John Henry Sheesley, 80, died on Sept. 27, 2024, in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.

Born in Harrisburg, he was the son of the late Norman and Helen Sheesley.

The beloved husband of Lynn T. Sheesley, the couple was married 56 years.

Together, they lived in their family home in Orefield, where they raised their three daughters.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Samantha Sheesley and partner, Seth Lake, of Richmond, Va.; Emily Stoudt and husband, Justin, of Kutztown; and Amanda Hernandez and husband, Benjamin, of Mansfield, Texas; brother Norman Sheesley and wife, Carol, of Lancaster; and sister-in-law Barbara Sheesley of Harrisburg.

He was the proud grandfather (aka Pop Pop) of Madelyn, Kendal and Jacob Hernandez; and the proud uncle of eight nieces and two nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Joel Sheesley.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Lafayette College, his Master of Science degree in statistics from Rutgers University and became a registered professional engineer in California.

A brilliant statistician, he retired from a 20-year career at Air Products and Chemicals Inc. in 2004.

Before that, he worked for Western Electric for five years and General Electric for 12 years.

He was co-recipient of the Brumbaugh Award from the American Society for Quality in 1978.

He was editor for ASSIST in 1986, the chairman of the SQC Roundtable in 1990, contributed multiple articles to the Journal of Quality Technology, and was a contributing author on “Experimental Designs in Industry.”

Through his participation in MathCon, a national student math competition at Cedar Crest College, he taught and inspired gifted young math enthusiasts.

He maintained memberships with Phi Beta Kappa, the American Statistical Association, the American Society for Quality Control, and the American National Standards Institute.

He loved nature and enjoyed time at his cabin in the mountains, stargazing, hiking at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and canoeing at Leaser Lake.

An avid bird-watcher, he looked forward to the migration of hawks and eagles each year.

He took great pride in his yard and garden, creating beautiful cut glass art, and working in his wood shop.

He enjoyed listening to Doo Wop music, admiring classic cars, and spending time with his Great Danes.

He was a great marksman and enjoyed hunting with his dear brothers.

He relished stories from his childhood that centered around his family and friends.

He enjoyed traveling to visit his daughters across the country, and loved hosting large reunions for family and friends at his home and cabin.

He was a man of few words and many jokes, taking great delight in making others laugh.

Ultimately, his world centered around his family. He was a warmhearted man deeply devoted to his wife and children.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529.

A celebration of his life will be held in the near future.