Norman O. Hesterman

Norman O. Hesterman of Fort Wayne passed away peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ early Sunday morning, Jan. 15 at The Heritage of Fort Wayne after a 2-year battle with ALS. Born March 25, 1928 in Ridgeville Corners, OH as the eldest child of Ernest and Marie Hesterman, Norm graduated from Ridgeville HS and attended Bowling Green University. After serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, KY he married his life-long sweetheart, Mary Ruffer in Ridgeville on Sept. 16, 1950. Mary attended the Lutheran School of Nursing in Ft. Wayne, where Norm and Mary made their home in Fort Wayne for 24 years before moving to Largo, Florida in 1979. They returned to Fort Wayne in 2006. Norm worked as a draftsman for Bowmar for 25 years. He was very active in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, serving several terms as Chairman of Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne and on various boards and committees at Christ the King Lutheran in Largo. Currently, Norm and Mary have been faithful members at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Norm loved baseball and golf and was a gifted athlete himself, playing softball for many years and as secretary of his golf leagues in Florida and Fort Wayne, until just a few years ago when he sadly had to set aside his left-handed PowerBilts due to the onset of his ALS. He was an avid Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays fan and rarely missed an Ohio State football or basketball game on TV. Norm loved his family and friends. He was a quiet, polite Christian gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed by many.Norm is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary; four children Mark (Debbie), and Kent (Cindy), both of Fort Wayne, Eric (Cindy) of Safety Harbor, FL and Karen (Scott) Austin of Oldsmar, FL. Three siblings, Alice (Don) Kleck of Archbold, OH, Frances (John) Harris of Fort Wayne and Larry (Helen) Hesterman of Ridgeville Corners. 7 grandchildren, Luke, Andrew, Neil, Karla, Samantha, Hannah, and Ashley: and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his infant daughter, Ann. Funeral service is 11 AM Thursday, Jan. 19 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3425 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Calling also from 4 to7 PM Wednesday at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne. Burial in Concordia Cemetery Gardens, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or Worship for Shut-Ins, 5 Martin Luther Drive, Fort Wayne IN 46825 or to Heartland Home Health Care, 1315 Directors Row, #210, Fort Wayne 46808 who provided for Norm for many months.