Vicky Kay Baltzell

Vicky Kay (Swartz) Baltzell 73, Fremont, OH, passed away peacefully with Jeff and Jennifer by her side at Elmwood Assisted Living & Memory Care in Fremont, Ohio, on April 2, 2026, after a decade-long struggle with dementia.

Vicky was born on September 13, 1952, in Bellevue, OH to Carl A. and Shirley J. (DeVanna) Swartz. Growing up around Bellevue and Riley Township, she often talked about a wonderful childhood surrounded by family and lots of pets: dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, goats, and her beloved lamb, Mary Ann. The family moved to Fremont’s east side in 1962, and Vicky graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 1970. She later took real estate and other business courses at Terra Technical College.

Vicky met her husband, Jeffrey, while working at the West Side Burger Chef in the spring of 1970. They married on January 9, 1971. On August 1, 1975, Jennifer Lynn was born. The family relocated for Jeff’s work from Ohio to North Carolina in 1982, followed by Kentucky, Pennsylvania, California, and finally back to Ohio in 1991. Vic displayed her creativity and made each new location feel like home by decorating with artwork from places they lived, as well as handmade crafts. During those moves, she also volunteered in Jennifer’s schools, helped young and old with reading, writing, and math, led Bluebirds and Brownie troops, and was active in many organizations in each community.

Vicky was a busy stay-at-home mom until she began working for Croghan Colonial Bank in 1992. Through her years at the bank, she became acquainted with Bruce Hirt who later hired her to manage his business and became a very dear friend. If you knew Vic, you definitely heard many dramatic tales about her years working with the public in the rental property and storage business! She wanted everyone to know she was the “b!tch” in charge! She liked to portray a tough exterior, but—in reality—what made her great at her job was her generosity, compassion for those in need, and her ability to get things done.

After nearly 20 years of managing Hirt Rental Properties, Vicky retired at the end of 2011. She and Jeff spent their first winter as snowbirds in Key West, FL, but eventually settled in Cape Coral and Fort Myers for most of each year. She made many new friends, spent countless hours in the sun, volunteered at the Gladiolus Food Pantry and supported her shopping habit by working at Old Navy. Vicky returned to Fremont with Jeff each summer where she continued to do odd jobs for Bruce and delivered flowers for Josef, who appointed her the Happy Hour Flower Car Hop at Bella Cosa during the pandemic. She enjoyed living at Jimmy Bukkett’s—drinking cocktails with old friends and dancing in the sand—during those summers. With her health declining, Jeff and Vicky made a permanent move back to Fremont in 2022.

Vicky loved shoes, cabernet and her Miata. She loved shopping and bowling with her lifelong best friend, Marsha Weaver. She loved spending as much time as she could with her grandnephew, Isaac Baumann. She loved all of Jennifer’s friends and referred to them as HER kids. She loved traveling and entertaining family and friends in her home and around their pool … especially those who walked in without knocking and helped themselves to snacks and drinks. She worked hard to make every home, vacation, birthday and holiday better than the next. Most of all, she loved Jennifer and Jeff.

Vicky was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law, William and Ruth Baltzell and Ruth Ann LeSavage, brother Wayne, Aunt Bonnie Campbell, dear friend Josef Wasserman, and numerous other family members. Left to carry on her memory are her husband of 55 years, Jeffrey Jon Baltzell, daughter Jennifer Lynn Baltzell, her “grandcats” Bob & Phoebe, brother Douglas (Kathy) Swartz, brothers-in-law Michael (Mary) Baltzell and Thomas (Anna) Baltzell, sisters-in-law Lorrie Harvey, Christine Baltzell, Mary Jane (Craig) Zimmerman, and Sharon Baltzell, and many nieces and nephews.

Jeff and Jennifer are deeply grateful to the staff of Elmwood Memory Care and Heartland Hospice for taking such amazing care of Vicky, making her feel so safe and loved. Thank you, also, to our friends and family who sent cards and spent quality time with her in these most difficult months.

May the road rise up to meet you; May the wind be always at your back; May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields; And, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Vicky’s body has been donated to the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences for research and educational purposes. A memorial service will be held for her on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:30am at Fremont Country Club, 2340 E State St, Fremont, OH, with a visitation beginning at 10:00am. A celebratory luncheon will follow the service. Please wear casual and bright springtime attire. Vicky would have wanted everyone to be comfortable and joyful.

Jeff and Jennifer would prefer not to receive memorial gifts or flowers. Please consider donating to one of the following organizations in Vicky’s memory: Pontifex, Inc., Humane Society of Sandusky County or Sacred Heart Church.