William David Lytle

William “Bill” Lytle, 80, of Napoleon, Ohio passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was a natural firecracker, born on July 4, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the son of William P. and Alice Elizabeth “Betty” (Nase) Lytle. Bill grew up in Mansfield and Deshler before settling in Napoleon in 1955. He graduated from Napoleon High School (now known as Central) in 1964. He went on to join the US Navy where he served his country in Boston where he delivered 125 babies and then a tour in Vietnam as a corpsman from 1968-1969. After being discharged, he went back to school graduating from Defiance College in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in social work. He joined his alma mater, Napoleon Area Schools, in the fall of 1972 until his retirement in 2000 as the district attendance truant office. In 1975, on a predestined trip to Hawaii arranged by his longtime friends, Larry and Bonnie Sasaki, he met the love of his life, Jeanne (Bruskotter) Hermiller. After a whirlwind romance, there were married six months later at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ottawa, Ohio on December 27, 1975. With this union came an instant family of two sons, Robert and John Hermiller. The completion of his family came in December of 1977 when his daughter Megan was born. His beloved Jeanne passed away in June of 1979. After her passing, he stayed the ever-devoted family man. In his free time, he was a devoted member of St. Augustine Catholic Church. Bill was an avid golfer with his longtime “tee-off” buddies, Walt Berhman, Greg Merrill, Doug Lange, and many others. He enjoyed a good game of poker with various monthly groups. Bill, also known affectionately as Billy, Uncle Bub, and Papa will be remembered for his strong and stubborn, yet humble and fun-loving spirit. A man of few words but a generous giving spirit leaves behind to continue his legacy; sister, Martha (Daniel) Schipfer, brother-in-law, John Rupp; sons, Robert (Sarah) and John Hermiller; daughter, Megan (Doug) Lytle-Steele; grandchildren, Keri (Geoff) Fansher, Cale Hermiller, and Jeanne Steele, and bonus grandchildren, Nicole and Doug Steele, Jr.; nephews, Daniel (Christine) Schipfer, John (Marlo) Schipfer, and Matthew (Adrienne) Schipfer, and Joseph (Kristin) Rupp; and many great grandchildren nieces, nephew, and lifelong friends. Besides his parents and beloved wife, Bill was proceeded in death by his sisters, Mona Lytle and Elizabeth "EP" (Lytle) Rupp; brothers-in-law: Jim, Bob, Tommy, Richard, Johnnie, and Chuck Bruskotter and Jack "Jacko" Wells; sisters-in-law, Rosemary, Marge, Mary Ellen, Jo, and Marylin Bruskotter and Marge (Bruskotter) Wells; and daughter-in-law, Mary J. Hermiller. A memorial gathering will be held at the Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon, on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM. A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 10:30 AM with Fr. Jerry Schetter officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Ottawa. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church, St. Augustine School, the Henry County Humane Society, or Ohio Living Hospice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at rodenbergergray.com. The family would like to extend their sincerest thanks to everyone for their prayers, visits and thoughts.

Tributes

William David Lytle

July 4, 1945 - December 28, 2025