John P. Esselman
John P. Esselman
US Navy WWII Veteran
John Peter Esselman, 80, of Bethel, died April 15 evening at his home. He was the husband of the late Alice (Lattin) (Main) Esselman. Mr Esselman was born in Danbury January 23, 1927, the son of Peter and Esther (Holmes) Esselman.
He is survived by four daughters, Joan Ellen Baumgart and her husband, Kevin, of Newtown, Barbara Bigham and her husband, David, of Danbury, Brenda Zeno and Ruthann Esselman, both of Bethel; one sister, Shirley Mourning of Danbury; nine grandchildren, Tracey Espitee, Terri Danner, Jen Bigham, Carrie DeMunda, Matthew Baumgart, Gregory Baumgart, Samantha Baumgart, Katie Esselman, and Kelli McDermott; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He grew up in Danbury and attended schools there, and later moved to Bethel where he was a resident for 47 years. Mr Esselman was a US Navy veteran of World War II, and was employed as a machinist with Republic Foil of Danbury, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 149 Danbury.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 21, at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury, at 10 am, with the Rev Sheldon Smith, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Bethel, officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery, Bethel.
The family will receive friends at the Green Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, from 5 to 8 pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Bethel Book of Remembrance , 46 Main Street, Bethel CT 06801, or to Regional Hospice of Western Connecticut, 405 Main Street, Danbury CT 06810.
The Newtown Bee       April 20, 2007