GROVER BEHRENS

Grover C. Behrens, 106, formerly of Deshler, died at 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee. He was the oldest veteran of World War I in Ohio.

He was born July 20, 1886, in Riga, Mich., to Christian and Elizabeth M. (Matzinger) Behrens. He married Mary Schnabele on March 11, 1919, and she died in 1970.

Mr. Behrens owned and operated Belmore Garage from 1926 to 1946, when he retired. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1903-11 and in the U.S. Army from 1918-19. In 1908 he was a submarine diver with the unit which was the first U.S. submarine flotilla. He was involved in the Spanish-American War for 30 days. He served on the USS North Dakota which was commissioned to England for the coronation of King George V.

Mr. Behrens was a charter member of Deshler American Legion Post #316. He was also a member of the Shawtown and Richfield Township granges and received a Golden Sheaf Grange Award for 50 year membership. He was a singer and played the violin.

Surviving are his daughters. Mrs. Walter (Esther) Baker, of Perrysburg: Mrs. Charles (Helen) Gustafson, of Raleigh. N. C., and Ardell Johnston, of Virginia Beach. Va.; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death, by his brothers. John, Charley, Fred, Howard and Frank, and sisters, Rose Cortright, Carrie Behrens, Lettie McFadden, Cleo Walker, and Nellie Farquarhson.

Military graveside services were held Dec. 9 in Woodlawn Cemetery, Deshler.

Memorials may be made to the Edwin Wood Library, Deshler.

Arrangements were handled by the Snyder-Bloor Funeral Home, Deshler.