John Joseph Hennessey

John Joseph "Jack" Hennessey, age 97, of Stillwater passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024, with family by his side. Jack was born on October 2, 1926, the son of Martin and Inez (Mockler) Hennessey. He grew up in Stillwater and graduated from St. Michael's Catholic School and Stillwater High School. He served his country in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific theater as a radio operator. After the war he received his degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota and worked for the Milwaukee Road Railroad in Montana and Chicago. He later attended William Mitchell College of Law and became a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He then worked the rest of his career as a civil engineer for various construction companies in the Twin Cities.
Jack was united in marriage to Ruth McGrath on December 26, 1959, at the Church of St. Michael. Ruth and Jack raised their family in St. Paul and returned to Stillwater in 1993. Jack lived his life in faith always showing his love of family and friends.
Preceded in death by his wife Ruth Hennessey (McGrath), his parents, and sister Elaine Simonet. Survived by his four children, John Hennessey (Mary), Anne Furlong (Tom), Mary Steiner (Tom), Bill Hennessey (LiJun), twelve grandchildren (Tom, Kate, James, Patrick, Katheryn, Michael, Shannon, Mary, Hannah, Matt, Ben and Noah) and five great-grandchildren (Sam, Ben, Arthur, Rose and Max) and many nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Church of St. Michael, 611 S. 3rd St., Stillwater, MN 55082. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass on Friday in the church atrium. Interment will be at St. Michael's Cemetery, Bayport, MN.
Memorials preferred to the Church of St. Michael, Stillwater, or to the charity of your choice.
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