John Henry Hess, Sr.

John Henry Hess Sr., 91, of Manheim died peacefully from natural causes on Monday, April 25, 2011 at Terrace Gardens, Pleasant View Retirement Community, Manheim, where he resided. He was grateful for the excellent, caring staff who attended to all his needs at Pleasant View. Born in Manheim Township on November 8, 1919, he was the son of the late John G. and Anna Mary Herr Hess. He was married for 56 years to the late Anna Elizabeth "Betty" Nissley Hess, who passed away in 1998. Surviving are two sons, John Henry, Jr. husband of Susanne Hottenstein Hess of Manheim, James Douglas husband of Sandra Myer Hess of Lebanon, one daughter, Mary Susan wife of Charles Edward Brubaker of Manheim, eight grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Christian husband of Dorothy Hess, Allen husband of Shirley Hess and one sister, Barbara Ann Hershey wife of Arnold Becker. One brother, Lloyd Hess predeceased him. He grew up on a small dairy farm in Manheim Township, where the family raised chickens, produce, flowers and made baked goods to sell at Central Market, in Lancaster. John graduated from Manheim Township High School, where he was active in sports and was a four star letterman in the class of 1938. As a teenager, John became an aviation enthusiast, riding his bicycle to the old Lancaster Airport, and acquired his pilot's license at the age of sixteen. His first plane was an open cockpit biplane. His first job off the farm was carving wooden airplane propellers for Sensenich Brothers. In the late 1940's he returned to farming, supplementing his income by pulling hay rides for local groups, usually going from Lancaster to the former Earhart's Snack Bar, near Manheim. John retired from farming in 1982. During his farming career, he also served as a Penn Township supervisor and carried mail part time for the Manheim Post Office. John was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church, Lancaster, Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association and Vintage Aircraft Association. He was a former member of Quiet Bird Men Club and the Lancaster Aero Club. An avid collector of toys, especially airplanes, he enjoyed going to local auctions and raising flowers in his many flower beds around the farm. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service at the Buch Funeral Home, 21 Market Square, Manheim on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 10:00 AM with Reverend William J. Keeler officiating. Interment in East Petersburg Mennonite Cemetery. There will be a public viewing at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM and again on Saturday morning at the funeral home from 9:00 AM until the time of service. Please omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in John's memory to Pleasant View Retirement Community, Benevolent Care Endowment Fund, 544 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545.