John Carl Hessing
John Carl Hessing
John Carl Hessing
September 29, 1927 – October 29, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 89
John Hessing of Oskaloosa passed away Saturday evening, October 29, 2016, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa at the age of 89 years and one month.
John Carl Hessing, the son of J. Andrew Hessing and Jennie Bloem Hessing, was born in Pella on September 29, 1927. He was the second oldest of five sons born to Andrew and Jennie. They lived on a farm southeast of Pella, and he attended Pleasant View School. They later moved to a farm south of Oskaloosa where John graduated from eighth grade at Elm Grove School in 1941.
John’s early working years were spent as a hired farm hand. He served as a corporal in the Army Air Forces from December 1945 to February 1947. After training, he was stationed in Japan where he served as a weather observer.
John married Doris Ruth Bruxvoort on December 9, 1952, and to this union, four sons and two daughters were born. They farmed southwest of Oskaloosa for many years. In 1985 they purchased a home in Oskaloosa and John continued to work as a farm hand for several years. After Doris passed away in 2002, John continued living in this home until moving to the Oskaloosa Care Center in 2012.
John was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church where he served on the council and building committee. He later served as Bethel’s liaison to Love Inc. where he assisted with many service projects.
John had a quiet presence and a quick smile, his greatest joy in life was to be surrounded by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and to share in their lives.
John is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Larry & Betty Hessing of Altoona, Dale & Debra Hessing of Oskaloosa and Glen & Sheryl Hessing of Oskaloosa; two daughters: Janice Sewright and Karen Hessing, both of Ankeny; twelve grandchildren: Russell (& Kylie) Hessing, Derek and Renee Hessing, Jana (& Andrew) Buter, and Jodi Hessing, Tricia (& Kyle) Byker, Sarah (& Joel) Bruxvoort, Michael Hessing, Daniel (& Alisha) Hessing, Holly (& Heath) Kincel, and Amy and Kyle Sewright ; ten great-grandchildren: Aiden, Lara and Gerrit Buter, Hailey and Levi Byker, Abigail and Charlie Bruxvoort, Josie Hessing, and Brantley and Ariana Kincel; one brother, Elmer Hessing of Pella; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Sylvia, Dora and Reuvena Bruxvoort all of Oskaloosa, Marvin and Betty Bruxvoort of Pella, Jerry and Shirley Bruxvoort of Oskaloosa, Mary Ann and Lawrence Vander Molen of Pella, Joyce and Darrell Cline of Oskaloosa and Barbara Bruxvoort of Fort Collins, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris; his son, James Hessing; his siblings: Peter, Marvin, and Donald Hessing; his sisters-in-law, Betty and Eileen Hessing; brothers-in-law: Bernard and Stanley Bruxvoort; and his daughter-in-law, Laura Gritters Hessing.
Funeral services for John will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, November 2, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Douglas Van Der Pol officiating.
A 9:45 a.m. family prayer service will precede the funeral in the fellowship hall of the church.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Memorials may be made to Love, Inc. or the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School.
Memories and condolences can be made to the family by visiting the online guestbook at gvlfuneralchapel.com.
