NIBGA Obituaries

“Bluegrass Bob” Waaland, 70, of Findlay Ohio passed away on April 16, 2009 at his residence.

Bob was well known in bluegrass circles around the Tri-State area, and he was a regular attendee of many bluegrass festivals including the Tri-State Festival; the festivals and campouts at Hillbrook Recreation in Ottawa, OH; and the Musicians against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Bob had a great love for the music and devoted much of his time to keeping up with the various groups. In the process, he became well acquainted with most of the area's musicians, as well as many of the music's most prominent personalities. He and his family also were the owners/event producers for a one-year run of the Maple City Bluegrass Festival in Norwalk, Ohio in 2001. Although not a bluegrass musician himself, Bob recounted many times the wonderful sense of timing that he displayed by contracting Rhonda Vincent to play at the Maple City festival directly BEFORE she won the coveted IBMA Entertainer of the Year award.

Bluegrass music would almost certainly not have enjoyed the 10 year run it has had on the airwaves in Findlay, Ohio if it had not been for Bob stepping in early on to assist then-DJ John Billerman with the University of Findlay's weekly programming. Bob's “Something Old, Something New, Something Bluegrass” and "Bluegrass Express" radio programs were favorites among area listeners and played a large part in promoting local interest in the music.

3/15/09 Bill Mowery, 81, of Decatur, IN died after a long struggle against cancer. His wife Esther played bass with the Geels Family band and with the Little Fiddlers, Marcus and Megan Mullins. Until recent years he rarely missed attending Tri-State festivals.

His grandson, Jason Mowery is a fiddler and has played for several national and international bands and is currently with The Wreckers, a country band. He started with Geels family years ago and was on the Tri-State stage many times.

Bill's big smile was always there for us. He will be missed.

From: Alabama Bluegrass Music Association - Bluegrass Blog Posted by Richard Thompson

1/27/09 Ken Orrick of Lost Highway died at his home on Saturday (1/24) after a massive heart attack.

Orrick, guitarist/vocalist with Lost Highway, a band originally from Orange County, California, was a founder member and stayed with them until the mid 1980s when the group disbanded. Lost Highway was reformed in 1996 with Orrick, who was originally from Smithville, TN, as the band leader. He was the band's primary lead vocalist. His approach to singing was influenced by Carter and Ralph Stanley, Larry Sparks, Lester Flatt and Melvin Goins.

Fellow singer/songwriter Chris Stuart described his singing as "smooth and clear, yet distinctly bluegrass-influenced". As well as having a voice that has gave the band its signature sound, Orrick wrote many fine original songs, written in the best traditional style and putting Lost Highway firmly in the solid, driving, hard-core bluegrass category.

Over the 30 years in which Ken Orrick was associated with Lost Highway, he contributed great songs like Lord, Let Me Die (ironically), This Road Leads Home, Shake The Master's Hand, Roll On River, Guilty Of Love, I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today, Time Waits For No, I Can't Go On Loving You, Dreams and It's Gonna Rain. All are excellent songs that would be worthy additions to the repertoire of discerning bands in the future.

Ken appeared in Kendallville Memorial weekend 2004. The band was scheduled to appear Labor Day weekend 2003 but they were in an accident while traveling to Kendallville. J.W.  

Dick Sleesman, Nov. 10, 2008 pictured with his wife Lulu Belle at Kendallville. They resided at 324 N. Oak, P.O. Box 253, Edgerton, OH 43517

Richard L. Sleesman, age 73, of Edgerton, Ohio, died at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, 2008, at the Defiance Inpatient Hospice Center, where he was a patient for one day. Mr. Sleesman graduated from Edgerton High School and was a car salesman for thirty years, including twenty-two years with Maxton Motors in Butler, Indiana. He was a member of the Trinity Bible Church in Edgerton, an avid enthusiast of bluegrass music and was a member of the Buckeye Border Bluegrass Association.

Richard L. Sleesman was born on July 25, 1935, in Defiance County, Ohio, the son of Lavon G. and Naomi W. (Mavis) Sleesman. He married Lulu Belle Easler on October 9, 1954, in Edgerton, Ohio, and she survives. Also surviving are his children, Richard A. (Sue) Sleesman, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Sonja (Gus) Ulrich, of Bryan, Ohio, Kevin (Patricia) Sleesman, Gina (Robert) Steele and Cindy (Marc) Tingle, all of Edgerton, Ohio, eighteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents in 1970 and an infant brother, Darrel Sleesman.

Services for Richard L. Sleesman will be on Friday, November 14, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in the Trinity Bible Church, Edgerton, Ohio, with Pastor Matt Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Farmer Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2008, in the Krill Funeral Home, Edgerton, Ohio.

Memorials in the name of Richard L. Sleesman may be given to Visiting Nurses and Hospice of Williams and Fulton Counties. Add your comments at Krill.

Cecil H. Simmons, July 28, 1945 - Sept. 29, 2008, of Albion, MI

Cecil H. Simmons, of Albion, one of this worlds devoted Bluegrass Music Festival Fans went home to be with Jesus on September 29, 2008 at Allegiance Health Systems- Jackson, with his wife Vickie and others by his side. He was born July 28, 1945 in Marked Tree, Arkansas to Robert Ray and Bonnie Belle (Fulk) Simmons. He was married to Victoria “Vickie” Belcher and she survives.

Cecil had worked at Corning Glass Works, Brooks Foundry and Albion Malleable before going to work as a Prison Guard in Jackson, retiring in 1995. He was a member of Grace Freewill Baptist Church –Albion. He enjoyed sports especially Baseball, and loved Bluegrass music. He had many friends in the Albion area including Johnny Smith as well as numerous Bluegrass Camping friends.

Cecil will be dearly missed by his wife Vickie and too many people to name.

Hazel A. Fugate - Dec. 14, 1939 - Aug. 28, 2008

Hazel and husband Glen attended many festivals and usually parked on the north side of the maintenance building. They were married 54 years. They were at the festival this spring after a few years off because of Hazel's health.

Lynn Merle Fox, 76,  Dec. 30, 1931 - Sept. 3, 2008

VAN WERT, Ohio — Lynn Merle Fox, 76, Van Wert, died at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio.

He was born Dec. 30, 1931, in Van Wert, to the late May (Mason) Fox and Herbert Fox. On Sept. 7, 1958, he married Sheila (Malinowski) Fox. She survives in Van Wert.

Other survivors include his children, James (Tammy) Fox, Lynn Fox and Deanna (Mark) Riggenbach, all of Van Wert, Ohio; his second family: Don and Pam Eversole and their four children and eight grandchildren; his grandchildren, Dylan Hayes, Nicholas and Callie Riggenbach; Josh, Jonathon, Justin and Jacob Chilcote.

He was preceded in death by two children, David Lynn Fox and Tracy Alan Fox, and a brother, Donald W. Fox.

He retired in 1988 after 25 years of service with Chrysler Amplex, Van Wert. He attended First United Methodist Church in Van Wert. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War and was a member of the Van Wert VFW and Van Wert American Legion.

Robert W. Cagel - August 28, 1922 - May 16, 2008

Bob and Shellie were club members dating back to 1992 and attend most all of the Tri-State festivals in Kendallville. They parked just north of the gate in their motorhome. They often were jamming, he with his fiddle and she with her bass. In recent years Shellie was in the Beginners Jam with her bass.

Their daughter is in the process of taken care of their home and will be moving Shellie closer to her in Arizona. Shellie suffered a broken hip last fall.

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Last updated: Monday, May 04, 2009 02:40 PM