John M. Hermann, age 85, of Sheboygan passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Sheboygan on September 1, 1940, to the late John and Frieda (Marx) Hermann. He graduated from Central High School in 1958. John proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1959 until 1963. After serving, John began working as a patrolman for the Sheboygan Police Department. He was promoted to detective in 1977, where he specialized in fingerprinting and identification as well as crime scene photography. He was recognized by Kodak when one of those photos was crucial in determining the cause of an accident and was later used as a training tool. John served in that position until his retirement in 1993. On August 20, 1966, John was united in marriage to Betsy Hengst. She preceded him in death on February 20, 2010.
John had a passion for all things aviation. He pursued this passion by earning his private pilot’s license in 1989. He was an active member of the Sheboygan EAA Chapter 766 and WarBirds of America. He was a member of St. Pauls UCC, a lifetime member of the Wisconsin Association for Identification, the American Legion Post 83 and the Shebogyan Police Benevolent Association.
John was a quiet man of integrity who enjoyed reading, music and painting. He was well known for his love of airplanes and photography. Above all, he loved making memories with his family and being involved in every aspect of their lives. He was a wealth of knowledge and shared that with his children and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his three children, Michael (Mary) Hermann, Ann (David) Brill, and Lynda (Travis) Damrow; grandchildren, Nicholas (Alyssa Pomeroy) Hermann, Emily Hermann, Christopher Brill, Joshua (Ella) Brill and Kyle and Cooper Damrow; a great-granddaughter, Samaria; brothers-in-law, Bruce (Barb) Hengst, Mark (Lynn) Jelenc, Kim (Deb) Jelenc and Joel (Gloria) Jelenc; nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Along with his parents, John was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Rosie Hermann; a niece Sandy Moore and a brother-in-law, Wendell Hengst.
A Funeral Service for John will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026, at St. Paul’s UCC, 2114 Wedemeyer St. in Sheboygan with Rev. Jeremy Hylen officiating with military honors to follow. Family will greet visitors at the church on Monday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service. John will be laid to rest at Sunrise Memorial Park. John’s service will be livestreamed on his obituary page on the funeral home website.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in John’s name. The family would like to thank the entire staff at the Prairie Crossing within Pine Haven Christian Communities, especially Amy and Crystal, for the excellent care and compassion shown through the years.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.ballhornchapels.com
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