WOOSTER – Bob Hesser, 91, of Wooster, passed away at the family home on June 5, 2019. At the time of his death, Bob was the oldest living Hesser man from a line of Hessers originating in Northeastern Oklahoma.
Bob was born on September 10, 1927 in Glencoe, Oklahoma to Helen Marie and Isaac (Ike) Hesser. Bob graduated from Stillwater High School in 1945 and attended Oklahoma State University, then known as Oklahoma A & M University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Bertie. Bob is survived by his children, Keith of Phoenix, AZ, Jana (Tim Davidson) of Palm Beach, FL, Kent of Houston, TX, Leanna (Jeff Cempre) of Worthington, OH, beloved friend, Mary Kay Rowekamp, and grandchildren Tyler and Casey Cempre and Christopher, Peter and Ali Davidson. Bob is also survived by his very close cousins, Patricia Ward, Jack Hesser and Charlie Friend.
Bob worked for the Sandy Supply Company from the time he arrived in Wooster in 1956 until 2006, completing 50 years of service with the company. After his retirement, Bob continued to be actively involved in the oil and gas industry.
Bob was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he had served as a deacon.
Bob and Bertie enjoyed travel. They spent the winter months in Florida and took frequent trips to Las Vegas and New York City. Bob especially loved his trips to Oklahoma where he enjoyed family, friends and fishing.
Bob was a longtime member of the Wooster Elks Lodge. He enjoyed his Monday morning breakfast with friends, tennis, golf and gardening and took great pride in his flowers and tomato plants.
Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.
McIntire, Bradham and Sleek Funeral Home is assisting the family. A private family burial will be held at Sherwood Memorial Gardens. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave. in Wooster and will be officiated by the Reverends Charles Cureton and Jim Watt. The family will receive friends following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio s Hospice Lifecare, 1900 Akron Road, Wooster, OH 44691.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Memorial Contributions
Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691
Service
Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave., Wooster
Visitation
Family will receive friends following memorial service
Keith, Leanna, Kent, and Jana I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad always treated me like family, and I always enjoyed spending time with him. The last few years it was enjoyable to have dinner and spend time at the house. Sending prayers your way…
So sorry about your Fatther! When I think of all of you reminds me of a kinder more gentle world then now! W
I loved the way your dad let his light shine. I have so many fond memories of Christmas Eve at your family home and the beautiful enduring friendship our parents shared. Please know how much I care. Sending love to all of you.
My Heart goes out to you all! What a gentleman, kind soul, and generous person, that I had the privilege to know and spend many years of friendship, travel, business deals, and interactions with all of you as a ” part of the family”. These memories will live on with me forever!
Billy Hobbs
Leanna, Kent, Keith and Jana:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all and your family.
May the peace of God wrap his arms around. Sending prayers and sympathy to you all.
The world just lost a wonderful man. Bob was the most kind and caring person. I had the pleasure of working with Bob at Sandy Supply for 23 years. He was always the one who was willing to lend a hand and offer advise to whomever needed it. He always had a smile on his face, a good joke in his back pocket, and was great to be around. He was known and respected by many, many people. He was an icon in the oil and gas industry, and I don’t think there were many people out there that didn’t know Bob. We both send our love and prayers to you all. God Bless. Dale & Kate
The world just lost a wonderful man. I had the pleasure of working with Bob at Sandy Supply for 23 years. He was the most kind and caring person. He was always willing to lend a hand and offer up good advise to anyone and everyone. He always had a smile on his face, a good joke in his back pocket, and a kind thing to say. Bob touched the lives of many, many people. He was an icon in the Oil and Gas world. He was known and respected by everyone. There were not many people out there that didn’t know or know of Bob Hesser. He will be missed. Sending our love and prayers. God Bless you all. Dale & Kate Taylor
Kent and Leanna, I remember you both fondly in our younger years and Rusty had the pleasure of getting to know your dad recently, as well as your brother Keith and sister Jana. He said what a nice guy your dad was. You are in our thoughts.
I used to work at Wooster Tool/Sandy Supply, Bob was a generous man, who helped me out and anyone if he could. Sorry about your loss.
We hope all of you are doing OK. Bob was one of my dad’s best friends and a kind, joyful, generous, loving man who along with Bertie has left a family for the ages! What a family! He has influenced me to love my family with all my heart and soul like he loved his family. God bless all of you and hopefully you have peace of mind in knowing that your parents were exceptional people.
Tom & Birdie Weckesser
Leanna, Kent, Jana, and Keith- You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Your Dad was a true gentleman and a class act. I will always remember very fondly the many, many years of good times we all shared on Longboat Key as well as Las Vegas. He will be sorely missed.
Billy Enright
I fondly remember the Bob Hesser and family. Having worked at Freedlander Park for many years, we couldn’t have had better neighbors than Bob and his family. Bob was always helpful to the park and a very nice man to know. Bertie was fun to know and talk as well, . I also enjoyed knowing all of their children. Bob was a kind man and gentleman. He will be missed and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family.
Chuck Malta and Kathy Gallo
Bob and Bertie were good friends of my parents, Ross and Dorothy Ginther. I have very fond memories of Bob. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and was always having a good time. It’s sad to see all of my parents’ friends pass. They were all a big part of my early years. My sympathies to the Hesser family and to Kay Rowekamp and her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Chris and LIsa Ginther
Dear Jana,
Sometimes I pretend … living in my memories, smiling with that glow of my loved one’s warmth. The journey of loss is final yet, how else can we live on? Your eyes have your dad’s twinkle … he saw that too.
With Lots of Love,
Donna & Dave
I’m so sorry to learn of your father’s passing. I always remember your parents as being very kind and always smiling. Prayers and with great sympathy to all.
I played with and against Bob in tennis for many years. You could not meet a kinder, nicer guy than Bob. When he and Howard Nielson were partners when I first started, they were so much fun to play against. Since those days, I would see Bob every now and again around town and he’d always ask how I was and how my family was. A true gentleman.