John Paul Hefner

Cairo, Ohio

John Paul Hefner, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 11, 2023 at home in Cairo, Ohio. John was born December 12, 1944 in Lima, Ohio to John and Zelma McComb Hefner. On June 5, 1965 he married Carroll Long and she survives him.

In addition to his wife John is survived by his daughter, Valerie (Greg) Dienstberger, brother Ronald (Darlene) Hefner, granddaughters Nicole (Jason) Truax, and Kirsten Dienstberger.

John was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Ruth (Joseph) Hardin, Esther (Robert) Willeke, Mary (Thomas) Fetter, and Sharon Hefner; brothers Eugene (Dorothy) Hefner, Walter (Charlotte) Hefner, Glenn Hefner, Gordon (Carol) Hefner, and Donald (Twila) Hefner.

John was employed by AEP for 40 years, retiring as a station crew supervisor, where during his retirement party a coworker commented that he was a true ready kilowatt who will always bleed amps. Was a volunteer fire fighter with the Cairo fire department for 47 years, where he was also the treasurer, and an arson investigator. He looked forward to the fire department’s annual hog roast ending with a robust bingo game.

He had a love for all cars and would attend many of the area’s classic car shows with his special friends Carol and Tom Meredith and Barb and Stan Caster. He loved tinkering on anything and everything and was considered the jack-of-all-trades to his family and neighbors. Photography and flying model airplanes were hobbies he enjoyed. John loved keeping in touch with his extended family through Facebook and family gatherings.

John loved to can green beans and tomato sauce, he made an awesome brown sugar pie, deviled eggs, and cheese balls that became his must have for family gatherings and holidays. He especially loved spoiling and supporting his granddaughters with their horses and softball games. He was known by nicknames of JP and Jeep by his coworkers, and Higgins by his neighbors. He was known to be a jokester and quite ornery.

The family would like to thank The Cleveland Clinic and Putnam County Homecare and Hospice.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in John’s name to the Cairo Fire Department.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 15, 2023 from 4-8 pm at Hartman Sons Funeral Home, Columbus Grove. A celebration of life service will be on Friday June 16, 2023 at 1 pm officiated by Father David Ritchie with burial following the service at Memorial Park Cemetery Lima, Ohio

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Paul Hefner, please visit our floral store.