John "Jack" E. Hess

Reverend John E. "Jack" Hess, 80, resident of Cleveland, TN and formerly of Defiance, Ohio passed away on Sunday evening, September 15, 2024 at the home of his daughter. He was born on April 2, 1944 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania to the now late William A. Hess, Sr. and Edna Louise Esler Hess. He was also preceded in death by his loving wife of 40 years, Martha "Marty" May Veenis Hess and his brother. Jack graduated in 1966 from Westminster College with a BA in Psychology and in 1970 from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care. He was an Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Pittsburgh in 1970. He served five churches over a 40 year span in Ohio and Indiana: 2 years in Newark, Ohio, 11 years in Winchester, Indiana, 5 years in Huntington, Indiana, 12 years in Defiance, Ohio and 10 years in Peru, Indiana. Among his many accomplishments and involvement, he was honored to serve as a chaplain for several different law enforcement agencies and fire departments in the communities where he ministered. Among those areas served include: Indiana State Police, Miami County Sheriff Office, Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Mexico Fire Department, Pipe Creek Fire Department, Dukes Memorial Hospital, International Conference of Police Chaplains, Federation of Fire Chaplains, Indiana Fire Chaplains. In 2001 he served with the ICPC and FFC after 9-11 in New York City and in 2005 after Katrina in New Orleans. He served on numerous community boards including the United Way. Memberships include, Elks, Moose, Masons and Patriot Guard. In 2017 he received from ICPC “The John A. “Jack” Price Excellence in Chaplaincy” international lifetime achievement award. In December of 2018 he was selected to serve as a volunteer chaplain for the United States Secret Service and in 2019 was appointed assistant chaplain for the Defiance County Sheriff Department.

Left to cherish his memory are, his son, Eric John Hess of Defiance, Ohio, daughter, Jennifer Lynn Blaylock and her husband Chuck of Cleveland, grandchildren, Trey Hess, Sean Blaylock, Erin Hess Mason Taylor, Cole Taylor, Jadin Blaylock, one great-grandson, Neyland Blaylock.

A Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted at First Presbyterian Church, Defiance , Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 3:30 PM. Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery in Defiance. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM at the church. Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services, North Ocoee Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements in Cleveland, Schaffer Funeral Home will handle the arrangements in Defiance, Ohio. You are invited to sign the guest book and leave a memory of Reverend Hess with the family by visiting his tribute on our website at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.

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