Deborah Yenrick

Deborah M. Yenrick, 74, of Rossford, Ohio, passed away peacefully Friday morning, November 7, 2025. Born Wednesday, March 14, 1951, in Toledo, Ohio, Deb was the first of five children of Robert E. and Jane E. Palmer Yenrick. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt, niece, cousin, godmother, and friend. Deb attended East Side Central Elementary School and was a member of Morrison R. Waite High School’s Class of 1969.

Growing up in East Toledo, Deb loved the Eastside and as a Waite student, she participated in the annual science fairs and received local, district, and state Superior ratings and was selected to represent Waite at the Ohio State Fair. She was President of the Periclean Literary Society. Athletically, she was involved in swimming, basketball, soccer, and softball, winning several intramural competitions. As a freshman, her East Toledo adult women’s softball team won the 1966 Toledo Metro Softball Championship and went on to the National Championship Tournament in Burlington, North Carolina. As a senior year, she was voted Most Athletic Girl in her graduating class.

After high school graduation, she attended Mary Manse College and graduated in 1973 with a major in Psychology and minor in Biology. Deb was active in many activities and served as Senior Class President. While a student at Mary Manse, she worked at St. Anthony’s Villa as a lifeguard and then was responsible for the senior girls’ unit.

After college, Deb was employed by the Lucas County Board of Mental Retardation Developmental Disabilities as an Activities Therapist. She continued her education at the University of Toledo, receiving her Master’s degree in 1980. She was always looking for the best practices in the field and finally stopped going to school in 2001, just short of earning her Doctorate in Education.

While at the County Board, Deb was promoted to Case Manager, Facility Manager over the Heffner and Telegraph facilities, Coordinator of the Case Management Department, Assistant Director of Adult Services, and then Director of Adult Services/CEO of Lott Industries. As Director, she managed and operated a 10.5-million-dollar business and oversaw a management team of 30 professionals providing services to more than 900 consumers. Deb was responsible for a team that acquired the first QS 9000 in the State for a sheltered workshop. She advocated for the first Employee Advocacy and Advisory Council that was responsible for client rights. Deb worked on numerous committees and provided presentations and trainings throughout the state. She was nominated Employee of the Year in 1991 and was recognized for exemplary voluntary service to Parent’s Plus, a program geared toward volunteerism in the field of Developmental Disabilities.

Deb left Lucas County Board of MRDD in 2001, after 26 years, to become Superintendent in Sandusky County. Before retiring in 2005, she oversaw the passage of two operating levies, completed successful state operating levy campaigns, and also completed a successful accreditation. In 2010, Deb received a request from the Department’s State Director, to once again, serve as Superintendent of Sandusky County. In 2014, she applied for and was hired to serve as Superintendent of Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. She retired a second time in 2018.

In her spare time, Deb was a family historian, a passionate collector, an avid reader, and a devoted gardener who thoroughly enjoyed her many dogs. She was happy traveling the United States, spending time at her lake house, and entertaining her family. She advocated and was a champion for the disabled and will be sadly missed by family members and friends.

Deb was predeceased by her parents, her grandparents, A. William and Cornelia Harpster Palmer, and McClelland and Mae Cassley Yenrick, aunts and uncles, Carl M. and Marguerite Minnick Yenrick, and John and Margaret Harpster Fischer, several cousins, and her beloved fur babies. She is survived by her siblings Robert (Dianna), David (Carolyn), Timothy (Linda), and Connie. Also left to cherish her memory are nieces and nephews, Robert (Holly), Chad (Alison Peer), Mathew (Andrea), Katherine (Joe Salameh), Christopher, William (Kellie), Leigh, and Anne (Sam Woodring), great nieces and nephews, Rebekah (Will Nagy), Skyler, Palmer, Olivia, Sydah, Stella, Mollie, Cole, Asher, Mia, Jack, and Wren, cousin, Philip (Suzanna) Yenrick, and dear family friend, Joanne Loolen.

Visitation will take place Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, in All Saints Catholic Church, 628 Lime City Road, Rossford, Ohio, where the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM. A private graveside service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Deb’s memory be made to the Wood County Humane Society, 801 Van Camp Road, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402, the Special Olympics of Northwest Ohio Region, 921 Eastwind Drive, Suite 120, Westerville, Ohio 43081, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.