Howard G. May

Howard G. May, age 91, of St. Henry, passed away with family at his side on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Mercer Health in Coldwater. He was born on December 19, 1934, in Coldwater to the late Leo & Catherine (Braun) May. On November 24, 1956, he married Donna (Diller) May. Howard and Donna were married for 66 years until her passing on August 22, 2023.

Howard is survived by four children and their spouses, Susan May, Steven May (dec.), Randy & Kathy May, Sharon & Dale Sutter, and Gary & Anne May; ten Grandchildren, Alexis, Derek, Travis, Julie, Erica, Hannah, Henry, Isaac, Joanna, Oliver; and eight great grandchildren, Cecilia, Evelyn, William, Amelia, Knox, Myles, Hayes, and Parker. Surviving extended family includes his siblings and in-laws: Ruth Kunkler, Walter & Irene May, Lou Ann May, Charline May, Helen Diller, Ralph & Marjorie Diller, Edna Shephard, Carol & Richard Burkhardt, and Mary Ann Diller.

In addition to his wife and parents, Howard is preceded in death by a son Steven May, and siblings and in-laws: Rita & Jerry Pottkotter, Bud & Rosie May, infant sister Delores May, Jeanette & Ernie Homan, Ralph & Marilyn May, Jerome May, Victor May, Thomas May, Lester Schoen, Henry Kunkler Jr., Dennis & Carman Diller, Urban Diller, Mary & James Westrich, Joseph Diller, and his father and mother-in-law, Albert and Bernadine Diller.

Howard was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church and the Knights of St. John in Maria Stein. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and belonged to the St. Henry American Legion. Howard had worked at the former New Idea factory in Coldwater and later at the Lima Tank Plant as a tool and die maker. He was a devoted Reds fan and was a member of the Coldwater Eagles.  Above all, Howard cherished his time with family and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and holding his beloved great grandbabies.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 30, 2026, at St. Henry Catholic Church in St. Henry. Following the funeral mass, burial with military honors will take place in St. Henry Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 pm on Thursday October 29, and 9 to 10 am on Friday, October 30, at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association. Condolences for the family may be expressed online at hogenkampfh.com.