Frank C. VENNER III

VENNER Frank C. III Frank C. Venner III, long-time Toledo broadcaster, died Friday evening at his home after a brief battle with cancer. He was 85. For many weeks, he was able to enjoy the company and care of his family, assisted by Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Born in Baltimore, MD, in 1927 to Frank C. Jr. and Virginia (Grunder) Venner, he attended schools in Providence, RI, and Binghamton, NY, before his father's final transfer to Toledo in 1940. A graduate of Central Catholic High School (1944) and the University of Notre Dame (1949), interrupted by service in the Army Air Force ('46-'47), he immediately joined WSPD radio and its fledgling television operations. Serving as both a sports and weather announcer in addition to his long tenure as a news anchor, he covered the U.S. Open Golf Championship in 1957, and the Summer Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, and presented the popular 'Weather-In-The-Weather' segment from the Commodore Perry Hotel downtown, before many years at the desk of the 'Venner-Ward Report'. He also enjoyed a 25-year run as host of the 'High School Quiz' program, and served as both News Director and Editorial Director at Channel 13, (which had become WTVG) before retiring in 1988. In 1984, he took a hiatus from his journalism career to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (9th District), earning nearly 100,000 votes in the bid. His career as father, grandfather and Toledoan, though, spanned far longer than his 40 years in broadcasting. Married in 1952 to Ruth (Blank) Venner, who died in 1996, their 44 years together included six children, and then 11 grandchildren, all of whom were the center of his interest, as well as the destination of his travels, for many years. His many other interests included playing tennis at Sylvania Country Club, Toledo Racquet Club, and Shadow Valley, working in the yard of his home of 50 years, serving as master of ceremonies of the 'Read For Literacy' corporate spelling bee, enjoying the company of many pets (both his own and the whole neighborhood's), and stumping the family with his home version of the 'Quiz' program. He also was a commercial spokesman for many local products and services, and had the pleasure of delivering numerous graduation addresses at area high schools and universities, receiving an honorary 'Doctor of Humane Letters' degree from Findlay College (now the University of Findlay). In recent years, he had enjoyed lunch gatherings with Central Catholic classmates, and with a group of retired area newsmen. He is survived by sons, Michael (Marsha), Daniel (Charlotte), Martin (Elizabeth), Jonathan (Ginny), and David (Kristy) Venner; daughter, Lisa (William) Soeters; grandchildren, Heidi Soeters (Eric Hamm), Todd and Erin Soeters, and Bethany, Brittany, Laura, Emily, Andrew, Bailey, Rebecca, and Reid Venner, and the best neighbors and friends imaginable, Kim and Robin Meadows. The family will host friends and visitors at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., on Monday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. A funeral mass will take place at Gesu Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd., on Tuesday at 11 a.m., followed by a private burial service. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the Toledo Animal Shelter. Condolences may be sent to the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com