Candidates Night speaker dies afterward

Van Wert independent

The Heart Land Patriots’ Candidates’ Night on Tuesday was also the scene of tragedy when one of the speakers that night later collapsed and died.

Milo J. Schaffner Jr., a Hoaglin Township trustee and longtime farmer and local business owner, was the last speaker on the event’s agenda. Schaffner spoke of his opposition to Ohio House Bill 190, which he felt would negatively impact the rights of property owners.

Following his talk, Schaffner left the Fireside Room in Trinity Friends Church’s Family Life Center and then collapsed in the hallway outside. Volunteers quickly began administering CPR and a Van Wert Fire Department EMS squad arrived minutes later to provide treatment and, later, to transport Schaffner to Van Wert County Hospital.

Unfortunately, Schaffner did not respond to treatment and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:39 Tuesday evening.

He is survived by his wife, Jo, and three sons: Gregory (Cheryl) Schaffner, Brian (Lisa) Schaffner and Jason (Linda) Schaffner (his full obituary can be found on the Obituaries Page).