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Joe Rotsching, Hall of Fame bowler
Joe Rotsching, an avid bowler and a member of both the Ohio and the Greater Cinci nnati Bowling Association halls of fame, died Tuesday of pneumonia at Jewish Hospital, Kenwood. He was 95.
A manager of branch office accounts for 43 years at the Union Central Life Insurance Co., Mr. Rotsching was an active bowler for the past 60 years.
"Dad loved all sports, but his first love was bowling," said his daughter, Barbara Horner.
Mr. Rotsching was a past president and life member of the Greater Cincinnati Bowling Association and in 1948, was appointed a life member and the first president of the Ohio State Bowling Association. He was elected to the GCBA Hall of Fame in 1956 and the OSBC Hall of Fame in 1965. He received the Hamilton County Sports Hall of Fame Special Award in 1999.
He was part of a committee that brought the 1968 National ABC Bowling Tournament to Cincinnati.
Mr. Rotsching was called the "Father of the Handicap," and his efforts nearly doubled local participation in city tournaments.
"Dad was so proud of all his accomplishments in bowling, but he was most proud of his family," Mrs. Horner said.
A 1922 graduate of Hughes High School, Mr. Rotsching ran track for the Cincinnati YMCA, and was a life member of the Norwood Knights of Columbus. He spent 14 years in the Ohio National Guard, 107th Cavalry Division.
In addition to his daughter, he leaves his wife of 66 years, Mary Carroll Rotsching; a sister, Chris Bertke, and a brother, Nick Rotsching; 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Carroll Morris, and a son, James Rotsching.
Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Good Shepherd Church, Montgomery. Visitation begins there at 9:30 a.m. Arrangements: Gilligan Funeral Home.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
SYLVESTER B. BEDEL, 79, of Morris, Ind., died Tuesday. He was a retired shears operator with Hill-Rom Co. and a Navy veteran of World War II. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at St. Anthony Church, Morris. Visitation: 4 to 8 tonight at Weigel Funeral Home, Batesville, Ind. Memorials: Right to Life of Southeastern Indiana and St. Nicholas School.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
ROSCOE DOWNS, 83, of Lincoln Heights, died Monday. He was an employee of General Electric. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Burress Temple Church of God Militant, Lockland. Visitation: 6 p.m. Friday at the church. Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Lockland, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
SISTER ROMANA MERKEL, O.S.F., 91, of Oldenburg, Ind., died Tuesday. She was a dom estic worker with Our Lady of Angels and St. Clement parishes in St. Bernard, and several Indiana parishes. Mass: 3 p.m. Friday8 at Sisters of St. Francis Motherhouse, Oldenburg. Visitation: 1 p.m. Friday at the motherhouse chapel. Memorials: Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100 Main St., Oldenburg, Ind. 47036.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
FRIEDA P. (MEINERS) MEZGER, 75, of Fayetteville, Ohio, died Monday. She was a hom emaker. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Church, Fayetteville. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thompson-Stevens Funeral Home, Bethel, Ohio.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
BESSIE MAE MOORE, 61, of Westwood, died Sunday. She was a packer for the Kroger Co . Services: Noon Saturday at Revelation Baptist Church, 1556 John St., West End. Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday until services at the church. Arrangements: Thompson, Hall and Jordan.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
CLARENCE "PAT" PATTERSON, 71, of Bethel, Ohio, died Tuesday. He was a machinist fo r GE Aircraft Engines. Services: 2 p.m. Friday at Kennedy-Stevens Funeral Home, Bethel. Visitation begins there at noon Friday.
Date of announcement: 01-27-2000
Andy Steele, of Deer Park, communicated with his eyes
Funeral services were conducted today for Andy Steele, a profoundly mentally ret arded man who communicated warmth for others with his bright eyes and wide smile.
Mr. Steele, 30, of Deer Park, died Monday at Children's Hospital. Services were at St. John the Evangelist Church in Deer Park.
"Andy will be remembered for his laughter, love of music and unconditional love for all people that ever had the pleasure to meet him," said Mr. Steele's brother, Jamie Steele.
