About the Family

Howdy! I am John Dehnart, owner and operator of CrossTimber's many services. I was five years old when my folks, moved us from the terrors of Big-City Columbus to the peaceful town of Waterford. Fourteen years ago, from our home on the edge of town, I began running CrossTimber - Printing. Since then, I have served local businesses by providing top-quality products, custom-crafted to each customer’s specific needs. But CrossTimber had it's roots long before then.

A Family Heritage

My parents, Jim & Jeanne Dehnart, first started CrossTimber as a professional photography business in the late 1970's, before I was born. I've often heard their stories of fun ways to get people to loosen up for wedding photographs, and give everyone a great time, as well as some great photos. Dad would group the wedding party on the stage and instruct them all to "Blink your eyes a few times. It moistens your eyes and gives you a twinkle in your eye for the photo." he would say as he snapped a few pictures while everyone had their eyes closed. "Now everyone lick your lips; it gives them a nice shine on the photo." Again he'd snap some pictures without them noticing. The Bride and Groom got some hilarious pictures for their photo album, and of course they got some good "traditional" shots, too.

Dad tells how they got started in Photography:

"We had only taken one Black and White photo course. Jeanne and I went down to OSU to take the class on developing Black and White photography, and on the way home through Columbus, we found a photgraphy store going out of business on the corner of Morse Road and High Street. We went in and bought it all, on the spot. Then we had all this color photography equipment, from enlargers to developing.. timers, lenses, -everything we were going do need. And we didn't even know how to develop Black and White film yet!

The reason we wanted to get into photography is that we had so much trouble getting "the professionals" to crop our pictures correctly. --and then of course we also had some pictures that needed a little "doctoring". So we bought all this stuff for how to change color and cropping and enlarging.... all for 35-milimeter film!"

After I was born, Mom & Dad turned the CrossTimber name towards carpentry, and had half the basement for carpentry, and half for photography! Their most famous products were hand-made mirrored corner sconces, along with some crafts and custom furniture. Dad has always had a great eye for creative woodworking, and I treasure my memories of watching him work in the garage with the fresh smell of sawdust from the tablesaw.

After we moved from Columbus to little Waterford, Ohio, the farmer across the road needed some flyers done. Since Dad had just purchased our first IBM computer that year, we decided we'd make it a Home Education project to make the flyers for him and learn some computer skills at the same time. My older sister, Becky, made up the flyers and put "Printed by CrossTimber 984-2583" was on the back. That was all it took to bring in call after call for quality printing local businesses. Becky ran the business through the summer, and I took over that September in 1994.

Each year we expanded our equipment and capabilities for quality products. Through hard work, my parents' encouragement and God's patience blessings, I have learned the value of honesty, good standards, & a good name in the business world. I invite you to bring your printing projects and business needs to CrossTimber and share in the blessing of good business.

I'm typing this history on June 11th, 2008. It was exactly 3 years ago that I married my lovely Katie in her homechurch, Majestic View, in Kiowa Colorado. Since then we have been blessed with two beautiful baby girls: Joanie Marie and Chloe Joy. The three of them are my greatest treasures, and through them God gives me inspiration to continue to make quality products through CrossTimber.

Through CrossTimber God has given me half a lifetime of opportunities to expand my skills, support my family and the businesses around me, and I look forward to His continued guidance and help in the coming years. -Especially as my own family continues to grow!