Avery Longsdorf

CARDINGTON - Avery Mathew Longsdorf, age 22, of Beppu, Oita, Japan passed away unexpectedly Sunday, June 15, 2025. He was born on January 15, 2003, in Utsunomiya, Japan to Laura Longsdorf and Mathew Longsdorf, both of whom survive in Cardington, OH.

Avery loved to travel and experience other countries, religions, and ways of life. He had a global perspective and many of his friends considered him more Asian than American. Even though he was raised in Cardington, he felt more at peace in his birthplace of Japan surrounded by his numerous Southeast Asian friends. He graduated from Cardington-Lincoln High School in 2021. During his sophomore year, he attended Seinan Gakuin High School in Fukuoka, Japan as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. This is where his love for adventure and Japan was ignited. After graduation, in April of 2022, Avery enrolled in Asia Pacific University in Beppu, Oita, Japan while studying International Relations.

Avery was extremely kind and thoughtful and wanted to strengthen relations between countries, especially in Southeast Asia. He was dedicated to international development, and he dreamed of dedicating the rest of his life to the building up of Myanmar. He loved his friends from Japan and those he met at APU, and they inspired him to want to do so.

While at college, Avery was dedicated to helping the lives of others. He was President of his Rotaract Club, the first ever non-Japanese person to hold that title, and spear-headed raising funds for multiple charities. Avery inspired others to give back, and because of his encouragement, the membership of the Rotaract club doubled in size during his presidency. Avery loved adventure and would purposely do things the hard way, as long as he knew he would get a good story out of it. When Avery decided he wanted to accomplish a goal, he was determined to be the best at his craft. He developed a love of hiking, karate, and body building and spent much of his time dedicated to this lifestyle. Avery was fluent in Japanese, and also spoke conversational Chinese, and was learning Korean.

Avery was very tolerant and curious of various aspects of life, including different religions. While he was a Christian in faith and a member of First Presbyterian Church in Marion, OH, he devoted his time and talents at a local shrine, Hachiman Asami Jinja, in Beppu every New Year. He took great pride in the work he accomplished there. Avery was the first and only foreigner to work at the shrine in its 800-year existence.

Avery is survived by his parents Laura Longsdorf and Mathew (Kristin) Longsdorf; his sisters Allison (Stephen) Bishop, Genevieve Longsdorf, Alexis Longsdorf, and stepbrother Michael Baker, all of Cardington, OH; his grandparents, Jan and Carol Garverick of Marion, OH, and Frederick Longsdorf of Nova, OH; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Gunther Erich Schlader, and grandmother, Frances Longsdorf.

Friends may call on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Gompf Funeral Home, 440 Center Street in Cardington. The funeral service will be held Thursday, July 10, 2025, at the funeral home at 10:30 AM with Don Gardner officiating. Following the service, the burial will take place in Glendale Union Cemetery. Gompf Funeral Service of Cardington is honored to have been chosen to assist the Longsdorf family and condolences may be expressed at www.gompffh.com.