Mr. Steele, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe mental retardation, couldn't walk or talk and made only unintelligible sounds.
However, friends said he had "persuasive eyes" that enticed people to look at him.
"Once this happened . . . one was welcomed into the soul of this man with the beautiful eyes and wide smile," said Jamie Steele.
Mr. Steele became known to friends as "The Man with the Persuasive Eyes."
When Mr. Steele was born in 1969, doctors feared he wouldn't survive for more than a few weeks.
Many health care workers tried to persuade his parents, Barbara Steele and the late Tyler Steele, to institutionalize him.
But the Steeles took Andy home to live with his five brothers and sisters.
"Thus began a story of a man who would deeply touch every person who ever met him," said Jamie Steele.
Mr. Steele was able to live at home for 17 years. He lived the rest of his life at Camelot Lake group home.
Other survivors include Mr. Steele's brothers, Tyler and Tom, and sisters, Laura Davis and Katy Gold.
Memorials may be made to The Andrew Steele Memorial Fund, c/o Firstar Bank, Fifth and Walnut branch, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
Evelyn Wenzel, retired professor
Evelyn Wenzel, a former Miami University professor, died Tuesday at her home in Gainesville, Fla. She was 84.
Born in Covington, Ky., Ms. Wenzel grew up in Fort Thomas.
She was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and received a master's degree from Ohio State University and her doctorate in education from Columbia University.
She taught at Miami in Oxford, Ohio, and at Indiana State University and Syracuse University before moving to Gainesville where she taught at the University of Florida for 23 years.
Ms. Wenzel co-authored four books on language arts and children's literature, and was a long-time member and volunteer with the Friends of the Library at the University of Florida.
She leaves a sister, Ruth E. Wenzel, of Fort Thomas.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed. The Forest Meadows funeral home, Gainesville, is in charge.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
ROBERT BARRETT, 73, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Thursday. He was a coal miner wit h Shepherd Coal Mining Co. and a member of Freewill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg. Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Visitation: 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials: Lawrenceburg Rescue Unit.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
EDWARD J. BRUNS, 76, of Batesville, Ind., died Thursday. He was a retired superintendent of the Texas Eastern Natural Gas Co., and an Army veteran of World War II. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Louis Church, Batesville. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday at Weigel Funeral Home, Batesville. Memorials: Hospice of Decatur County.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
HARRY G. FREEZE, 89, of Mount Orab, died Thursday. He was an employee of Kibler Milling Co. Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson-Stevens Funeral Home, Mount Orab. Visitation: Noon Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials: Mount Orab Church of Christ or Alzheimer's Association.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
ALFRED STANLEY HARPER, 67, of North Avondale, died Wednesday. Services: 11:30 a. m. Saturday at Morning Star Baptist Church, Walnut Hills. Visitation: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Jamison and Jamison Funeral Home, West End, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
LUCILLE M. HASKETT, 89, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., died Thursday. She was a homemake r and an employee of Schenley Distillery. Services: 3:30 p.m. Monday at Fitch-Denney Funeral Home, Lawrenceburg. Visitation: 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials: Hamline Chapel United Methodist Church or Woodland Hills Care Center.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
BARBARA MONTGOMERY, 58, of Walnut Hills, died Tuesday. Services: Noon Monday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Walnut Hills. Visitation: 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
PAUL H. PIEPMEIER, 70, of Bridgetown, died Sunday. He worked at Piepmeier Floris t. He was a veteran of the 
Korean War and served with the Corps of Engineers. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home, 3155 Harrison Ave., Westwood. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
MARY ELIZABETH SMITH, 75, of Ripley, Ohio, died Wednesday. Ms. Smith was a home maker. Graveside services: 1:15 p.m. Friday at Shinkles Ridge Cemtery. Visitation: Noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the Cahall Funeral Home, Georgetown, Ohio. Memorials: American Diabetes. Association or to the Alzheimer's Disease Association.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
AERIWENTHA MAE STARR, 67, of Woodlawn, died Thursday. She was a teacher. Service s: 11 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln Heights Baptist Church. Visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Lockland, is handling arrangements.
Date of announcement: 01-28-2000
