Wood Machinery Systems is sad to announce the passing of John Besonen on January 23, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona, at age 82. John Besonen started his career in the woodworking machinery industry in 1961 in the machine shop at Timesavers.

By 1969 he had risen to the position of plant manager. From 1969 to 1997 he held many executive positions at both AEM and Timesavers. John Besonen was an application expert in the field of widebelt sanding and mentored many of the industry’s current sales managers, including his son Gary and nephew Jim.