Monday, March 3rd, 2014
James Masonbrink
James "Jim" Herbert Masonbrink, 77, formerly of Celina, passed away Feb. 28, 2014, at his home in Vandalia.
He was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Kilgore, Texas, to Herbert Charles Masonbrink and Lola Esther (Buckley) Masonbrink. He married Marilyn Ann Lehman on June 8, 1957, and she survives in Vandalia.
Also surviving are a son, James Herbert II (Stephanie Lynn) Masonbrink, Vandalia; three grandchildren, Gregory Thomas (Danielle) Morton, Kassandra Lee (Kyle) Bush, and Lauren Ann Masonbrink; a great-grandchild, Jacob Thomas Morton; sisters, Dola Ann Smith, Celina, Mary Esther Dixon, Celina, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Charles Masonbrink and Lola Esther (Buckley) Masonbrink-Coate; his brother and sister-in-law, William Edward and Ramona Faye Masonbrink, and brothers-in-law, John Smith and Clarence Dixon.
He graduated from Celina High School with the class of 1955 and attended Defiance College until 1959. He was a center for the Defiance football team and in the Kappa Sigma Kappa Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959-1961 (active duty) followed by four years in the Army Reserve. He was a member of the Celina Veterans of Foreign Wars, Celina Moose Lodge, Mercer County Elks, a 51-year member of Celina Masonic Lodge #241 F & AM and 30-year member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton. He was employed and retired from Celina Insurance Group and Phelan Insurance Agency, Versailles. He worked at Midwestern Insurance Group in Milford and Central Mutual Insurance in Van Wert as a sales field representative and twice received the Fieldman of the Year award from the Professional Insurance Agencies in Ohio. He enjoyed his family, friends, the Buckeyes and golf.
Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, Celina, the Rev. Jeff Gramza officiating. Burial will follow in Swamp College Cemetery in Celina with military honors.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina, and one hour before services Saturday at the church. A VFW membership service will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Masonic Lodge services at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, Mercer County Parkinson Group or St. John Lutheran Church Bell Tower Fund.
Online condolences may be left at LHDfuneralhome.com.
