John J Hemminger Sr.

John J. Hemminger, Sr., passed away unexpectedly April 25, 2011. John was born February 25, 1930, in Millersville, Ohio. He graduated from Gibsonburg High School and enlisted in the Air Force of the United States in 1948. During the Korean War, he served in Japan and Korea as an air traffic controller and had the rank of Tech Sergeant when he was honorably discharged in 1952. After moving to the Akron area in 1958, John began a long and successful career in the construction field and built many landmark structures throughout Northeast Ohio. He started his own commercial-industrial construction company, Hemminger Construction, in 1981, and was still actively involved in the company on a daily basis. John was an avid private pilot who loved flying his Cessna Cardinal 177 airplane on leisure rides and cross-country flights. He was a talented athlete who excelled in all sports and served as a coach for his sons’ baseball teams for over 10 years. John was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls for over 45 years. He touched many lives with his sense of humor and genuine concern for others, and he had a broad base of knowledge about many subjects. Deeply dedicated to his family, wife, children, and grandchildren, he will be deeply missed by them, his friends, workers, and many construction clients. John was preceded in death by his beloved son, John Jr.; mother, Bertha; and brothers, Howard, Ray, Robert, Paul, and Don. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Rose; children, Alan (Katheryn), Mark (Kimberlee), Karen (Albert) Pecoraro, and daughter-in-law, Mary; and grandchildren, Vanessa, Adam, Matthew, Adam Casey, Amanda, Steven, Sara, Elyse, Michael, and Sophia. He is also survived by brother, Max; sisters, Suzanne, Mary, and Gladine; and sisters-in-law Patricia McConihay and Lenore. Family will receive friends Friday April 29, from 5-8pm at the Catavolos Funeral Home 3653 W. Market St, Fairlawn, where funeral services will be held Saturday at 1pm. Reverend David Baker of the First United Methodist Church will be officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s name to the First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls, 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.