Former Richland County Sheriff James A. Stierhoff, 68, of Bellville, died Feb. 10, 2010.
Born March 1, 1941, in Belle Center, to the late Edward M. and Mary Elizabeth Stierhoff, James was raised in Richwood. He graduated from Richwood High School in 1959, where he played football as a halfback and fullback for the Richwood Tigers. He later graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy and began working as a state trooper in Fostoria. After a few months, he was transferred to the Mansfield post of the State Highway Patrol, and remained a Mansfield area resident. Following nine years with the patrol, he accepted a position as investigator with the Richland County Prosecutors Office, and was named Investigator of the Year by the Ohio State Prosecutors Association. He subsequently worked as risk coordinator for Richland County and taught criminology classes at North Central State College.
Running on a platform to restore integrity to the position, James was elected Richland County Sheriff in 1992. He served three four-year terms as sheriff, retiring in 2005. With a history of working for the people, he served on the Bellville Village Council and later served as village administrator. A life member and former officer of the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, James served on the Richland County Solid Waste Management Committee and had been very active with the Richland County Republican Party.
James coached freshman basketball for the Mansfield Christian School Flames, and drove the bus route to Ashland for years for the school. A regular at the Chiefs Breakfast, his canine companion, Mattie, went everywhere with James.
Surviving are children, Elizabeth Beth (Bud) Yoder of Millersburg, Amelia Amy (Matthew) Rini of Bellville, and Jonathon E. S. Jon (Joni) Stierhoff of Lexington; 11 grandchildren, Autumn Tucker, Caleb Brown (fiancee, Jeri Kimble), Jacob Brown, Jamie Yoder, Kane Minnich, Destiney Yoder, Noelle Yoder, Kayleigh Conley, Sydney Conley, Tyler Stierhoff, and Spencer Stierhoff; two great-granddaughters, Tristina Tucker and Miraya Tucker; siblings, Barbara Abrams of Sarasota, Fla., Carolyn Rapp and Susan (Garland) Adams, both of Marion, Gerald Stierhoff of Columbus, and Robert (Kathy) Stierhoff of Rushsylvania; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mary Jo and John C. Smith and Peggy Faye and Ernie Jamison, all of Richwood, Nancy Bowman of Bellville, Victoria and Ward Wildman of Urbana, and Kenneth Daniel and Teresa Bevis of Richwood; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lana Sue Stierhoff, whom he married in 1960; and a grandson, Ian Tyler Conley.
Services were held Feb. 15, 2010, at Snyder Funeral Home, Mansfield, with Rev. Dr. Michael V. Stine officiating. Burial was in Price Cemetery near Essex, Union County.
Memorial contributions to the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Fund may be made at the funeral home.
