John Deno

Athens John Arthur Deno passed away peacefully on January 19th, surrounded by loved ones. The son of Arthur and Evelyn (Overmyer) Deno, John was a graduate from Fremont Ross High School. He later graduated from Ohio University and received his Doctorate from The Ohio State University.

John is survived by his wife Irelynne (Seiferth) Deno, his six children Carolyn (Drew) Wolfe, Scott (Deana) Hamer, Courtenay (Mike) Tenoglia, Amanda (Todd) Jessup, Ethan (Jaclyn) Deno, and Megan (C.J.) Heller, twelve grandchildren, Kyle and Ryan Wolfe, Morgan and Josh Hamer, Olivia and Sophia Tenoglia, Alexandra and Aaron Deno, Courtney, Mackenzie, Lane, and Kyleigh Heller, five great grandchildren, and sister Judy Koebel.

He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Evelyn Deno, his sister Barbara Deno, his sister Nancy, and brother in-law Skip Young.

John was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Athens Elks, as well as the Athens Kiwanis.

John was a teacher at Athens High School from 1970 until 1985, and then was an Engineering Technology professor at Ohio University from 1985 until retiring in 2005.

During his career at Athens High School, he created the Athens Wrestling Club in 1971. In 1972, wrestling was recognized as a varsity sport for the Bulldogs. He organized the youth wrestling club, and the Annual Kiwanis Youth Wrestling Tournament. He was inducted to the Athens High School Hall of Fame in 2005, as well as the Ohio High School Athletic Association in 2015. The John Deno Wrestling room and the John Deno Classic wrestling tournament at Athens High School were named in his honor for his passion and leadership in bringing wrestling to the Athens community.

All are invited to a celebration of his life at the Athens Elks at 600 W. Union Street, Athens on February 10th from 2-5 p.m.

Donations in his honor can be made to ACSD Athletic Booster, Memo "Athens Wrestling" at 1 High School Rd. in The Plains, OH 45780, or the Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill Street, Athens, OH 45701.

The entire John Deno family would like to thank the E.R. staff at O' Bleness Hospital, as well as the staff at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, for the endless care they provided John in his final days. Thank you as well to the Schoedinger Funeral Home for their assistance. John Deno