John "Jack" Hill

John “Jack” Hill, 89, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully January 28, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. He was born in Erie, PA, to Vernon and Adele (Sermon) Hill on January 7, 1934. He grew up in Erie with his sister Janet and his two brothers, Bill and Russ, all who predeceased him.

Jack graduated from Penn State University with a major in Accounting in 1955, something of which he was very proud. He remained a loyal Penn State fan for the rest of his life – a trait that several of his children and grandchildren inherited. Jack also served in the US Army, and while serving, he played softball for the Army and was both an ace pitcher and a home run slugger. Jack has plaques in his honor at Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA and on the Veterans Wall of Honor in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, NY.

After college and the Army, destiny showed its hand, and Jack ended up in Downers Grove, IL where he met the love of his life, Barbara “Bobbie” Schmidt on a blind date in June 1959. It was love at first sight, and Jack and Bobbie were married six months later on January 16, 1960. The couple was inseparable from that point on. They celebrated their 63rd anniversary shortly before Jack passed, and the two were more in love than on their wedding day. Both told each other that they would do it all over again without changing a thing. Their children and grandchildren, as well as other family and friends, often commented that Jack and Bobbie were a shining example of love, marriage, commitment, and partnership – a rarity today.

Jack worked for Genesco for 35 years, most of that time at its headquarters in Nashville.

Jack is survived by his loving wife Barbara “Bobbie” (Schmidt) Hill, his children: Jim Hill (Gina) of Thompson Station, TN; Sharon Hill of Smithtown, NY; and Carolyn Homs of Roswell, GA and his grandchildren: Alex, Grace and Jameson Hill; John “Jack” Strauss; and Rueben, Jacqueline, and Esteban Homs.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of Jack’s life at Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home with visitation on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, and visitation and funeral service starting at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 4, 2023. Memorial donations can be made to the Ascension St. Thomas Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, or the Nashville Rescue Mission for the homeless.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Brentwood-Roesch-PattonFuneralHome.com for the Hill family.