Jon D. "J.D." Langguth

Jon Darrell (J.D.) Langguth
January 23, 1969 – November 8, 2023

After a valiant battle with cancer, Jon Darrell (J.D.) Langguth of Rootstown passed away November 8, 2023, at home, where his loving family and friends had surrounded him. While he was taken too soon, a good friend recently remarked that J.D. packed more love, joy, and life into his 54 years than many people could in 100.

Born January 23, 1969, in Ravenna, OH to Sandra (Cowan / Langguth) Caniglia and Jon H. Langguth, J.D. was a 1987 graduate of Southeast High School, where he enjoyed participating in football, basketball, and cross-country. After high school, J.D. earned his degree in Landscape Design from The Ohio State University, and in 1997, completed his apprenticeship to become a cement mason with the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons, Local 109. Throughout a nearly 30-year career, J.D. built a reputation as a renowned journeyman and foreman for many large and prestigious companies, most recently as a foreman for Beaver Excavating/Constructors, Inc.

J.D. liked to say that he and his beloved wife, Stephanie, were just like Forrest and Jenny, because from their first date, they were always together – like peas and carrots. Within 11 months, they had begun dating, became engaged, and were married on November 18, 1995.

J.D. and Stephanie began their married life in Ravenna but soon built a home in Rootstown, where they were overjoyed to begin their family together. He had many hobbies in his early years, but once the children arrived, J.D.’s family became his whole world. J.D. was an outstanding and cherished father to Christopher Paul and Julia Marie. From day one, he was a completely hands-on dad, involved in and supportive of every goal in their lives; there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. They filled his life with love, joy, and pride, just as he filled theirs with the same.

J.D. was also very supportive of his community, having coached hot stove baseball, flag football, and youth wrestling; volunteered at various school and community events; served on several committees; and on a couple of occasions also did pro-bono concrete work for the school district.

Survivors include his wife and children; his mother, Sandra Caniglia of Streetsboro; his father, Jon Langguth of Florida; sister, Stacy (Brent) Hutchinson of Maryland; step-brother Jeff (Wendy) Caniglia of Cincinnati; step-sister Kristin (Teresa) Caniglia of Cincinnati; sisters-in-law Kim Bishop (Charlie Flynt) of Kent, Cheryl (Gordon) Ripley of Kent, and Marcy (the late Jimmy) Miller of Rootstown; many nieces and nephews; and his “brotherhood of friends” – Matt Bisard, Gregg Bobbs, Scott Clark, Dave Harris, and Karl Steger.

J.D. was preceded in death by his much-loved stepfather, Jim Caniglia, and his mother and father-in-law, Jeanette and Frank (“Jug”) Felton.

Calling hours will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023, and again on Saturday, November 18 from 2 p.m. until time of the 3 p.m. memorial services at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home in Ravenna.

In Lieu of Flowers

J.D.'s love for his family, his life-long work ethic, and the care and generosity he showed his friends, family, and the Rootstown community were evident to anyone who knew him. When it became clear that his battle would be coming to an end, J.D. and his wife, Stephanie, along with their children, were assisted by Rootstown Wrestling Coach Craig Wise and his wife Erin, and the Portage Foundation, to establish the J.D. Langguth Memorial Scholarship Fund as a tangible way to continue J.D.'s legacy of giving back.

J.D. provided a secure and fulfilling life for his family as a union tradesman and was proud that this scholarship will be available each year to graduating Rootstown wrestlers entering the honorable professions of the trades, thus combining his love for the sport and the profession. It was J.D.’s hope that recipients use this head start as the foundation to build a life as rewarding and joyful as his. It is his wife and children’s hope that this scholarship will ensure that future Rootstown high school students know J.D.'s name and character and experience the impact that generosity can have on someone's life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in J.D.’s memory can be made to this scholarship online at https://bit.ly/J-D-Langguth_Fund or contact the Portage Foundation at 330-470-8950 for other ways to donate.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jon D. "J.D." Langguth, please visit our floral store.