John F. Essman

John F. Essman, age 69, of Bryan, Ohio, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, while in Columbus, Ohio. Following graduation from high school, John attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. He went on to found Essman Screw Products and J. & J. Machine, both in Bryan, Ohio, and John Essman Company in Hamilton, Indiana. Currently, he was the owner and operator of Swivel-Tek in Bryan. John was the recipient of the Gold Micrometer from the National Screw Machine Products Association. His memberships included Orchard Hills Country Club, of which he was a past president, Bryan Rotary, and Wesley United Methodist Church. John was a past president of the Bryan Chamber of Commerce and a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan, where he served as president. An avid golfer, John was currently playing on a traveling tour. Most of all, John was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. John F. Essman was born on June 22, 1943, in St. Louis County, Missouri, the son of Orvell Woodrow and Florence Edna (Thornhill) Essman. He married Joyce Fae Kassel on May 31, 1969, in Perryville, Missouri, and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Stephanie Essman, D.V.M., of San Diego, California, and Coleen (T.J.) Bridges, of Charlotte, North Carolina; one granddaughter, Kaiden Bridges, and one grandson, Finnegan Bridges; two brothers, William Essman, of Angola, Indiana, and Donald (Carron) Essman, of The Villages, Florida; one sister, Sonja (Don) Venable, of Springfield, Missouri; and his furry friends, Zyra, Tanner and Miss Kitty. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services celebrating the life of John F. Essman will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013, at 3:00 P.M. in Wesley United Methodist Church in Bryan with Pastor Jeffrey Motter officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00-3:00 P.M. in the church immediately prior to the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Williams County Humane Society.