Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, Funeral service & cemetery, 225 W Monroe Street, New Bremen, OH.
Since 1929 the family of the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home has been serving New Bremen and the surrounding area, with dignity, compassion and professionalism in our modern, yet home-like setting.
10/28/2025
Join us as we pause to say THANK YOU to all those men and women who answer the call of service to their communities! Thank you for keeping our communities safe, and for helping in times of need!
New Bremen EMS
New Bremen-German Township Fire Department
New Bremen Police Department
New Knoxville Washington Township Fire Department
Van Buren Township Fire Department
Auglaize County Sheriff's Office
Shelby County Sheriff's Office - Ohio
10/21/2025
Dorothea May Fennick
Dorothea May Fennick, age 92, passed away surrounded in love on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Otterbein Senior Life Community in St. Marys, Ohio. Born on April 20, 1933 in New Castle, Pennsylvania, she devoted her life to faith, family, and serving others. “Dottie” was the daughter of the late Harold M. and Dorothea K. (Knobloch) Wright.She was a graduate of East Brook High School. On February 14, 1952, she married her childhood sweetheart, Benjamin J. Fennick who survives...
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10/21/2025
Joyce M. Stienecker
JOYCE M. STIENECKER, age 91,Of New Knoxville, died on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at her residence. She was born on October 27, 1933 in Lima, the daughter of Raymond H. and Helen K. (Luken) Kessen. On June 10, 1950, she married Roland E. Stienecker who preceded her in death on September 1, 1995. Survivors include her sons Ronald Stienecker and Duane (Gerri McCoy) Stienecker, both of New Knoxville, a granddaughter Samantha Stienecker, step-grandchildren Jennifer Bradburn, Leticia Lopez, Joseph McCoy and...
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10/17/2025
Dana K. Blanchard
Dana K. Blanchard, age 55Of New Bremen, passed away on Wednesday evening, October 15, 2025 at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima OH after a brief illness with cancer. She was born December 16, 1969 in Coldwater to Gary and Emily (Harlamert) Wiedeman, both who survive in New Bremen. Dana is survived by her daughter Lydia, her sister Shelly (John) Zeller of New Bremen, sisters-in-law Karla Wiedeman of New Bremen and Sheryl Wiedeman of Ft. Jennings, and her uncle Dean...
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10/12/2025
Giving thanks and showing support for all of those farmers who keep us fed, clothed, and cared for each day!! 
10/06/2025
David G. Ballweg
DAVID G. BALLWEG, age 68,of New Knoxville, died on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 11:12 A.M. at the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. He was born on September 25, 1957 at home in rural Botkins, the son of the late Robert J. Ballweg and Esther C. (Wenning) Ballweg who survives in New Bremen. Also surviving are his wife Cindy K. (Harris) Ballweg of New Knoxville, and his sons: Greg Ballweg of Botkins, Quincy (Tiffany) Ballweg of Botkins,...
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09/25/2025
Richard W. Poppe
Richard W. "Dick" Poppe, Age 76,Of New Bremen - a beloved teacher, sports enthusiast, and cherished friend, passed away suddenly on September 9, 2025 at his home. He was born on March 3, 1949, in Sidney, Ohio, the son of the late Paul H. Poppe and Doris L. (Coil) Poppe Deam who survives in Sidney. Also surviving are his sister Cheryl (Charles) Christman of Lebanon, TN, a nephew Ryan (Christin) Christman of Lebanon, TN, and niece Angela (Joshua) Funderburk of...
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09/22/2025
Ardythe A. Fark
Ardythe A. Fark, age 85,Of Celina and formerly of New Bremen, passed away at her home on Saturday, September 20, 2025. She was born on March 14, 1940 in Ada, OH. She was the daughter of Melvin N. and Bernice I. (Whitacre) LaViness, who preceded her in death. On January 8, 1961 she married Wayne G. Fark and he preceded her in death on July 3, 2003. Surviving Ardy are her sons; Kevin and Kelli Fark of Celina, Bruce and...
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09/19/2025
Stephen L. Mescher
STEPHEN L. MESCHER age 80,of New Bremen, died on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 6:42 A.M. at the Briarwood Village in Coldwater. He was born on June 19, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of the late Henry L. and Salome M. (Frenzer) Mescher. On May 25, 1990, he married Mary E. Barga, who died on December 22, 2019. Surviving are his daughter Stacy (Daniel) Smuts of Coldwater; and his step-sons: Lon (Deborah) Moyer of Edgewood, NM, James Moyer of...
