Jon C. Hapner
Jon C. Hapner, 91, attorney, former Municipal Court Judge and devoted Ohio State Buckeye fan, of Hillsboro, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 at his home.
He was born in November 1934 to the late William R. Hapner Sr. and Kathryn G. Hapner.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Suzanne (Evans) Hapner; two daughters, Priscilla Hapner of Bexley and Jonda (Richard) Hapner-Yengo of Dublin; grandchildren Roma, Robert and Rachel Yengo and Michael Hapner; and sister, Mary Elizabeth (James) Dyar of Louisville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Jon Evans Hapner; and siblings, James D. Hapner, William R. Hapner Jr. and Helen (James) Loukx.
Jon was born and raised in Hillsboro, graduated from Hillsboro High School, and received his B.A. and J.D. from the Ohio State University. He also studied at Mexico City College and accounting at the University of Cincinnati.
He began practicing law with his brother, James, in the Hapner and Hapner Law firm in the building constructed by their father during the Great Depression. He was admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States Tax Court, and to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. In addition to being a member of and the past president of the Highland County Bar Association, he served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Probate and General Practices Sections of the OSBA and the executive committee of the General Practice Section. He also served as an instructor for the Ohio Judicial College and authored an article on search and seizure on the Judge’s Resource Manual.
In addition to serving as law director for the City of Hillsboro and the villages of Lynchburg and Sabina, he served 12 years on the Municipal Court and was cited for superior judicial service 13 times by the Ohio Supreme Court. As judge, he instituted a community service and work release program to assist in reducing the jail population and helping the citizens of Highland County.
Jon served 33 years with the Ohio Army National Guard and retired as a colonel. Also an active member of the Hillsboro community, Jon was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hillsboro for 60 years, a member and past president of the Hillsboro Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, member and past exulted ruler of the Hillsboro Elks Lodge, Highland County Republican Central Committee chairman, a former member and officer of the Hillsboro Jaycees, and member of the Hillsboro Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Valley of Cincinnati. He most recently attended the Northview Baptist Church.
Jon was a well-known Ohio State Buckeye fan, held football season tickets for almost 60 years, grew a beard for the first time in his adult life after OSU lost to Air Force in 1990 and refused to shave until Coach John Cooper was fired in 2001. Coach Cooper was a good sport (for a while, anyway) and autographed a photo for Jon saying he hoped his beard would grow to his knees.
Visitation for Jon will be 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro. The funeral service will immediately follow visitation at 1 p.m. Pastor Doug Saunders will officiate. Burial with military honors presented by the Highland County Veteran’s Honor Guard will take place in the Hillsboro Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.
To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.