John Lawrence Henkel

1933 - 2021

Henkel, John Lawrence 5/14/1933 - 12/9/2021 ANN ARBOR John Lawrence ("Larry") Henkel was born on May 14,1933, to Loretta Shindorf Henkel and John A. Henkel, DDS. Larry grew up in Ann Arbor, attended St. Thomas Catholic School, graduated from Ann Arbor High School, and earned his university degrees at the University of Michigan. Larry enjoyed a full and happy life, enriched by his love of travel, his many interests, and his loving family and friends. Soon after beginning his teaching career, he became a school administrator and served as a high school assistant principal, then as principal at Lincoln Laboratory High School in Ypsilanti. He came back to Ann Arbor as a counselor at Pioneer High School in 1968 and truly found his niche in that position, taking great joy in the goals and accomplishments of his students. He had a special interest in the very successful Ann Arbor Schools Home Building Program, where as a member of the board he was able to observe the completion of many student-built homes in and around Ann Arbor, including one on which his grandson, Nick Stearns, was a student builder. Larry was also a long-time member of the Ann Arbor Rotary Club and supported its mission in the community and beyond. Sharing an equally important place in his life was his "second career" in music. Larry was blessed with a beautiful bass voice and found his passion in singing opera, oratorio, and musical theater. He served as bass soloist at Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, for 25 years and also at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. He performed the bass solo of the Beethoven Ninth with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, traveled with the Piccolo Opera Company performing operatic roles, and sang with several local groups performing musical theater roles, with Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof) as his favorite. Later he sang with Measure for Measure, a men's chorus, where he enjoyed exquisite choral singing and great camaraderie. Judy Dow Rumelhart, Jim Wilhelmsen, and Larry, the "Just Friends Ensemble," performed together for several years, drawing their repertoire from Broadway hits, jazz, and the Great American Songbook. Larry was also passionate about the Ann Arbor Symphony and served on its board for 25 years as it grew in stature and reputation as a great regional orchestra. Larry is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Stearns; his stepchildren, David Stearns (Laura Taylor) and Carolyn Stearns Jull (John); grandchildren Jason Till (Demika), Joby Jull, Sunshine Jull, and Nicholas Stearns; and three great-grandchildren. He also leaves his brother, Karl Peter Henkel (Phyllis Mann) and his cousin, JoEllen Thomas (Richard). Larry loved and supported his family in every way possible. We will all miss him and hold him in our hearts forever. A memorial gathering will take place at Nie Funeral Home-Liberty Road Chapel on Saturday January 15, 2022 from 2pm until a memorial service begins at 3 pm. If you wish to honor Larry's memory with a donation, please consider the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra or a charity of your choice.