John Henry

John R. Henry, age 96, passed away June 15, 2022. He was born at home on August 10, 1925 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Edgar Robinson Henry and Bessie Caroline Lambie Henry, the youngest of three siblings.  The family soon moved to Denver where they made their home.

While still in high school, John joined the Navy at age seventeen.  However, during his Navel training, he completed his high school requirements and received a delayed high school diploma from South High School in Denver. He married his high school sweetheart, Lois Pfaff, on March 26, 1944 at the Naval Training Station at Treasure Island, California.

Shortly after his marriage, during WW II, John was assigned to Taffy III, a fleet of thirteen small escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer escorts.  John was on the escort carrier ship, the Fanshaw Bay, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf against the Japanese in the Pacific. Responding to the Allied invasion to reclaim the Philippine Islands, the Japanese sent an armada of superior air and naval units to Leyte Gulf on October 23, 1944. Though greatly outnumbered and equipped with smaller guns, the subsequent sea and ariel battles against the Japanese from October 23 to 26 resulted in a “David and Goliath” struggle that caused the larger and more powerful Japanese to turn and run, resulting in one of the greatest naval battles of World War II. John lived to tell the story, but many of his comrades did not.

After World War II, he again served in the Korean War from 1947 to 1952, this time in California, as an electrician. When his military service ended, he and Lois settled back in Colorado where they started their family and made their home in the Denver area for the remainder of their 70 years of marriage. He was employed by the Bell Telephone Company and AT&T until his retirement.

John was a quiet, low-key kind of man. He seldom raised his voice, nor was he ever in a rush, except when he had to wait on Lois to clean the bathroom before leaving on a camping trip. Organization was his forte…he had lists FOR his lists, all dated, laminated and in alphabetical order.  Having grown up during the great Depression, as far as he was concerned, the only reason he needed to buy something was if he couldn’t make it himself, or fix something he already owned.  His trademark yellow tape measure style suspenders, which he wore all the time, attested to his love of woodworking.

He was active in the Masons, and his favorite pastimes included camping, hunting, fishing and tinkering in his woodshop. He was a passionate card player with friends. His wife was an avid contester, and, by default, he reaped the benefits of her wins in numerous ways when she included his name in her contest entries. Over the years, the couple won many all-expense paid trips, two cars, and hundreds of other products.

He and his wife, Lois, were members of the Bear Valley Church in Lakewood, CO.  He was a devoted husband, an amazing father, a wonderful grandfather, and a proud service man for his country.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents Edgar and Bessie Henry; his sister, Louvee Davis; and brother, Robert Henry.   He is survived by his son, Dan and wife, DeeDee of Quinter, KS; daughter, Jeri Anderson and husband Gilbert of Haxtun; grandchildren Deena Woodall and husband, Paul, of Salina, KS; Darin Henry and wife Gina of Windsor; Dustin Henry and wife, Tessa of Gove, KS; Jared Anderson and wife, Jonetta of Haxtun; Leah Hartman and husband, Mike of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Toby Anderson and wife, Jorie of Haxtun; Julia Biesemeier and husband, Brandon, of Haxtun; seventeen great-grandchildren, Tarrah Casteel and husband, Tyler; Ashtan and Tristian Stuart; Corey and Macayla Henry; Elise Henry; Lane, Madison, Braden, Jacob and Emily Anderson; Ethan, Emma and Olivia Hartman; Greyson and Treyton Biesemeier; Myah Anderson; and two great, great-grandchildren, Emberlynn and Ethan Casteel.

Interment will be 12 noon, July 6, 2022, at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.  For those who wish to attend his service, please be at Staging Area A no later than 11:45am. No formal funeral services will be held.

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.  1 John 5:13

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