John H. Elgin

John Henry Elgin, 95, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio passed away August 14, 2026, at Wyandot County Skilled Nursing and Rehab.

John was born December 30, 1930, to the late Carl H. and Mildred (Smith) Elgin in Keokuk, Iowa. He married Marilyn Joyce Scott on November 27, 1952, at the Church of the Nazarene in Keokuk, IA. She preceded him in death, March 25, 2025.

John is survived by his children Cheryl (Ken) Gelbaugh, Upper Sandusky; Douglas (Missy Moore) Elgin, North Ft. Myers, FL; grandchildren Scott (Tanielle) Gelbaugh, Carey; Gwen (Keith) Adams, Upper Sandusky; Kimberly (Travis) Scoby, Upper Sandusky; JC (Garrett Lindner) Elgin, North Ft. Myers, FL; Marshall Elgin, Shelby; Stephany (Albert) Butler, Shelby; great grandchildren, Alex, Luke and Brooke Gelbaugh, Carey; Hayden & Evan Adams, Upper Sandusky; and Emillie & John Henry Scoby, Upper Sandusky; and a niece, Care Morin and her family of San Antonio, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy J. Sparks and brother, George R. Elgin.

John (Jack, as he was known in his youth) was a 1949 graduate of Keokuk High School, Keokuk, Iowa. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served 1951-1953 at the White Sands Proving Ground, New Mexico. In 1955, he graduated from Keokuk Community College. He continued his education and was a 1957 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

John worked at Sylvania, Fasco, Sheaffer Pen and Weatherhead before moving his family to Upper Sandusky to form Continental Hydraulic Hose Corporation with his four partners in late 1969. He was an entrepreneur at heart and continued to dabble in various business ventures after the sale of Continental Hydraulic Hose. His favorite business activity was the art of negotiation and was the person to ask for advice on any subject. He was a past president of the local Rotary.

He enjoyed regaling his family with countless hilarious stories from “the farm” in Burlington, Iowa. Attending numerous activities of his grandchildren and later great-grandchildren brought him joy. In his later years, when he was unable to attend events, he never forgot to ask how a great-grandchild’s competition had gone. John and Marilyn wintered in Fort Myers, Florida for over 20 years. Playing Euchre, but never with his wife as a partner, was a favorite pastime. No one wanted to be partnered against him since he was an expert at counting cards and knew exactly what was left to be played.

No trip to his house was complete without enduring Fox News continuously on the tv. Working on cars was a life-long passion and he continued being involved in car repair until 2021. John’s favorite quote was from Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't-you're right.” He insisted that it is not whether you are going to college or not, but where you are going.

Private interment will be held Monday, August 24, 2026, at the National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Upper Sandusky Athletic Boosters or Upper Sandusky High School Music Boosters in care of Bringman Clark Funeral Home 226 E. Wyandot Ave. Upper Sandusky, OH 43351.

Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk is assisting the family with arrangements.