John A. Gephart Jr.

John A. Gephart, Jr., age 71, of Lima, Ohio formerly of Newport died 12:45 AM on Monday August 16, 2021 at Lima Memorial Hospital. He was born September 29, 1949 in Piqua, Ohio to the late John A. Sr. & Mary (DeMange) Gephart.  He married Starr Cook in 2005.  She survives in Lima.  He is also survived by children Jeff (Kelly) Gephart and Jack (Renee) Gephart both of Ft. Loramie, step children Andy (Donna) Cook of Brighton, MI and Nicole Tata of Lima; grandchildren Luke, Seth & Kennedi Gephart, Janelle (Chris) Meyer, Darren (Taylor) Gephart, Clara & Levi Gephart, Alexis (Hunter) McDermott, Greg Cook, Jessica, Rose & Travis Tata; great grandchildren Amir, Kaden, Myla, Luca, Warren, Harrison, Allie and Benjamin; brother Jerry (Linda) Gephart of Newport.  John was a former member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Newport, and was an International Engineering Manager and held other managerial positions at Copeland/Emerson.  He retired in 2012 and worked as a consultant until 2018.  He was a member of the ASHRAE engineering organization and a registered engineer for the state of Ohio. He was a graduate of the University of Toledo in Mechanical Engineering. He attended college on a baseball scholarship where he continued in his position at catcher.   In 1970 he was named NCAA All American in baseball. He was a lifelong supporter of the U T baseball program. He played baseball for the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod Semi pro league, followed by many years in reginal softball leagues.  He was also a high school basketball referee and coached many youth sports. He was in the Air Force National Guard and a member of the Sons of the American Legion.  He was a former member of the board of Arrowhead Golf Club, and a member of the Piqua Country Club.  John loved playing golf and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and sailing a windjammer every summer with their friends.   John’s wishes were to be cremated and for everyone to join his family and friends for a celebration of his life which will be held on August 29, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Arrowhead Golf Club, Minster.  In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations toward establishing a baseball scholarship at Fort Loramie High School for a player attending the University of Toledo. Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.