Earl "Abe" J. Hesselschwardt Earl "Abe" J. Hesselschwardt, 87, of Defiance, passed away at 4:10 A:M , Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born in Defiance, on September 26, 1922, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ida (Diemer) Hesselschwardt. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church. Abe live on Perry St., near Slocum Elementary school. For almost 50 years, he greeted, spoke and joked to the children going to or leaving Slocum school. He tried to be a friend to the many children that walked past his home to the school. He tried to brighten their day and left his influence on many school children. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy in WW II on the USS Alabama. Abe and his son attended yearly Navy reunions of the Alabama. Abe was a life member of VFW Post # 3360. He married Eva (Fry) Hesselschwardt in 1980 and she died June 4, 2004. He was employed as a supervisor at GM Central foundry for ten years. He had also worked at Miami Foundry in Miamisburg and for the Defiance City Water Treatment Plant for ten years retiring as plant manager of the water treatment plant. Surviving are daughter: Peggy Schultz- Westfield and her husband Skip Westfield of Helendale, California son: Mike (Donna) Schultz of Lincoln, California Sisters: Joann Hesselschwardt and Lodema Kunz , both of Defiance. He is survived by 4 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Also survived by very special neighbors and friends: Jerry and Ann Linebrink and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by four brother; Frederick, Paul, Leo, and Verl. Two sisters are deceased; Evelyn Kilpatrick and Mary Boggs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at at St. John Catholic Church, at 11:00 A:M on Friday, October 30th, with Father Todd Dominique officiating. Friends are invited to call Thursday 3-9 at Lawson-Roessner Funeral Home. where there will be a 7:00 P:M Vigil Service. Interment at Riverview Memory Gardens where VFW Post #3360 will conduct honorary military rites. Suggested memorials are to the Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Condolences may be left at www.defiancefuneralhome.com