John E. Sherman, 83, of Wheelersburg, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at his residence.

Born Jan. 30, 1928; son of the late John Valentine and Nora Louise Frische Sherman, he was a graduate of Wheelersburg High School in the Class of 1946, he attended Ohio University from 1946 to 1948. John was a self-employed Dairy Farmer, he was a bookkeeper for Wheelersburg Oil & Tire Company, and he had worked in the Industrial Engineering Dept. for the following companies: U.S. Playing Card Co., Inc. in Cincinnati, Henrite Products Corp. in Ironton, Empire Detroit Steel in New Boston, and Goodyear Atomic Corp. in Piketon. He started his employment at Detroit Steel as a time study engineer; he also held the position of Industrial Engineer Project Supervisor of Standards, and was manger of Industrial Engineering. He was a member of Industrial Engineering Counsel made up of management of 15 major steel producers from U.S., Canada, and Mexico. After the closure of Steel Mill, he held positions of industrial engineer staff and of industrial relations-senior at Goodyear Atomic Corporation. He retired on Aug. 1, 1986.

He was involved in the following community activities: Lifetime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, active in various parish activities including fundraising, lector, Eucharistic minister, served on various religious and social committees, religious education teacher, member of parish council, co-captain meals on wheels team in Wheelersburg, choir member, served as secretary and as president of Catholic Social Service, President of Wheelersburg PTA, secretary then president of Wheelersburg Little League, member of Founding Board of Scioto Water, Inc., first served as secretary then as president during construction and startup of operations, former member of Knights of Columbus where he held office of secretary and treasurer, member of Polio Survivors Support Group for several years and served as secretary and as president, and was a member of Ohio State Grange for 50-plus years.

John loved the Wheelersburg area. He dearly loved the people of the area and cherished the friendship of his many relatives and friends. He loved working on Church and community projects and activities. He had a life-long love of working with wood and enjoyed the woodworking hobby which he pursued from high school freshman to the rest of his life, which can be seen in the homes of all his dear children. He regarded difficulties as being a challenge to be coped with and not to be accepted as a deterrent to performing meaningful acts.

He is survived by his children, Stephen Anthony Sherman, Francis Edward (Sharon) Sherman, John Joseph Sherman, Theresa (Dave) Bauer, Mary (Mark) Gardner, Patricia “Patty” (Mark) Delabar; his grandchildren, Stephanie Bauer, Johnathan Sherman, Marianne (Steve) Large, Rod Sherman, Jennifer Sherman, Nicholas Gardner, Katie Gardner, Rob Delabar, Caitie Delabar and Brian Delabar, and his sister, Gertrude Leona Sherman.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Margaret Hacker Sherman on April 4, 2007; one brother, George Harold Sherman and one sister, Martha Ruth Moning.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at St. Peter In Chains Catholic Church in Wheelersburg with Father Joe Yokum officiating. Burial will be in St. Peters Cemetery. Friends may call at Harrison-Pyles Funeral Home from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday. A wake and scriptural rosary will be conducted at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.