John Elmer Hakemoller (sometimes referred to as Makely) of Dayton, Ohio went to be with the Lord on May 2, 2023. He was surrounded by his loving family and cared for by Hospice of Dayton. John was born to John Henry and Anna Stella Hackemoeller of Minster, Ohio where he resided for eighteen years. After graduating from high school, John traveled to Dayton on the back of a beer truck to look for a job. He was hired by General Motors as a tool and die maker. He worked for GM for forty years retiring at the age of fifty-eight. During his early years, John was a member of the Letters Carriers Band where he played the trumpet, allowing him to travel the USA.
John was married to the love of his life, Olympia (Stefanidis) Hakemoller. Together they had a wonderful life with their three children: James, Janice, and John Hakemoller. He enjoyed camping with his family, and they traveled around the United States of America, to almost all fifty states. There was so much that the three kids learned during their traveling excursions. John was an adventurous man, and at the same time he was gentle enough to enjoy the beauty of an amphitheater in the woods of Wyoming. Wonderful memories of the family also happened around the piano. It was his musical ability that brought the family together to sing Christmas carols. His sister Rita was on the piano, John was on the trumpet, and his nephew Jack, niece Jill and other family and friends gathered around to sing and enjoy Christmas carols. Those are cherished memories.
As a member of the Letters Carriers Band, he enjoyed playing the trumpet and had a great voice. John was a member of Saint Rita's Catholic Church of Dayton Ohio. He also was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Milton Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the VFW Auxiliary. John and Bobbie loved ballroom dancing and square dancing and were members of the Dayton Ballroom Dance Association. John loved all sports, but especially loved baseball and the Cincinnati Reds. He coached and/or managed his two son's Little League Baseball teams for many years. In his older years, he loved playing darts at Friendship Village.
He was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 72 years, Olympia Hakemoller, parents, John Henry and Anna Stella Hackemeoller of Minster, Ohio; and his loving sister Rita (Hakemoller) Sanders.
John Elmer is survived by his three children: James Steven Hakemoller (Beth) of Tallahassee, Florida, John Mark Hakemoller (Sally) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his daughter Janice Susan (Hakemoller) Marsh of Hurricane, West Virginia; six grandchildren: Michelle (Hakemoller) Foreman (Josh) of Tallahassee, Florida, Bryan Hakemoller (Haley) of Atlanta, Georgia, John Willis Hakemoller of Louisville, Kentucky, Alexander Marsh of Chapel Hill, Julie Hakemoller of Cincinnati, and Anna Marsh of Hurricane, West Virginia; two great-grandchildren: Adalynne and Oliver Foreman of Tallahassee, Florida and his nephew John (Jack) Froschauer (Reggi); his niece, Jill Sanders; and many other nephews and nieces and great and nephews and nieces.
John was an incredible husband to his wife Bobbie and awesome father to his three children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He has left an incredible legacy. He will be sorely missed by many. We are forever grateful to the staff, especially the nurses of Ohio Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420. Their love and care were outstanding to both John Elmer and Olympia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ohio Hospice of Dayton.
A visitation will be held from 9:30am to 10:45am on Monday, May 8, 2023 at Newcomers North Chapel, 4104 Needmore Road, Dayton, Ohio 45424. Following the visitation, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30am at Saint Rita's Catholic Church, 5401 North Main Street in Dayton, Ohio 45415. Following Mass, John and Olympia will be laid to rest together at Royal Oaks Memorial Gardens, Brookville, Ohio.
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