Miriam Junge

Holgate - former National Auxiliary executive passes away. Miriam D. Junge, former National Secretary (CEO) and Honorary Past National President of the American Legion Auxiliary organization from 1978 until her retirement on January 1, 1994, passed away at Vancrest Nursing Home, Holgate, Ohio on December 22, 2025. As Honorary Life Member of the Wm. F. Helmke American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 340 in Holgate, Ohio, Mrs.Junge served as President and as Chairman of numerous major committees on the local, county, district and state levels of the organization. She was Ohio's State Auxiliary President in 1969 and represented them on the National Executive Committee the following year. She headed the Public Relations staff for both Buckeye Girls State and Girls Nation for nearly 25 years. In addition, she directed Ohio's Buckeye Girls State, the largest Girls State in the nation, as well as Girls Nation in Washington D.C. She also instituted the Girls Nation scholarship program while director. In addition to Girls State and Public Relations, she chaired many of the Auxiliary's National Committees several times. These included Membership, National Security, Junior Activities, Past President's Parley, Resolutions, Unit Development and Revitalization, National President's Advisory Committee, Distinguished Guests, Cavalcade of Memories, Human Resources, the Future Focus Committee and the Centennial Strategic Planning Team. She authored the Auxiliary's "Communications Guide" which was the first national publication to be protected with a copyright at that time. Mrs. Junge was also instrumental in organizing the Brownie and Girl Scout programs in Holgate, the Holgate Band Boosters, the American Legion Auxiliary's Drill Team, her Unit's Junior Activities and the Past President's Parley Programs. She taught Sunday School for over 25 years and was the first woman elected to the St. Peter's Lutheran Church Council. After returning to Ohio from Indianapolis in August of 2002, she continued her involvement with several state and local organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, the Henry County Republican Women and her church where she chaired the Vision Discovery Action Committee, Witness & Support, Worship & Music, the Mutual Ministries Committees as well as Vice President and Secretary of St Peter's Lutheran Church Council, and the church choir, She also chaired the committee which was instrumental in building the current St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Holgate and establishing the St. Peter's Faith and Family Daycare program.

She is survived by children, Roger (Sue) New Bavaria, Ohio: MaryAnn (Douglas) Kruse, Indianapolis, Indiana; Thomas (Tami) Junge of Spring Lake, Michigan; and daughter-in-law, Beverly Junge of Holgate, Ohio. Grandchildren: Christopher (Joanne) Junge of Napoleon, Ohio; Todd (Melany) Junge, Holgate, Ohio; Jennifer (Russell) Reed, Indianapolis, Indiana: Jeffrey (Kelly) Kruse, Roswell, Georgia; Kenneth (Jackie) Junge, Vienna, Virginia; Gwendolyn (Sean) Hanley, Versailles, Kentucky; Dr. Karen (John) Naymik, Powell, Ohio; Jessica (Josh) Barry, Marysville, Ohio; Ryan Junge; Stephanie (Justin) Foster, Sherman, Connecticut;, Nichole (David) Hudson, Spring Lake, Michigan; Lauren (Mathew) Maughan, Providence, Rhode Island; twenty two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.Her husband, Melvin, son James, parents, Ford and Anna Lazenby, a brother Robert, and sister Phyllis Beaverson preceded her in death.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on January 9, 2026, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Holgate, Ohio, with Pastor James Wenger officiating. Interment will follow at the Forest Hill Cemetery, Napoleon, OH. Visitation will be held from 2 - 8 p.m. on Thursday January 8, 2026, at Zachrich Funeral Home, Holgate, Ohio, and from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. on January 9, 2026, at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Holgate American Legion Auxiliary, the ALA National Foundation, or the St. Peter's Lutheran Church Sunday School.