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Esther Svoboda Obituary
May 3, 1936 - Jun 20, 2022
Medina, Ohio
Esther L. Svoboda, 86, passed away Monday, June 20, 2022, in Medina, Ohio. Esther was born May 3, 1936, in Sandusky, to parents the Rev. William R. and Erma (Smith) Lucht Sr. She was a 1954 graduate of Huron High School and graduated from Capital University, Columbus, in 1958. She taught third and fourth grades in Whitehall, Ohio, before moving with her first husband, Ned Westphal, to Navarino, Wisconsin, where Karen Lynn was born Feb. 14, 1964. In June, 1966, their son, John William, was born and died. Ned and Esther were divorced in 1970.
Esther and Karen moved to Columbus, where she taught in the Columbus City Schools and directed the choir at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. There, she met and married Keith Billhimer in 1972. He died in 1977 of a heart attack. In 1978, Esther and Karen moved to Seville, Ohio, where she married Ronald Svoboda. She was active in St. Matthew Lutheran Church, having directed the adult choir for 20 years. She served as office manager at Chippewa Meats, Chippewa Lake, Ohio, for several years, then worked in the advertising department at Wolff Bros. Supply, Medina, for over 21 years. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and the Rev. Gary Sandberg; grandsons, Daniel and Stefn Sandberg, Jonathan Giese, and Derick Deioma; granddaughter, Madeline Svoboda; stepgrandson, Justin Workman; former daughter-in-law, Dana Svoboda; former son-in-law, Paul Giese; brother and sister-in-law, the Rev. Bill and Sue Lucht; several nieces; and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, John; second husband, Keith Billhimer; current husband, Ronald Svoboda; stepdaughter, Robin Svoboda Giese; and stepson, Brian Svoboda.
The family will have a celebration of life service for Esther at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 400 N. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio, 44256. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Esther's memory be made to 'Esther Svoboda Memorial Fund' to St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church at the address listed above or online at stmatthewmedina.org.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.waitefuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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