Harold Esamann

Harold Esamann passed away peacefully on October 17, 2019 at the age of 85. Harold was born August 12, 1934 in Indianapolis to the late Charles R. and Ethel (Dougherty) Esamann. His childhood home was a two-bedroom house on Reisner Street that he shared with his parents, 3 brothers, Bob, Don and Ray and a sister, Katie. The family had no choice but to be close in such a small home and that family closeness was something he treasured and instilled in his own family.

Harry had an incredibly strong work ethic. He didn’t want anything that he hadn’t earned and worked hard to provide for his family. As a boy, he had a paper route and no doubt, those papers always showed up on time. Eventually, he went to work at CPC products, now Best Foods, in Indianapolis. He worked in the factory for 40 years and received numerous awards for perfect attendance. He retired in 1997 and was able to relax and take time to tinker, which he dearly loved.

In the summer of 1956, the boy from the city, met a girl from a farm in Rockville, Nellie Graves. They married on September 28, 1957 and began a life together near his tiny childhood home in Indy. Soon, their daughter Sharon was born followed by Linda, one year later. A third daughter, Pamela, died at birth. He was extremely close to his nephew, Ben Wiggs, who was the same age as his girls. The family moved to Avon in 1971 and he made sure they had one of the best manicured lawns in the neighborhood. Harry loved to take care of their half acre yard; from mowing to trimming trees, he was always doing something outside.

After retiring, Harry enjoyed doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. He loved to get a senior Coke at Burger King and head to Danville to help his son-in-law, Brian Rumple, with his rental properties or go to Greencastle to assist Linda and her husband, Larry Johnson with a chore on their farm. Harry was a worker and always wanted to help others and never asked for anything in return except for a home-cooked meal or a trip to the McDonald’s drive-thru.

Harry’s family filled his last months with all the things he loved. A trip to Linda’s for a meal with too much food and a ride around the property; an 85th birthday celebration at Sharon’s and the chance to tell the same stories to his grandkids that he’d been telling for years but told like it was the first time. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the close-knit family he built. Those who will miss him the most include his wife of 62 years, Nellie; daughters Sharon Rumple, and her husband Brian of Danville, and Linda Johnson, and her husband Larry of Greencastle; five granddaughters Christina (Yearwood) Isaacs and her husband Todd, of Pittsboro, Amanda (Yearwood) Kinzel of Greencastle, Debra (Yearwood) Wyatte and her husband Dean of Boulder, CO, Brittany (Johnson) Eubank and her husband, Justin of Greencastle and Carissa (Johnson) Burklow and her husband Zac of Evansville. Six great-grandchildren, Jenna, Nathan and Hannah Isaacs, Gregory Christopher and Kaylea and Braysen Eubank and several step-grandchildren and great-grandkids.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Villages of Avon for providing outstanding care during his final weeks. It is truly appreciated.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, Pamela, and his siblings, Kathryn Wiggs, Robert, Raymond and Donald Esamann.

Visitation will be held from 1-5pm on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Baker Funeral Home in Danville. Services will be on Monday, October 21 at 10:30am in the funeral home with burial to follow at 1:30pm in the Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 9100 Purdue Road Suite 203, Indianapolis, IN 46268. 

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