The Town of Jonesboro  was saddened this past Saturday, October 16th with the death of one of its favorite sons, Donald (Don) L. Essmeir. First Responders from the area paid honor to the former public servant and Mayor of Jonesboro by hanging a large flag from the boom of one of the Jonesboro Fire Department trucks over Cooper Avenue during his funeral service held Wednesday, October 20th, at the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. 

Essmeier, who most recently lived in Pineville after years of being a resident of Jonesboro, was born on July 10, 1932 and escorted into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Mr. Essmeier was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He was a faithful member and deacon at First Baptist Church Jonesboro, and most recently served his Lord at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Pineville, LA.

Don was born in Canon City, CO on July 10, 1932. He grew up with his parents and three siblings in Colorado and Wyoming, with his family settling in Basile, Louisiana where he graduated high school. After completing his forestry degree at Louisiana Tech University in 1955 he then proudly served his country in the US Army from 1955 until 1957. Immediately following, he was employed by Continental Can Company as an area forester, starting in Savannah, GA before transferring to Hodge, LA.

While working in Hodge he met the love of his life, Julia Blake, at the Jonesboro bowling alley. Just three weeks after they first met he asked for Julia’s hand in marriage. They were married three months later on June 11, 1961 and began to start their family. Being the dedicated worker that he was, Don’s hard work was recognized in the following years resulting in moves to Lufkin, TX, Savannah, GA, Hodge LA and back to Savannah. In 1979 he was promoted to Vice-President of Continental Land Sales. He and his family moved to West Redding, CT where they resided until his retirement in 1985.

After retirement, the family relocated one last time to Jonesboro, LA. Not one to sit around, Don became owner and operator of Jonesboro Concrete Company from 1985 to 1993. The very next year in 1994 Don returned to his forestry roots and joined his dear friend Joe Burns with Burns Forest Products until 1998.

Don loved his community and took an active role in numerous community affairs and civic clubs. He was past president of both the Jonesboro-Hodge Jaycees and the Lions Club. He was an active member of the Boys Club of Redding, CT and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Louisiana Tech University. Don was a member of the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Forestry Association, the Society of American Foresters, the Jackson Parish Tourism Commission and the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association.

While involved in many community service organizations, he freely gave of his time, materials and money to further such projects as the addition to the Jackson Parish Library, overseeing the construction of the new community center and restoring the Jackson Parish Museum. Don served on the board of directors for many of these civic organizations and loved to serve his community, church and the residents of Jackson Parish.

In 2002 Don was elected as Mayor for the town of Jonesboro and proudly served his community in that position from 2003 to 2007. As much as Don accomplished in his lifetime, his crowning achievement was the way he lived out his faith, always displaying the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which were evident in the way he loved his wife, children and grandchildren. He always put others before himself and was a true caretaker, selfless in his thinking and actions.

Preceding him in death were his loving wife of 41 years, Julia Blake Essmeier; parents, Donald and Agnes Essmeier; brother, Charles Essmeier; sister, Dorothy Essmeier Stovall.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lydia Essmeier of Pineville, LA; his four children, Jedd Essmeier (Paula) of Quitman, LA, Susan Essmeier Grover (John) of Keene, NH, David Essmeier (Lisa) of Dodson, LA, and Kathryn Essmeier Tuttle (Tracy) of Rockwall, TX. His seven grandchildren, Emily Essmeier Carpenter (Jared) of Hodge, LA, Lee Essmeier of Quitman, LA, Ryan Grover (Victoria) of Concord, NC, Chelsey Essmeier O’Donnell (Lance) of Dodson, LA, Bailey Essmeier (Ethan) of Dodson, LA, Julia Tuttle and Noah Tuttle of Rockwall, TX. His 9 great-grandchildren, Hayden Essmeier, Liam Essmeier, Roland Carpenter, Brogan Carpenter, Evangelyn Carpenter, Quin Carpenter, Gideon Carpenter, Emma Vines and Waylon Vines. His brother Sam Essmeier of Lafayette, LA and a host of relatives and friends.

Reverend David Essmeier and Reverend Craig James officiated the funeral services.Interment followed at the Garden of Memories Cemetery under the direction Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Honoring Mr. Essmeier by serving as pallbearers are Casey Blake, Chris Blake, John Blake, Lee Essmeier, John Grover, Ryan Grover, Noah Tuttle and Tracy Tuttle.