John Nicholas Taphorn

John Nicholas Taphorn January 22, 1943 – October 6, 2025

John Nicholas Taphorn, 82, of Dublin, Ohio, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, at Kobacker House in Columbus. He was born on January 22, 1943, in Dayton, Ohio, to John Mason and Esther Jane (Schroeder) Taphorn.

On May 23, 1969, John married the love of his life, Carolyn Kaye Taphorn, and together they shared more than five decades of marriage.

John retired after 30 years working for National Cash Register (NCR) and later worked for Home Hardware in Ashland, Ohio. While working full-time, coaching many youth sports teams, and helping his wife run a small business, John started college at 40 and graduated from The Ohio State University at 54 years old; taking one class a quarter for almost 15 years. John’s hobbies and interests were wide. He played golf, read Shakespeare, loved the Buckeyes, drew political cartoons, gardened, and cycled even into his 80s. He took great pride in his ability to fix almost anything, often telling his grandchildren that he could “fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn.”

John believed in giving back to his community and did so generously throughout his life. He was active in the Kiwanis Club, Lexington Athletic Boosters, and Walnut Hills Swim Club. He also devoted many seasons to coaching his sons’ and granddaughter’s baseball and softball teams, creating lasting memories and friendships along the way.

John is survived by his wife, Kaye, and their sons, John Matthew Taphorn (Delores) and Ralph Brodie Taphorn (Andrea). He took great delight in his grandchildren: Abigail Joy, Hannah Kaye, John Mason (Katie), Carolyn Ruth, Matthew Brodie, and Silas Paul; and his step-grandchildren: Alexander Charles Griggs, Joshua Stewart Griggs (Gessel), and Jordan Danielle Griggs; and great grandchildren: Ezekiel Henson, Nolan Griggs, Louella Griffith, and Josephine Taphorn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Hester Beal, and his sister, Terry Hobeika.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Rd., Columbus, Ohio. Visiting hours will begin at 12:30p, followed by the funeral service at 2:00p.

John was loved by his family and friends and will be missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kobacker House at https://giving.ohiohealth.com/site/Donation2?idb=980582649&DONATION_LEVEL_ID_SELECTED=1&df_id=3203&mfc_pref=T&3203.donation=form1&idb=0.