Obituary of John J. Risser

John J. Risser, 70, of Hershey, PA, went home to heaven on Thursday morning, September, 11, 2014 at Pleasant View Retirement Community, in Manheim following a long illness. Born on the family farm in South Londonderry Twp,, Lebanon, Co., PA, he was the son of the late Floyd G. and Florence Hershey Risser. He was the husband of Deborah Ebersole Risser for 23 years on April 6. John was a member of Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim. He received his high school diploma from Bob Jones University. John was a self-employed farmer and was widely known in the local farming community. Prior to farming, he was employed by the former Wolf Motor Co. in Lancaster selling automobile parts and as a painter by Rev. Heisey in Elizabethtown where he painted many large buildings, including tall church steeples. In the 1960's, John owned a racecar which he primarily raced in York Co. Later, he enjoyed participating in competitive tractor pulls and was a member of the Lebanon Co. Tractor Pulling Association. He also enjoyed riding snowmobiles. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Jacob B. Risser and Jonathan S. Risser, both at home; two siblings, Sara F. Risser of Quito, Ecuador and Floyd G., husband of Gwen Risser, of Harbey, Australia; and a father-in-law, Raymond B. Ebersole of Lititz. He was preceded in death by three siblings, Robert Hershey Risser, Doris F. Martin, and C. Troy Risser. A funeral service will be held on Monday morning, September 15, 2014 at 11:00 am at Chiques Church of the Brethren, 4045 Sunnyside Road, Manheim, PA. Private interment will be in Risser Mennonite Cemetery. The family will receive guests at the church on Sunday afternoon from 2-4:00 pm and on Monday morning from 10:00 am until the time of the service. Please omit flowers. If desired, contributions may be made to the Jacob B. Risser Trust, c/o Union National Community Bank, 1275 South Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. To express a condolence with the family or to watch a webcast of the service available beginning the day following the service visit www.spencefuneralservices.com.