05/01/2023

Obituary for John Alan Root

Father of Nanette (Harold) Waite, Grandfather of Christopher (Ashley) Waite, Waite Funeral Home

John Alan Root, age 90 of Sarasota, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 26, 2023, after a 23-year journey with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on February 17, 1933 in Akron, Ohio to the late Alan and Emilie (Myers) Root.

John was a 1950 graduate of Medina Senior High School, after which time he attended Ohio Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  Upon graduation, John moved to Texas where he served his country as a pilot in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Captain. In 1957 he completed his military service and moved back to Medina, Ohio with his young family. He became the fourth generation of the family business, The A.I. Root Company. John spent the last twenty years of his career at the Root Company serving as President & Chairman of the Board, officially retiring in 2008.

John was a true servant to his community. Most notably he cherished his time serving on the Medina City Council (1962-1976), the Medina General Hospital Board of Directors (1971-2008), the Board of Directors for Ohio Farmer’s Insurance & Westfield Group (1986-2004), the National Candle Association Board of Directors (1989-2010), and the Medina Municipal Airport Advisory Commission (1989-2004).

Early in his life John garnered a deep love for aviation. This passion persisted through his entire life as a private pilot. During his “free time” John could be found at Medina Municipal Airport piloting his airplanes. A loving and kind man, John will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Elisabeth (Grotte) Root; children, Alan (Esther Morera) Root, Nanette (Harold) Waite, Brad (Kathryn) Root; grandchildren Meredith (David) Gilpin, Christopher (Ashley) Waite, Crystal (Jeremy) Doyle, Alex (Abby Araujo) Root, Kyle (Morgan Moritz) Root, Andrew Root, Emilie Root; great-grandchildren, Claire, Abigail, Evan, Samuel, Hank, Josiah, Owen, Oliver, Elijah, Amelia; siblings, Elizabeth Judkins, Stuart (Diana) Root. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alan and Emilie Root.

A memorial service for John will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Medina United Church of Christ, Congregational, 217 E Liberty St., Medina, OH 44256. The service will be livestreamed for anyone that is not able to attend in person.

John will be privately laid to rest at Spring Grove Cemetery in Medina.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Continuum Hospice, 5589 Marquesas Circle, Suite 202 Sarasota, FL 34233.

Online condolences may be left at www.waitefuneralhome.com.