A resident of the Williamsburg area for the past 55 years, Richard Hess passed away at the Ottawa General Hospital on Thursday, October 4, 2012. He was 64.
Richard was born on March 21st, 1948, to his parents Graham and Emma Hess (nee Merkley). They were living in Cornwall at the time, but a few years after Richard’s birth they moved to a farm along the St. Lawrence River where the train now sits at Upper Canada Village.
Richard started school there and this is where his sister, Judy was born in 1953.
With the advent of the Seaway, Graham’s farm was expropriated, and that’s when the family moved to the Sixth Concession farm north of Williamsburg.
In 1968, the family purchased the Don and Mary Hess farm immediately west of their family farm. There they converted the barn to suit their milking cows and rented the house. This farm eventually became Richard’s well-known ‘Hesshill Farms’.
In 1968, Richard met Jane Casselman, and six years later, on March 29th, 1974, they were married.
Jill, his daughter was born on March 6th, 1975, and Ricky, his son, was born on July 14th,1978. Richard was also the proud grandpa of Dougie and Bobby Robinson and Emma Jane Hess.
In addition to being a successful dairy farmer, Richard had many other interests. He was a member of the I.O.O.F. in Williamsburg and sat on the Winchester District Memorial Hospital board.
He enjoyed hockey and ball, both as a player and as a spectator, and was involved with minor hockey in Morrisburg. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, a real outdoorsman.
Richard had many wonderful friends who will remember his big smile and that twinkle in his eye. He spent countless hours with Jane along with their children and grandchildren and has left them many precious memories to cherish over the years.
Richard is survived by his wife Jane Hess (nee Casselman), his children Jill (Doug) Robinson of Finch and Rick (Suzanne) of Williamsburg, his father Graham Hess (Jean Sheldrick) of Williamsburg and his sister Judy Raistrick of Greely. He was the proud grandpa of Doug, Bob and Emma Jane. He is also survived by nieces and nephews.
Richard was predeceased by his mother Emma Hess (nee Merkley) on November 29, 1996.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, on Wednesday, October 10th at 11 a.m., with Rev. Norine Gullons officiating. Pallbearers were Dale Casselman, Hubert Barkley, John Dickey and Roger Morrell. Honorary pallbearers were Garry Whitteker, Donnie Whitteker, Bruce Kerry, Rene Morin, Gaeten Perreault and Rheal Perreault.
Donations to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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