John E. Hiesterman

John E. Hiesterman, age 78, of Linn, Kansas, was called home to his Lord and Savior on September 26, 2026.

John was born October 16, 1947, in Clay Center, Kansas, to Erwin and Elsie (Burgies) Hiesterman. On November 2, 1947, he was made a child of God through Holy Baptism at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn and was later confirmed there on June 26, 1961.

In 1965, John graduated from Linn High School and went on to attend Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas. From 1967 to 1974, he served his country in the Army Reserves. During this time, he also worked full time at Linn State Bank.

In 1979, John married Annette VanDuson. To this union, two daughters, Angela and Jennifer, were born. They later divorced in 1988.

John eventually returned to farming full time alongside his dad, uncle Arnold and his brothers. As the years went on, his nephews Daniel, Luke and Jeremy Olson, and cousin Jason Uffman, joined the family farming operation.

John met Ramona Disinger at the Linn Picnic, and on November 18, 1989, they were united in marriage at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, south of Barnes, Kansas, by Rev. Joel Hiesterman.

John was very active in local and state Kansas livestock associations, conferences and scholarship fundraisers. In 2003, John and Ramona received the Washington County Col. Donald C. Patterson Ranch Management Award.

John was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church and a strong supporter of Linn Lutheran School. Throughout his life, he held many offices and remained involved in both his church and community.

Farming and ranching were a large part of John’s life. He enjoyed taking Sunday drives to check the cows, often stopping at one of the ponds to do a little fishing along the way. John was also an avid sportsman. He taught Ramona how to deer hunt and enjoyed hunting with his grandson Brad and Charlie Patterson.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Elsie Hiesterman; wife, Ramona Hiesterman; brother, Ernie Hiesterman; sister-in-law, Cindy Hiesterman; grandson, Andrew James Hiesterman; and sister-in-law, Brenda Reith.

Survivors include his daughters, Angela Hiesterman of Scandia, Kansas, and Jennifer (Lee Allen) Allen-Hiesterman of Smith Center, Kansas; granddaughter, Felicia (Devon) O’Neil of Superior, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Kash, Kinzlee and Korbett O’Neil; stepdaughter, Tina (John) Meier of Stillwater, Oklahoma; step-grandchildren, Brad, Rachel and Sarah Meier; and step-great-grandson, Marcus Meier.

Also surviving are his brothers, Dee (Kollette) Hiesterman of Milford, Kansas, Joel (Michaela) Hiesterman of Phillipsburg, Kansas, and Philip (Vickie) Hiesterman of Linn; brother-in-law, Dewain Reith of Linn; special friend, Pat Pearson of Clyde, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, October 1, at Ward Funeral Home in Linn.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 2, at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn. Burial will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

The pallbearers will be Luke Hiesterman, Daniel Hiesterman, Jeremy Olson, Jason Uffman, Kevin Clark and Alec Tiemeyer.

A memorial fund has been established in John’s name for the Linn Lutheran School Endowment Fund or the Kansas Livestock Association Scholarship Association.