Ruth "Joan" Hesson, 80, of North Star passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 with her family by her side after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on December 15, 1943, in Decatur, Indiana to the late Carl and Lucile (Tricker/Spangler) Muhlenkamp. On May 13, 1967, Joan married George "Larry" Hesson in Rockford, Ohio who survives.

In addition to her husband Larry, she is survived by her children and in-laws: Donna and Alan Jutte of Coldwater, Deb and Bill Hemmelgarn of St. Henry, and Doug and Sherry (Koesters) Hesson of Versailles. Also surviving Joan are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly: (Donna and Alan's family) Tonya and Aaron Hein, Tyler and Danielle Jutte along with their children Carter, Bryce, Emma, Colton, and baby, Trent Jutte, Tara and Joe Wuebker and their son, Leo. (Deb and Bill's family) Caleb and Tana Hemmelgarn and their daughter, Lainey, Chase and Kate Hemmelgarn and their son, Roman, Connor and Alexis Hemmelgarn and their daughter, Adaline, and Calli Hemmelgarn. (Doug and Sherry's family) Dylan and Clair Hesson and their daughters Nicole and Shannon, Danielle and Josh Meyer and their baby, Deanna and Kyle Pothast, and Dalton Hesson. Joan was very proud of all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and adored all of them. She will also be missed by her little buddy, Dexter, her 3.5-pound Chihuahua. Joan is also survived by her sister, Rose Dirksen, in-laws, Norman Alt, Bob and Paula Hesson, and numerous nephews and nieces.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant grandson, Timothy Jutte, her sister, Mary Lou Alt, brother and sister-in-law Tom and Nancy, and in-laws George and Deloris Hesson.

Joan was retired from Versailles Exempted Village Schools where she had served as the Head Cook at the former elementary school located in North Star. Joan was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church, St. Ann's Sodality, and the American Legion Auxiliary of North Star. For several decades she volunteered as a Darke County 4-H Advisor and served as the Secretary of the Goat Department for the Darke County Fairgrounds.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at St. Louis Catholic Church, North Star with burial to follow in St. Louis Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in St. Henry on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday, March 21 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Gathering Room at St. Louis Catholic Church, North Star.

Memorials may be made to the Cancer Association of Darke County or EverHeart Hospice.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.