POST Wednesday, August 20, 2025 • Vol. 18 No. 7 • FREE
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
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Middlef ield Tornado Causes Damage in Huntsburg Staff Report The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Huntsburg Township at about 8:45 p.m. Aug. 12, damaging a large barn, two smaller outbuildings, a vehicle and killing three livestock, according to county officials. “The tornado was short-lived, lasting only a few minutes and covering a distance of approximately a quarter mile,” said County Administrator Amy Bevan in a statement. “This morning, Geauga County officials coordinated with the National Weather Service, which deployed a team to assess the area and confirm the classification of the tornado.” The tornado began just west of Madison Road (state Route 528) just south of Burton-Windsor Road and roughly three miles northeast of Middlefield, the NWS said in its
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A radar image of the EF-0 tornado that touched down briefly in Huntsburg Township Aug. 12.
report summary. “The tornado uprooted a large tree, with several large limbs snapped off trees in this area,” the NWS said. “The tornado continued
to the northeast, crossing Madison Road, damaging three buildings on a property on the east side of the road. Two smaller outbuildings suffered extensive roof damage, with a
larger barn suffering roof damage, as well.” Roofing material was also thrown several hundred feet towards the west onto the roadway,” the NWS reported. “Companies responded to three runs caused by this weather event Tuesday evening,” Middlefield Fire Department said in a social media post. “For everyone wondering about the warning or sirens, there was no official warning last night. The declaration of this event being a tornado was after evaluation of the damage by the National Weather Service at the request of the fire department.” Geauga County Commissioners said they were thankful the tornado did not do worse damage in a statement Aug. 14. “We’re grateful to report there were no major injuries from Tuesday night’s brief EF-0 tornado in See Tornado • Page 4
‘Dr. Bob’ Evans Leaves Legacy of Compassion By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com The Middlefield community and beyond are remembering the late Dr. Bob Evans as much more than a physician. Friends, neighbors, co-workers and patients recently shared fond memories of the beloved man, affectionately known as “Dr. Bob,” who passed away July 28 at the age of 89. Dr. Bob was known for his compassion and dedication — making house calls in addition to his rounds to see pa- Evans tients at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. Longtime Geauga County resident Jacke Mumaw, now living in Alabama, recalled an incident years ago, when she showed up with an injured knee at the home of Dr. Bob and his wife, Janet, across the road from her dairy farm. “I used to milk cows at our farm on (state Route) 608,” Mumaw said. After she fell in the barn and hit her knee, it swelled up so much,
she was afraid she had seriously injured it. “I finished milking and drove directly to Bob’s house,” Mumaw recalled, laughing at the memory of Dr. Bob wrapping her knee and putting ice on it. Another time, he and Janet were celebrating his birthday dinner at Mumaw’s home when her 18-month-old daughter spiked a fever and, alarmed, Mumaw asked Dr. Bob to take a look. He called the hospital and made arrangements while Mumaw and Janet drove the toddler to the emergency room, she said. “He took care of my family and my Gramma Porter and both my parents,” she said. “We all loved him dearly. Bob and Jan were family.” One year, at the Great Geauga County Fair, Dr. Bob bid $350 for an apple pie at the annual auction and won it, only to discover later, to everyone's amusement, the pie was made by Mumaw’s mother, Beverly
Porter, Mumaw recalled. He balanced his high-stress career with driving his tractor, she added. “I always knew Bob was in his happy place when I would look across the street and see him on his tractor — even when the grass didn’t need mowed. That was his calm time,” she said. Besides an interest in horticulture, Dr. Bob was an avid fan of all indoor and outdoor sports, according to his obituary. He also treasured family trips to Disney and playing Pinochle with his grandchildren. Lucy Bean reminisced on Sly Funeral Home’s memorial page about the 20 years she worked at UHGMC and the close friendship she had with Dr. Bob. “I called him Brother Bob. He called me Sister Lucy. We had most everyone in the hospital thinking that was true, even the CEO,” Bean wrote. “We always hugged when we saw the other. I will certainly miss such a fine man and doctor.” Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich knew Dr. Bob as his par-
ents’ and wife’s doctor, but also as a trustee for Middlefield Township. “I knew him as a friend and a doctor,” he said. “He was a caring person.” Dr. Bob’s time as a Middlefield Township trustee was productive, Garlich said. “We worked on (creating) a fire district and on annexations. He was part of that, very supportive. He was a great team player,” he said. According to his obituary, geriatric medicine absorbed Dr. Bob during the last chapter of his career. He focused on nursing home care at the Ohman Family Living facilities in Geauga County. His reputation earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine, recognizing his 54 years of service. After retiring in 2015, at age 80, he penned, “Dr. Robert A. Evans: My Life as a Rural Doctor,” a lively memoir filled with anecdotes from his years in rural medicine. A service to celebrate his life will be held 11 a.m. Aug. 21 at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 16280 E. High St. in Middlefield.
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