John L. Hess

John L. Hess, CAPT, JAGC, USNR John L. Hess, attorney, died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on November 4, 2020 of complications from cancer. He was born on August 24, 1943 to Ethel Marie (nee Swenson) and Leland Foresman Hess at the Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer, Indiana. He grew up in Brook, Indiana where his family operated E.E. Hess Company which produced, among other products, Hess Witch Hazel Cream. In high school he was a member of the basketball, baseball, and cross-country teams, played trombone in the band, and was a member of the chorus. As Brook only had 800 residents, he took great delight in bragging that he was an “All City” athlete. He was the class President of the Class of 1961 at Brook High School and soon matriculated to Indiana University in Bloomington. While at IU he joined Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity where he served as Historian and where he made many close lifelong friends. He was active in Phi Gamma Delta affairs for many years. In college, John participated in intramurals of all kinds and enjoyed them immensely. John graduated from IU in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in history. Upon graduation he served an internship with the United States Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. However, any diplomatic career had to be cut short as John had a military obligation to first fulfill. He attended Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington and upon graduation in 1968 received a direct commission in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp, completing Naval Justice School in Rhode Island. While in law school, John served as the House Counselor and Advisor for Phi Gamma Delta and also worked part-time for the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as an investigator. He was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1968. He married Donna J. Greenfield of Evansville, Indiana on March 8, 1969 and they have had a wonderful partnership for the past 51 years (after meeting at the IU vs. Kentucky Football game in 1967). After their wedding, John and Donna moved to Great Lakes, Illinois where John continued his military service as a JAG Officer. After four (4) years of active duty, John continued his Naval career and served an additional seventeen (17) years in a reserve capacity, retiring at the rank of Captain in 1989. John and Donna moved to Indianapolis in 1972 where John was engaged in the practice of law until his death. Since 2003, he practiced in partnership with his daughter, Jennifer, which he greatly enjoyed. John was the senior partner of Hess Hess & Donnelson, LLP. John was affiliated with various legal professional organizations including the Indianapolis Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. Upon moving to Indianapolis, John joined the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Murat Shrine. He continued membership in these organizations and numerous affiliated Masonic Organizations such as the Royal Order of Jesters and the Murat Yacht Club. John was a charter member of the Murat Yacht Club where good spirited members still meet for lunch each Friday. He was also a member of the Service Club of Indianapolis and enjoyed attending programs and lectures offered by the Club as often as possible. He was a lifetime member of the Robert E. Kennington Post #34 American Legion and served for many years as the Judge Advocate for the Post. He was a member of the White River Yacht Club. He was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel in 1996. Additionally, John was affiliated with various Indiana University Alumni organizations over the years including being a lifetime member of the Indiana University Alumni Association. John enjoyed boating, fishing, IU sporting events, football tailgates, vacationing with his family and friends (especially in Orange Beach, Alabama), and attended approximately fifty (50) Indianapolis 500 Races. As a loyal IU graduate, John instilled his love of the Hoosiers in his daughter and granddaughter from birth. John was fortunate to make many wonderful friends throughout his life and he enjoyed spending time with his beloved family and friends, especially his granddaughter, Harper. He would want it known to his friends and extended family that he thought the world of them and deeply valued them for their friendship and years of fun, memories, and loyalty. He was a wonderful, kind, and generous husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather who loved his family and friends beyond measure and knew no strangers. Words are insufficient to express how much he is loved by his family and how much he is missed. John is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Donna J. Greenfield Hess, a daughter, Jennifer M. Hess Kimmick, a granddaughter, Harper Hess Kimmick, a son-in-law, Matthew R. Kimmick, and a niece, Ann McClelland Leonard. He is also survived by his siblings-in-law; Michael Greenfield (Sallie), Emma Leraris (Daniel), Dennis Greenfield (Krista), Mary Millsaps (Dr. Ralph), and Michele Greenfield, all of Evansville and Newburgh, Indiana as well as many loving nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his sisters Phyllis M. McClelland (Howard), Louise Wooten, a brother, Don E. Hess, his parents, Ethel M. Hess and Leland Foresman Hess, and two nephews, Scott Hess and Charles Leonard. In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A calling is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2020 at Leppert Mortuary located at 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46240 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19 constraints, a private family memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. However, the family invites all to attend virtually as the service will be livestreamed on the Leppert Mortuaries- Nora Facebook website at https://www.facebook.com/LeppertMortuariesNora. A burial will immediately follow the service at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery located at 9001 Haverstick Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 and all are welcome to attend. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The family requests that online condolences be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/indianapolis-in/john-hess-9891705. Any updates regarding the services will also be posted to this location.