STEPHEN P. GEHRES
Stephen P. Gehres passed away peacefully at home on the evening of Sunday, September 22, 2024. Lois, his wife of 53 years, was by his side with the assistance of Hospice. Steve was born on August 13, 1948, to the late Wayne A. and Phyllis J. (Manken) Gehres in Van Wert. Upon graduation from Van Wert High School in 1966, he immediately enlisted in the United States Navy despite being only 17 years of age. His overseas duty was at a Naval Base in Sicily, Italy, where he handled the disarming of World War II mines from the Mediterranean Sea. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at The Ohio State University. On August 7, 1971, he married the love of his life, Lois Grabner. After graduating from Ohio State in 1973 with his Bachelor’s degree, Steve next entered Ohio Northern University Petit College of Law where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1976. Settling in Van Wert, Steve first served as an Assistant Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney and opened his private practice office on Washington Street. He became a well-known criminal defense attorney and a successful plaintiffs’ attorney in civil cases. Later in his legal career, he served as an Acting Judge in Van Wert Municipal Court. Most important during those years for Lois and Steve was the raising of their two children, Daniel and Laura. Together they watched hundreds of baseball and basketball games. Steve especially enjoyed his fishing trips with his kids to numerous regional lakes and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Steve had a great love of the ocean and spent many family summer vacations camping up and down the East Coast. Daytime activities included visiting historical sites and museums, spending time on the beach and swimming in the ocean, and facing his inability to back the camper into its assigned space. Nights saw many epic battles of Euchre and Pinochle with Steve being the preferred partner due to his skill. Of course, he liked to keep the games moving as he encouraged his fa
