John P. Henshaw

Lunenburg

John P. Henshaw, 73, Lunenburg, MA, died peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Emerson Hospital in Concord after a brief battle with cancer and an earlier diagnosis of developing Alzheimer's.

John was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan., October 30, 1949, the oldest son of James R. and Mary Margaret "Marge" (Smith) Henshaw. He married Lydia Werner Agsten on June 24, 1981, and embraced her daughter Patricia as his own child.

John graduated from Dexter High School in 1967 and persisted in his quest for knowledge and profound love for learning throughout his life. John was a graduate of Hillsdale College, Michigan, with an AB in History; he obtained a Master's Degree in International Marketing from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, Arizona; and after a long career in business, returned to school to earn a Master in Education from Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

John worked for Simplex, Gardner and Westminster, MA, for over 23 years as Manager of Market Analysis. After a long career in the corporate world, in 2001 John embarked on his much-loved career as an Elementary School Teacher where he taught 4th grade at Russell Street School in Littleton, MA for over 10 years. He frequently stated that being a teacher was the toughest job he had ever experienced; however, it was also the most rewarding experience in his work life.

John lived in Lunenburg for over 43 years. As a strong believer in providing service to his community, he volunteered over the years as an English as a Second Language tutor for Literacy Volunteers and as a Money Management volunteer and nursing home Ombudsman for the former Montachusett Home Care Corporation (currently the Aging Services of North Central MA). John held several elected/volunteer positions in the Town of Lunenburg as a Library Trustee, a member of the Finance Committee, a member of the Capital Planning Committee and several other community committees.

John embraced a full life, enjoying hiking and spending time in nature with his family and many dogs. He loved traveling with his extended family, sharing a close bond with his son-in-law's family – many wonderful memories surround extended family trips and celebrations. A lover of classical music, annual trips to the Berkshires to listen to the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood with cherished friends were often a summer highlight. He enjoyed cooking with his beloved wife and baking bread with his cherished granddaughter – friends and family always looked forward to delightful meals at the Henshaw home.

As a final act of service to the larger community of his fellow men and women of the world, John had chosen the designation of being an organ donor, however, with the cancer diagnosis his family knew that being an organ donor was not possible. In recognition of John's dedication to community and passion for knowledge, his family has honored him by donating his brain to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center to help researchers around the world obtain more knowledge and hopefully a cure for Alzheimer's Dementia. (https://hbtrc.mclean.harvard.edu)

John is survived by his wife of 41 years Lydia, his daughter Patricia and her husband Ryan Wildes, granddaughter Evie Wildes, brother Robert (Sue) Henshaw, Howell, MI, sister Nancy (Jack) Myers, Chelsea, MI, and sister Wendy Henshaw, Ann Arbor, MI, his three nieces and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his youngest brother Tim Henshaw.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that a donation in John's memory be sent to either the Emerson Health Care Foundation, 133 Old Road to Nine Acre Corner, Concord, MA 01742 or to the Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

A celebration of John's life will be held later this year. The Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Rd., Ayer is assisting the family with arrangements.



View the online memorial for John P. Henshaw