John Asa

With sorrow, the family of John Asa Hertzler announces his passing on Friday, July 12, 2024. John Asa was born on October 22, 1930 in the Mennonite Colony of Denbigh, Virginia (present day Newport News).
John Asa is predeceased by his father, Asa M. Hertzler; his mother, Rebecca Shenk Hertzler/Buskirk; his first wife of 61 years, Rebecca Henkels Hertzler, and siblings, Alvin, Alice, Amy and Joseph. On July 15, 2012, he married Mary Jean Cross, who survives him. Also surviving are his two daughters, Joan Hooley and husband, Delmar of Bayse, Virginia, and Jean Koshy-Hertzler and husband, Jose of Houston, Texas; stepson, Jonathan Cross and partner, Sarah Sutherland; five grandchildren, Derrick Hooley, Ryan Hooley, Rahel Koshy, Olivia Koshy and husband Tony Puthumana, Liza Koshy; brother, David Lowell Hertzler; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
John Asa was a residential builder in Newport News and the Williamsburg area. He and his first wife, Rebecca, were avid lifelong singers in the church, weddings, and Rock of Ages choruses. After his retirement from homebuilding at age 48, he used his expert carpentry skills to restore furniture, complementing Rebecca's antique business. He also learned to be a small farmer selling his harvests to the local community. John Asa's abiding faith influenced his lifelong activism. In spite of frequent threats to his family, he continued to write letters to publications advocating for civil rights, human rights and conscientious objection to war. John Asa and Mary Jean shared that activism and together focused on restorative justice. His passions for theology and writing led him to write his fictional book, A Glass Darkly, which is based on Biblical stories told from his own unique, progressive lens. John Asa was an active member in the Shalom Mennonite Congregation, where his wife Mary Jean still attends.
A Memorial Service will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Shalom Mennonite Congregation, 801 Parkwood Drive in Harrisonburg with Pastors Brian Bolton & Krista Showalter Ehst officiating. The service will be livestreamed and available to watch later at this link: https://youtube.com/live/9ABx0iviWqA. Interment will be private at Warwick River Mennonite Church Cemetery in Newport News.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) Compassion Endowment Fund.