Obituary of John Donald Hemminger Sr.

 

It is with a very heavy heart that we share that John Donald Hemminger, Sr. lost his battle with emphysema on Sunday May 21, 2023.  John was born on the family farm in Sugar Grove, PA June 25, 1945. John’s mother Eleanore, had been out milking cows when her water broke and she barely, made it back to the house.  Johnny, made his appearance into the world soon after his mother reached the house.

John was married to Suzanne Hemminger (Morton) from 1965 to 1970. In 1966 they welcomed their first child, Yvette Lynn followed by a son, Mark William (Ann), in 1970 in Union City, PA

In 1972 John married Joann Allenbaugh and they lived in Whitter, CA and then moved to Kelso WA with Joann’s two sons Kenny and Scott. They decided on a very friendly divorce in 1979 and remained good friends.

John met Salli Henry in Winchester, CA and were married in Jan 1983 in Winchester, CA. They had two children, a son John, Jr. (JD) was born in Feb 1984 and daughter Teri Lynn was born in Feb 1988. The family lived in Winchester for 16 years and then moved to Denver, CO in 2000.

At the age of 17 John joined the US Marines in June 1963 after serving four years he was honorably discharged as Lance Corporal. During his time with the US Marines John spent 14 months on tour in Vietnam as well as completing two cruises through the Mediterranean and one trip to the almost Bay of Pigs in Cuba but then they were turned back.

 After leaving the marines John learned many new employment skills and finally settled into being a cross country truck driver for the next 18 years. When he decided truck driving was no longer what he needed he became an automotive technician specializing in electrical work. He worked for the next 12 years with his father-in-law Gene Henry as a partner at Gene Henry’s Auto Electric in Hemet and Winchester, CA.  The family moved to Colorado in Aug of 2000 and made a new life in Denver.  Where John loved to go fishing, playing pirate, learning to sword fight and fighting with staffs and hanging out with friends and family.

John is survived by his wife Salli. They had a blended family of four children Yvette Lyn (Mike) Jamestown, NY, Mark William (Ann) Mayville, NY, JD (Angela) Sitka, AK and Teri Lynn Denver, CO.  Along with 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren with one more great grandchild to make an appearance in Aug of this year.  John is also survived, by his brother Richard (Deb) of Pahrump NV, Leah Duby, of Saginaw, MI and sister Gloria Diane Stanton Portland, NY and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.  John was preceded in death by immediate family members, his mother Eleanore M. McCaslin and his father John W Hemminger as well as his sisters Treva Green and Judy Cox. 

John was a strong, caring man who loved his family, his friends and his country. John loved life with lots of smiles, laughter and making memories. He is definitely be missed.

Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all

                                                                   -Laura Ingalls Wilder