Obituaries : Nathan Edward Hesson

Nathan Hesson, 37, was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, following a long and challenging recovery from his fifth open-heart surgery.
A visitation will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton on Wednesday, January 27 from 3-7 pm; honoring Nathan's wishes, the casket will be closed during public visitation. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 28 at 10:00 am, also at Trinity. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery.
Nathan was born October 13, 1983, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Kevin and Deb (Hummel) Hesson. He attended Isaac Newton Christian Academy and Vinton-Shellsburg Community Schools, where he graduated in 2002. He attended Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN graduating in 2005 with a degree in Marketing and Biblical Studies. Nathan was united in marriage to Ashley Staab in Vinton on December 26, 2005. The couple lived in St. Louis and Chicago before returning to Vinton in 2009 to raise their children close to family and in their hometown. Nathan worked as the Director of Vinton Unlimited until 2014, serving and promoting a community he knew and loved. For the last 7 years, Nathan managed Hesson Properties - a rental property business he owned and operated with his brother, Blake.
With a smirk on his face and mischief in his eyes, Nathan loved to make everyone laugh from a very young age. From climbing the outside of a 40-foot condemned silo, to ruining every family photo with a silly face - he kept everyone on their toes.
Nathan was so many things to so many people. He was an unbelievably selfless husband, a dedicated father, and a devoted son, brother and grandson. He was a servant through and through - in private and in public. He was elected to Vinton's City Council in 2015, a role he proudly filled for the past 5 years. Lions Club and the Vinton Community Foundation were just a couple of his other civic involvements. He was also the Congregational Chairman of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was an active member and leader of the high school youth group.
Above all, Nathan was a man who knew the security and love of Jesus Christ. Kevin and Deb taught him a faith that he would grow into his own. At age 12, God used the diagnosis of a very rare connective tissue disorder to further develop and solidify Nathan's reliance on Him. Nathan learned to see his health challenges as opportunities to share God's power with everyone he encountered. Sometimes it was a direct conversation, sometimes it was simply in the way he carried himself amid struggles. He often said, "If me having Loeys-Dietz Syndrome brings people to Christ, then I'm happy to be used in this way." His faith never wavered - his concern was never for himself, only for others around him.
He is survived by his wife, Ashley, and children Lily and Noah; parents, Kevin and Deb Hesson; in-laws Dave and Kim Staab; siblings, Nichole (Ben) Lutz, Mt. Auburn, Brooke (Dan) Kruckenberg, Vinton, Blake (Megan) Hesson, Vinton, brother-in-law Nick (Amanda) Staab, Palo. Grandparents, Kyle and Shirley Hummel, Vinton. Nathan adored his nieces and nephews: Levi, Aliyah, Dayne, Doug, and Kassidy Lutz, Karlee, Audrey, Hannah, and Ella Kruckenberg, Camden and Grace Hesson, and Peyton and Paislee Staab. There are also lots of aunts, uncles and cousins that were very special to him.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Keith and Maribelle Hesson.
Memorial gifts will be used for Lily and Noah's future, and for various community projects.
Van Steehuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Nathan and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.