GARY L. SOLLMANN, age 78
formerly of New Bremen and Lima, died on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 6:15 P.M. at the Riverview Care Center in Columbus. He was born on June 27, 1944 in Celina, the son of the late Frederick T. and Marie K. (Poppe) Sollmann. On October 7, 1967 he married Shirley J. Burris, who survives in St. Marys. Also surviving are his sister Deanna Anderson of St. Marys; his in-laws: Sue (Al) Stutz of Chapelhill, NC, Ann Hager of Buckland, and Ron (Linda) Burris of St. Marys, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Along with his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his brother Dale Sollmann, another infant brother, a brother in-law Don Hager, and a nephew Ron.
Gary was a 1962 graduate of New Bremen High School where he had attended Buckeye Boys State and performed with the All Ohio High School Band. He then went on to graduate from the St. Rita’s School of Radiology in Lima, Ohio in 1964. He had worked at the Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater and later at the Lima Memorial Hospital for 18 years as a Special Procedures Tech. After moving to Columbus, he had worked at the OSU Veterinary Hospital and the MerckMedco mail-order pharmacy. He had been a member of the St. Peter’s Church in New Bremen. He had a special interest in singing in three different Barbershop Choruses over 54 years: the Lima Beans, the Miami Shelby, and the Heart of Ohio, as well as two quartets. Gary and Shirley enjoyed traveling to attend barbershop conventions around the country. Gary was a huge sports fan, loving anything OSU Buckeyes and NASCAR. The television always had a game or a race on.
A graveside memorial service to honor Gary’s life will be held on June 29, 2023 at 3:30 P.M. in the Willow Grove Cemetery near New Bremen, with Pastor Jacob Fenters officiating. The family requests that memorial contributions in memory of Gary be made to St. Peter’s Church (303 N. Franklin Street, New Bremen, Ohio, 45869) or to the Parkinson’s Foundation (online at: www.parkinson.org or by mail: 200 SE 1st Street; Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131). Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family, and online condolences and memories can be shared on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.