Jodene Sue (Kirgis) Chitwood, 72, of Ontario passed away on Thursday November 13, 2025 in her home with loved ones by her side after a courageous three year battle with cancer.
Born in Bucyrus Ohio on September, 23 rd 1953 to the late Willard Kirgis and Alta (Ross)
Kirgis. The only sister to three brothers, she was raised on the family farm on Orr Rd.
Growing up Jodene and her family were very active in the Nazareth Lutheran Church in
Chatfield, Ohio. She was also active in the Lykens 4-H club, having went to the state fair with her projects.
She enjoyed sewing, horseback riding and drawing. Throughout the years, Jodene was a collector of Longaberger baskets. Her most recent joy in retirement was watching her two grandchildren grow.
Graduating from Wynford High School in 1971, she went on to attend The Ohio State University, graduating in 1976 with a teaching degree in Physical Education. A Buckeye for
life, she never missed watching an Ohio State football game or the Cleveland Indians play
baseball.
Her career spanned working as a bank teller at The Farmers State Bank in New Washington
and Chatfield, substitute teaching for Wynford Schools, sales with WQEL/WBCO radio in
Bucyrus, and for WMFD-TV in Mansfield, and finally retiring from Mansfield City Schools as a physical education teacher.
Jodene is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Keith Kirgis. She is survived by her son, Kurt Fankhauser of Bucyrus, daughter Jenae (Josh) Craig of Ashland, two grandchildren, Evelyn Alta and Harrison Charles, two brothers, Douglas (Karen) Kirgis of
Layton, Utah and Brad (Debbie) Kirgis of Bloomville along with her special grand dog “Cookie.”
A celebration of life event will be held at a later date.
Funeral Home: Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society
Website: www.ohiocremation.org