Marvin Stewart Vetter Sr.

Marvin Stewart Vetter Sr. passed away at 8:44 a.m. Saturday, February 8, 2014, at the age of 68.

He was born August 21, 1945, in Louisville, Ky., the son of the late Elmer F. and Carolyn (Kraha) Vetter. His loving wife of 44 years, Mary Jude (Flechler) Vetter, survives him in Van Wert.

Marvin was well loved by his six children, Mary Elizabeth (Mike) Holtsberry, Amy (Brandon) Grime, Erin (Steve Salazar) Vetter and Alexander (Misty Couch) Vetter, all of Van Wert, M. Stewart (Melissa) Vetter Jr. of Bellevue, and Adam (Sarah Boys) Vetter of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and 14 grandchildren, Matthew Holtsberry, Jamie and Jason Dull, Brady, Anna and Sierra Grime, Leslie, Payton and Kristine Rison, Hannah, Jude and Ariah Vetter, all of Van Wert, and Zachary and Evan Vetter of Bellevue. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who have fond memories of their Uncle Marvin.

In addition to his parents, three brothers, Elmer E. “June” Vetter Jr. and his wife, Wilma, William “Bill” Vetter and his wife, Dolores, and Gerard Vetter, who all had lived in Louisville, Ky., also preceded him in death.

Marvin was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, and was proud to have been a Eucharistic minister. He was dedicated to his faith and service to others. He was a fourth degree member of Catholic Knights of Columbus Council 6034, was a past grand knight of the lodge and coordinated the organization’s Lenten fish fry for a number of years. He served as the Right to Life coordinator for one year for the Ohio Knights of Columbus. Most important to him in service, Marvin felt it was his calling to help form young leaders through the Columbian Squires youth group. Together with his good friend, Father F. Richard Snoke, he volunteered for more than 10 years as Squires state director for the Ohio Knights of Columbus, and was always happy to hear of the lives and successes of the young men he met through the Squires.

Marvin spent most of his career as a draftsman, detailing steel buildings for Republic Steel, Stran and Varco Pruden after being transferred from Louisville, Ky., to Van Wert in 1977. In 2007, Marvin and his wife, Mary Jude, opened Main Street Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Van Wert, where he found happiness in the smiles of children as he served them ice cream with a Smiley Face. It warmed his heart to be recognized by his young patrons and their families around town, and to hear that children often requested to go to the ice cream parlor for dinner.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 12, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Charles Obinwa officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, where a Knights of Columbus Rosary service will be held at 7:45 that evening.

Preferred memorials: To the family, to assist with medical expenses.