Bernard Sines

DEFIANCE - Bernard "Butch" Harold Sines, 95, of Defiance, passed away on January 9, 2026, at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Butch was born on October 31, 1930, to Harold and Mildred (Leeth) Sines in Evansport, Ohio. He always said "He was the trick not the treat".

On February 20, 1954, he married Anna Mae Schaffer, who survives. Butch was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Defiance. He was very proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1951 - 1953. Butch was a very active and life member of the VFW Post 3360 in Defiance where he served in many roles and on the Military Rites Honor Guard.

Butch drove truck for Norwalk Truck Lines for 20 years before going to work at Defiance College in the maintenance department until his retirement in 1991. He was known to never sit still and was always tinkering with something. Butch loved woodworking and made many beautiful pieces for his family. Another passion of his was restoring old tractors and accomplished restoring 7 tractors. Butch was an amazing husband, dad, and grandfather, and his family was everything to him. In the family's early years, he would load up the family in his 1966 GMC pickup truck with a camper and head out on a fun-filled family vacation for two weeks. Butch also had a taste for the finer things in life like homemade ice cream, hotdogs, and pudgy pies cooked over an open fire. Any time spent with Butch was guaranteed to be a time of laughter and jokes.

Butch is survived by his loving spouse of 71 years, Anna Mae, son David (Carol) Sines, daughters, Cathy (Jim) Harris and Carol (Mike) Keezer, 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 5 step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Alex Ellert, and his sisters, Donnabelle Shock and Irene Stoufer.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 4 - 8 p.m. at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 15 at the funeral home, with Pastor Kurt Mews officiating. Burial will follow in the Evansport Cemetery, with Military Honors by VFW Post 3360.

Memorials may be made to VFW Post 3360, Defiance, St. Jude's Hospital, or donor's choice. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.