Ida May

Mielke

Ida May Mielke age 94 died Monday, January 18, 2021.

She was born May 29, 1926 in Allen County, Indiana, daughter of the late Ellsworth and Edith (Barnhart) Rhodes.  On July 6, 1946 she married Walter J. Mielke who preceded her in death on April 4, 1990.  She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and Lady's Aid of St. John Lutheran Church.  She retired in 1968 from the Paulding County Hospital as a nurse and worked alongside her husband on the family farm.  She was an artist and painted ceramics.  She was a volunteer for P.A.S.S. (the former Cripple Children Society of Paulding County).  She loved children, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children:  David (Deborah) Mielke, Paulding, Vickie (Bruce) Laukhuf, Haviland, and Cheryl Gehres, Columbus, OH, son-in-law,  Norm Casselman, North Carolina; a brother Donald (Dorthy) Rhodes, Ft. Wayne; grandchildren:  Penny, Andrew, Adam, Katie, Corey, Joe, Seth, Peter and Anna; great grandchildren:  Kayla, Braden, Drew, Jacob, Max, Xander, Abe, Oliver, Evelyn, Eloise, Eda, Maya, Alex, and Olivia.

She is also preceded in death by a daughter, Gloria Casselman, granddaughter, Adrian; son-in-law, David Gehres, sisters, Helen Kinerk, Maxine Zeigler-Kinerk, and Donna Jean Stroble.

Due to COVID-19 concerns private family services will be held 11 AM Friday, January 22 at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding.  She will be laid to rest in Blue Creek Cemetery, Haviland, OH.

Family visitation will be from 10 AM until time of services.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to P.A.S.S. (the former Crippled Children Society of Paulding County) or a charity of the donor's choice.