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09/18/2025
Cecelia "Sis" H. (Harris) Coenen
Cecelia (Sis) Helena Coenen, age 87,of Chanhassen, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025. Born on July 4, 1938, in New Bremen, Sis was the daughter of Clifford Harris and Jeanette Bessel. She grew up alongside her siblings Jean Lynne Thompson (Clint), Niles Clifford Harris, and Bette Karen (Trip) Davis. From an early age, she exhibited a bright intellect, strong independence, and a deep curiosity about the world.Sis graduated from New Bremen High School and went on to earn...
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2019 marked 90 years in business for the Funeral Home located at 225 W. Monroe Street in New Bremen. The name of the business may have changed over the years from Gilberg & Hegemier to Gilberg Funeral Home, to its present name, Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home, but one thing has not changed – the care and dedication that is given to every family that we serve.
The funeral home had its beginnings back in the early 1920’s when Paul F. Gilberg was working with A.H. Albert Funeral Service of New Bremen during his high school years. In 1924 Mr. Albert helped to finance Paul’s education at the Cincinnati College of Embalming. After Paul had graduated from embalming school, Mr. Albert did not have a position open for him, so Paul found employment with Mr. Irwin Speckman, a local undertaker and merchant also of New Bremen.
In June of 1926, Paul and his friend Earl W. Hegemier joined together, and borrowed $250 from Earl’s father, Fred Hegemier. They drove a Model T Ford to Toledo, and purchased several radios, and brought them home to sell in New Bremen. This was the beginning of the People’s Radio and Gift Shop. For three years, Paul & Earl operated their business out of a rented a space in the old John Blase building on S. Washington Street (the current location of the Marathon Gas Station). In 1929, Paul and Earl bought the funeral business of A.H. Albert and moved their business to 5-7 N. Main Street, and renamed their business Gilberg & Hegemier. From this location they operated their retail store, as well as managed the funeral and undertaking business. They sold lamps, chairs, radios, refrigerators, wringer washing machines, as well as several caskets, which were stocked in a separate area of the store. The store did not function as a funeral home, because in those days, funerals were conducted in the homes of the deceased – including embalming and visitation of the deceased.
In 1937, Gilberg & Hegemier moved the funeral portion of their business to 225 W. Monroe Street (the present location of the Funeral Home). This was Paul’s home, and originally the home of his parents, Fred and Margaret (Rattler) Gilberg. Here the pair operated the funeral business as well as an ambulance service for the New Bremen area for many years. In 1961, after 35 years of business together, Earl Hegemier sold his share of the businesses. This lead to the names of the two businesses to be changed to Gilberg Furniture and Gilberg Funeral Home.
📷John Gilberg, a son of Paul Gilberg, grew up working with his father in both the funeral home and furniture store. He became more involved in the business after he graduated from high school, and in 1963 graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Together Paul and John operated the furniture store and the funeral home until 1965 when Paul retired. John and his wife Joyce then purchased the businesses and moved their family to live above the funeral home in 1968. John and Joyce operated the two businesses up until the year 2000 when they both retired. At that time two of John and Joyce’s children, Jill (Gilberg) and Joe Borkowski along with James and Diane (Bushman) Gilberg, assumed ownership of Gilberg Furniture. Steven and Diana Hartwig, nephew of John and Joyce, became owners of the funeral home, which is now known as Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home.
James Gilberg (a grandson of Paul Gilberg and son of John and Joyce Gilberg) also grew up working with his father at the funeral home and furniture store. He, too, became more involved with both businesses after graduating from high school, and eventually went on to graduate from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Today he is co-owner of Gilberg Furniture, and also owns and opperates Gongoozlers Brewry.
Steven Hartwig (a grandson of Paul Gilberg, and nephew of John & Joyce Gilberg) began working at the furniture store and funeral home in 1972 during high school. He became interested in the funeral side of the business, and went on to further his education at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1984. He then joined his grandfather and uncle at the funeral home. Upon John’s retirement in 2000, Steve and his wife Diana moved their family to live above the funeral home in 2001, and their children became the sixth generation of the Gilberg family to live at this location.
In 2008, Keith May joined the family of Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home working part-time. After graduating in June of 2013 from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, he became part of the full-time staff. Keith became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in February of 2015, and is looking forward to helping families in our area for years to come.
📷Today, the family of the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home continues the tradition in New Bremen and the surrounding area, and are proud to be able to serve families with our modern, yet home-like setting. Our goal is to arrange the type of service to meet the individual needs of each family that we serve. From pre-arrangement of funeral services, to cremation and memorial services, to full-service traditional funerals, our family is here to assist your family through the loss of a loved one, now and for many years to come with the dignity, respect, professionalism, and commitment that you deserve.
