Of Naples, Florida, passed away in the evening of February 24, 2025 at the age of 88, surrounded by his children and friends. 

A lifelong resident of Wisconsin, John’s only extended time away from his home state was during his years at Dartmouth College (Class of 1959) and his service in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1962. Both of these experiences were instrumental in shaping the man he became. 

John’s athletic abilities were evident early in life, excelling as a three-sport athlete in high school. At Dartmouth, he discovered his lifelong love for rugby, a sport that would change the course of his life. As a member and eventual captain of the Dartmouth Rugby Club, John played a pivotal role in developing the program into one of the best in the country. In his senior year, he led the team to an impressive 27-3 record, including a historic tour to England where they became the first U.S. college rugby team to play in England finishing with a 5-2 record. This tour was featured in Sports Illustrated and earned the team an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. 

Following his time at Dartmouth, John served in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. Stationed in San Diego, he also participated in two tours throughout the Far East during which he visited Japan. The Philippines, Formosa/Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa and Midway Island.  John always carried with him a deep appreciation for the discipline he found in the Navy. 

John was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, proud to have watched three Hall of Fame quarterbacks during his lifetime. He had the honor of attending the infamous “Ice Bowl” and often reminisced about the excitement of witnessing such a historic game. 

A dedicated businessman, John had a successful career in life insurance and estate planning, helping many people secure their financial futures. Over a span of more than 40 years, John built a respected business, always emphasizing the importance of financial responsibility. 

John was fortunate to experience two loving marriages. He and his first wife, Janet, shared many happy years while raising three children: Jim, Elisabeth, and David. Later in life, John found his true soulmate in Judy, with whom he shared 27 years of marriage. Before his passing, John found comfort in knowing he would soon be reunited with Judy. 

An athlete at heart, John remained active throughout his life, participating in tennis, platform tennis (where he qualified for the National Tournament with his close friend, Alan Brown ‘59), golf, and pickleball. He was known for his resilience and determination, often saying, “You can’t hurt steel!” 

John is survived by his two sisters, Joanne and Joyce, his three children, Jim, Elisabeth, and David and grandsons, Kieffer, Brandon, Nicholas, Noam and Micah.

John expressed his love for those children and grandchildren until the day he died. John also maintained a deep affection for Judy’s children and grandchildren during their marriage and in the years since she passed away. His legacy of love, discipline, and commitment to his family and friends will live on. 

Private services will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dartmouth Men’s Rugby Club (www.dartgo.org/HesslerMemorial). Checks should be made to Dartmouth Men’s Rugby and mailed to: Gift Recording 6066 Development Office Hanover, NH 03755 Memo line: Memory of John Hessler

https://www.feerickfuneralhome.com/obituary/john-william-hessler