those who knew him,
passed away Sunday, July 29, 2001, in Medina, Ohio.
Born Aug. 13, 1974, in Wooster, he was a lifetime resident of
Medina County and was active with area steam engine associations.
His assistance in these endeavors delighted and informed all who
knew him. His collecting days began with his active pursuit of
elaborate model trains, which he proudly displayed to all who
asked. Mr. Kovacic’s friends and coworkers knew him as part of
the devoted and unique father-and-son partnership, which was
central in the development of Liberty Excavating. They frequently
relied upon his enthusiastic support and friendship.
Mr. Kovacic was the beloved son of Jane (nee Bellville) and the
late Clifford; loving brother of Elizabeth and Charles; dear
grandson of Albert and Jean Palmer and Betty (nee Davis) and the
late William; cousin of Bed Kovacic; dearest nephew of Patricia
Lambert, Albert Palmer, Megan Huey, Debra Smith, Pamala Palmer,
Shawnee ‘Jo’ Williams and the late Rhonda Berberich.
Memorial contributions may be made to Medina County Fair Victims
Fund, c/o Western Reserve Bank, 4015 Medina Road, Medina, OH
44256.
DENNIS R. JUNGBLUTH, 58, of Litchfield
Township, died Sunday, July 29, 2001, after a tragic accident at
the Medina County Fairgrounds, Medina, Ohio.
He was born Feb. 6, 1943, in Sheffield and lived in Litchfield
for 30 years, moving from Sheffield. Mr. Jungbluth was employed as
a meter technician, working for Columbia Gas transmission. He
retired in 1996 after 32 years of service. He was a member of Our
Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Litchfield and a
scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 504, Litchfield. He enjoyed antique
farm machinery, farming and raising draft horses.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara (nee Gest);
daughters, Michelle of Litchfield, Suzanne of Canton; son, Dennis
‘Randy’ of Litchfield; and brothers and sisters, Jerry
(Georgetta) Jungbluth of Wellington, Leonard (Candy) Jungbluth of
Sheffield, Cyndy (Claudio) Fergiuele of Georgia and Charlene
Jungbluth of Wellington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy and Cecelia (nee
Krystowski), and brother, Greg.
ALAN D. KIMBLE, 46, of Medina, died Sunday,
July 29, 2001, after a tragic accident at the Medina County
Fairgrounds, Medina, Ohio.
Alan was born in Lodi to Clyde and Georgia (nee Schultz) Kimble
and lived in Medina County all his life. He was a graduate of
Buckeye High School and started in the machinist trade following
graduation. He worked for the former Mining Machine in Medina for
years and was employed at Tiger General in Medina for the past 16
years. Alan enjoyed working on the family farm. He was well known
for his mechanical skills and spent time restoring antique tractors
with his brother Dean.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Liz (nee Paul) of
Medina; children, Kevin Kimble of Medina and Katie and Rachel
Kimble, both of Medina; mother, Georgia Kimble of Medina; brothers,
Dean (Becky) Kimble of Medina and Clyde Russel Jr. (Julia) of
Columbiana; and sister, Lynn (Philip) Kemp of Medina. He was the
son-in-law of Laurel and Joe Paul of Lodi and brother-in-law of Ray
(Joyce) Paul, and Jeff (Diana) Paul, both of Medina. Alan also is
survived by many nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles and
cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Russel Kimble Sr.,
in July 2001; maternal grandparents, Bernice and Nelson Schultz;
and paternal grandparents, Mildred and Virgil Kimble.
BRYAN R. HAMMOND, 18, of Homer Township, passed
away Saturday, Aug. 4, 2001, at Cleveland Metro Health Medical
Center from injuries suffered in the Medina County Fair steam
engine accident July 29 in Medina, Ohio.
He was born Oct. 14, 1982, in Cleveland to Cathy and Dewayne
Hammond and resided in Homer the past 12 years. He attended Black
River Local Schools and the Medina County Career Center and was a
member of the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department. Bryan was employed
by Liberty Excavating in Medina.
He is survived by his parents, Cathy Maynard of Chippewa Lake
and Dewayne Hammond of Homer; sister, Heather Hammond of Chatham
Township; brother Greg Hammond of Homer; half brother; Hunter
Maynard of Chippewa Lake; fiance, Katie Repp of Chatham; maternal
grandparents, Barbara and Bob Porter of Cleveland; and paternal
grandparents, Sonny and Wanda Hammond of Homer.
JOSEPH N. KUESTER, 88, Clintonville, Wisc, died
Monday morning, July 23, 2001, at the Maple Lane Health Care Center
in Belle Plaine, Shawano County, Wis. Joe was born May 26, 1913, in
Clintonville, the son of the late August and Ella (Meyer) Kuester.
He lived all of his life in Clintonville where he attended
Clintonville schools, graduating from Clintonville High School in
1930. He also attended the University of Wisconsin School of
Engineering. Joe worked in the family business, August F. Kuester
and Sons, a farm implement company, and later owned Joe’s
Boiler Service. The Kuester family also operated the Packard Garage
in Clintonville. His work as a youth on area steam threshing crews
led to a lifetime hobby with steam engines. His Case, Peerless,
Nichols and Shepard steam engines were fixtures in Clintonville and
area parades. He belonged to numerous steam engine clubs and was an
honorary member of the Traction Society of England. The Kuester
family was named a Pioneer Family by the state of Wisconsin at the
time of the state’s centennial in 1948. The family home served
the community in many capacities, including serving as village,
city and town halls, and is now the History House, a local museum.
Joe was the Grand Marshal of the Clintonville Fireman’s Parade
in 1998. He was a charter member of the Clintonville Curling Club
and a longtime member of the St. Martin Lutheran Church,
Clintonville. He was united in marriage to Rosetta Wotruba on Aug.
28, 1934, in Clintonville. She survives him, along with his two
daughters, Kay Jo (Roger) Doran, Antigo, and Mary-Beth Kuester,
Madison, and his beloved grand dogs, Lucky, Baxter and Raisin. He
is survived by his younger brother, Donald, Oshkosh, and was
preceded in death by two brothers, James and William.
