John S. Collier

The Honorable John S. Collier passed away on March 16, 2024, at the age of 71.

He was born Jan. 30, 1953, to John and Virginia (Tawney) Collier of Deshler.

John attended Deshler High School and was a graduate of Patrick Henry High School's class of 1971. He went on to attend Wittenberg University, where he met the love of his life Laurie Lesher.

They married on July 12, 1974, in Grove City, Pennsylvania. John and Laurie shared 53 years together, living most of those years in Deshler, where they raised their four children. John was a proud husband, dad and "papa."

Faith was the focus of John's life and family. He was a member of the Oakdale United Methodist Church. John loved spending time at their summer home in Lakeside Chautauqua.

John's other passion was practicing law. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Wittenberg in 1975. John completed his J.D. at The University of Toledo School of Law in 1979.

Over the course of his legal career, he served as a private practice attorney in Bowling Green, Toledo and Deshler, including 25 years as a partner with Gribbell, Sunderman and Collier in his hometown of Deshler. He served as village solicitor for Deshler, Hamler, Holgate, Malinta and Cygnet.

John presided as Municipal Court Judge in Henry County, having been appointed by Governor Voinovich in 1995, serving until May 2011 when he was sworn in as Henry County Common Pleas Court Judge, where he served until his retirement in September 2021. As a judge, John served as president of the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John P. Collier and Mary Virginia Collier (Tawney); and his son, Mathew S. Collier.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie; daughters, Lynsey Davis (Matt), Lauren Collier-Meienburg (Scott) and Katelyn Collier (William Ocheske). John was blessed by nine grandchildren, Zane and Annika Davis, Jackson, Maddox and Finn Meienburg, Ainsley Ocheske, Knolyn Collier, Knox and Knightley Collier-Ocheske. Siblings: Steve (Annette) Collier, Connie Collier (Judy Oslin), Kim Collier; and brother-in-law, Curt (Jane) Lesher. Nieces and nephews: Dave (Logan) Collier, Adam (Allison) Collier, John Patrick Collier, Emma and Owen Begley-Collier, Andrew (Shilpa) Lesher, Jordan (Corrie) Lesher, Connor Lesher and Anna Lesher. Finally, his loyal Labrador retriever, Tillie, who stayed by his side until the end.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 220 W. Elm St., Deshler. A fellowship luncheon will immediately follow in the church hall. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Feehan-Rodenberger Funeral Home, Deshler, and from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, prior to the services at the church.

Donations, messages and memories can be left for the family at www.feehanrodenbergerfuneralhome.com.