John Joseph Hessman passed away on Thursday June 13, 2013 at Greenwood Meadows nursing home.

He was born on Friday October 14, 1927 in Indianapolis. He was the son of Harry and Martha (HoHeisel) Hessman, both have previously passed. He had five brothers that has also previously passed, Leo of North Carolina, Albert, Frank, Henry, Charley all of Indiana. His step father John Corcoran and step brother Priest Thomas Corcoran of Indiana has also previously passed. He is survived by one sister Rose Mary Miller of Indianapolis. His loving wife of 56 years, Nina "Viola" Anderson, survives living in Whiteland, and he is survived by their two children, Wanetta Pfahler of Greenwood and Ron Hessman of Grand Rapids Michigan. He is survived by many nephews and nieces, including Albert Hessman of Greenwood, Joan Owen and Patty Smith of New Whiteland, James Hessman and Mark Miller of Indianapolis, Charles Lee Hessman of Bloomington, Phyllis Sieman of Greenwood, Imogene Grosheim of Cincinnati, Bob Gossage of Anderson and Vicky Gossage of Florida. One cousin Grover Stambaugh of Whiteland previously passed. His mother and father in-law had previously passed, Elsie (Koger) Anderson and General Jackson Anderson (he is listed on National Law Enforcement Memorial, and he was the Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandson of Chief Chuqualatague "Doublehead" of Cherokee Sycamore Shoals Cumberland Plateau). Mr. Hessman had several sisters and brothers in-laws that have all previously passed, Hobert and Edison Anderson of Kentucky; Zelma Gregory, Susie Thomson, Christine Burr, Lucille Perkins, all of Indianapolis, Gendola Gossage of Muncie, and Ethel Roberts of Kentucky.

Growing up on the south side of Indianapolis on Union Street, he attended Sacred Heart Catholic School, Public School 22 and Manual High School. He worked for Penn Railroad before serving in the U.S. ARMY Air Force in the occupation of France and in Germany at the end of World War II earning the medals of the ARMY of Occupation and World War II Victory Medal while in the 786TH Unit AAF, 156th Airways and Air Communication Service Squadron. After the service he returned to Indianapolis as ARMY Air Force Reservist and he worked at Standard Brands where he would meet his future wife. He relocated to New Whiteland in 1958. He was the owner and operator of Hessman's Sunoco on US 31 and Main Street Greenwood from 1965 to 1973. A licensed mechanic he also had worked at Kelly Chevrolet car dealership in Greenwood. He managed gas stations for Wake Up Oil Company for 30 years and was the training manager at the Greenwood station at Fry Road. After retiring he worked part time for Lockhart Cadillac dealership in Greenwood shuttling vehicles and at the Franklin Wal-Mart working in the lawn and garden department.

He was a member of New Whiteland First Baptist Church and serviced their busses in the late 1960s and early 70's. He loved fishing and hunting.

Viewing will be at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Greenwood, on Sunday, June 16, 2013 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and services will be on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Johnson County - 3827 North Graham Road
Franklin, Indiana 46131 or to the Parkinson''s Awareness Association of Central Indiana, Inc. - 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 333 Indianapolis, Indiana 46205-1560.