John Herm "Jay" Hanna

1946 - 2025

News story
By Mike Sigov
Blade Staff Writer

NAPOLEON, Ohio - John Herm "Jay" Hanna, a longtime Henry County prosecutor and community volunteer, died Aug. 5 at his Napoleon home. He was 78.

He died after a seven-year bout with Lewy body dementia, his wife of 58 years, Lois Hanna, said.

Upon his death, Mrs. Hanna was presented with an American flag that was flown over the Ohio Statehouse the day he died.

Mr. Hanna, a Republican, retired in 2016 after 40 years, or 10 terms, in office as a Henry County prosecutor and in 2018 as a longtime partner at Hanna & Fisher, a Napoleon law firm that he had joined as an associate upon graduating from law school, at which time it was Hoeffel, Funkhouser, and Short.

"He was a fabulous trial attorney," said Richard Fisher, a longtime law partner and former assistant prosecutor. "He had the fabulous ability to retain information instantly and then be able to utilize it in a courtroom setting."

Mr. Hanna had the highest peer rating given to attorneys by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading attorney-rating service, Mr. Fisher noted.

"But even better, he was probably one of the biggest-hearted people I've ever known." he said. "He loved people, and he loved children especially."

For years, Mr. Hanna also volunteered many hours of pro bono work before he became too busy as a prosecutor.

In 1984, he co-founded what is now the Center for Child and Family Advocacy, for which he received the inaugural Champion for Children Award from the Symphony of Trees, an area child advocacy group. Founded as a grassroots organization, CCFA is an outpatient mental health agency that services Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, and Williams counties.

In the late 1980s to mid-1990s, he also coached the Blue Jays Little League team, for which he later received the Napoleon Parks and Recreation Department Service Award.

Mr. Hanna also volunteered hundreds of hours as an official at Napoleon High School swim meets and water polo matches when his children attended the school, and he was later inducted into the school's hall of fame both for that activity and for his wrestling prowess when a student.

"He was a great leader and he worked well with other legal and mental health professionals," said Denise McColley, a retired Henry County Family Court judge. "And he was very good dealing with children and families that were going through traumatic experiences."

Noting that Mr. Hanna had started off as a teacher, his daughter, Emily Mayock, said his example influenced two of her sisters to become teachers and two of her brothers to become attorneys.

"Whether he was coaching or co-founding the Center for Child and Family Advocacy, he was always working to help other children," Ms. Mayock said.

Born Nov. 3, 1946, to Roberta and John A. Hanna, he was raised in Napoleon, graduating in 1964 from Napoleon High School, where he wrestled in state championships and was on the football varsity team.

The school later gave him a Distinguished Alumni Award for exceptional career achievements and inducted him into its Hall of Fame.

He later received an Ohio State University bachelor's degree in history in 1968 and a University of Toledo law degree in 1972.

After graduating from OSU, Mr. Hanna taught history and coached football at Centerburg High School in Knox County for a year before going to law school.

While there, he interned at the Spengler Nathanson law firm in Toledo. Upon graduation, he was hired by what was then Hoeffel, Funkhouser, and Short in Napoleon.

In 1967, he married the former Lois Zimmerman, his high school sweetheart. They settled in Napoleon.

"He was really dedicated both to his private-practice clients and the crime victims, especially children, that he encountered as the prosecutor," Mrs. Hanna said. "And he was totally devoted to his children and his family."

In his free time, he enjoyed being with family members, particularly following his children's activities and sharing their interests from Broadway musicals to World Wrestling Entertainment.

He also enjoyed water skiing, playing poker, learning obscure history facts, and listening to John Denver music.

Mr. Hanna was a member and past president of Napoleon Rotary Club, which named a scholarship after him.

He was preceded in death by his toddler son, John Hanna, and sister Lee Hanna.

Along with his wife of 58 years, Lois Hanna, surviving are his sons, Joshua, Zachary, and Nicholas Hanna; daughters Tiffany Hanna, Megan Flanagan, and Emily Mayock; sister Gretchen Downs; and 15 grandchildren.

Services were Monday at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon. The family suggests tributes to the Center for Child and Family Advocacy.