John C. "Jack" Hensel

1925 - 2024

John C. Hensel

Whitesboro, NY



John C. (Jack) Hensel, age 99, of Whitesboro, died on October 8, 1924 after a long illness. He was born on March 18, 1925 at Faxton Hospital, Utica, NY. He was the son of the late Peter W. and Matilda (Wolff) Hensel. He attended Lincoln and Kernan schools and graduated from Utica Free Academy on June 23, 1943. He was inducted into the Navy on June 22, 1943 (day before graduating). The Navy sparked his interest due to his Naval uncle and interest in model airplanes. His Naval service started June 29, 1943 and was discharged in April 1946. Jack was aboard the USS Franklin CV-13 as an air crewman gunner when it was bombed on March 19, 1945 off the coast of Japan in which 832 were killed and 265 were injured. It was actually his 20th birthday back in the states. His injuries earned him a Purple Heart military award.

After the war, he attended Utica College for 2 years to study engineering and accounting. It was 1947 when the college formed its first baseball team and Jack became the first captain. He also played in the Municipal City Baseball League. He worked for a short time for Hammer Supply Co. and the Steam Fitters Union; most of his career was for the Sid Harvey Co. He has been a very active member of St. Paul's Church since 1954. Many of his children attended St. Paul's School and celebrated many sacraments from there. He served for funerals, usher and the bazaar for many years,

He married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Follett, on October 1, 1949. They celebrated 65 years until Mary's death on January 19, 2015. Jack lived a full life which included a family owned camp on Otter Lake, hunting, golfing, bowling, wintering in Myrtle Beach for 20 years, car rides listening to various decades of music and countless family gatherings of which he treasured most of all.

Through the years, Jack has been recognized many times for his military service which included many USS Franklin reunions all over the country, Yankee Stadium on May 5, 2019 and he rode in many Whitesboro's Memorial Day parades. He is deeply grateful for those special men of the Military Order of the Purple Heart CNY Chapter No. 490 who have honored him at many Flag and Veterans Days, Honor Flight Syracuse Mission on October 1, 2016, Utica Comets Hockey games and many other special events. He planned and saw to completion a plaque of the CV 13 WWII Awards of the USS Franklin which is on the anchor of the USS Oriskany (a sister ship) at The Oriskany Museum.

He is survived by his 6 children; Richard Hensel, Jill (Bruce) Wagner, Mary-Lynn (Mike) Hemberger, Nancy (Mark) Peters, John Hensel, Mark (Sandy) Hensel. He also leaves his 15 adored grandchildren; Tom (Sara) Wagner, Kristyn (Brad) Leon, Brian (Kristin) Wagner, Jeff Hensel, Joe (Heather) Hensel, Chris (Sarah) Hensel, Kevin (Jacki Vitta) Hemberger, Stephen (Haesol Won) Hemberger, Meghan Peters, Sean (Laura Vasquez) Peters, Jenna (Grant Moore) Hensel, Jack P. Hensel, Sam Hensel, Colin (Stephanie) Hensel, Jennifer (Bryson) Wilson. He leaves 12 great-grandchildren; Graham, Adam, Jack, Haley, Audrey, Claire, Addison, Hannah, Julia, Harrison, Ophelia and Lindsey. He is predeceased by his brother, Peter N. Hensel and his nephew Peter (Karen) Hensel. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors and a lively coffee group at Dunkin Donuts that he has truly loved and enjoyed these last few years! He and his niece, Barbara Evans, organized a sing-a-long this past April which was enjoyed by many and was a dream come true for him.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Dr. Benjamin and staff at Upstate Cancer Center and Dr. Simone in Verona. Also a special thank you to VA Homebound Primary Care team and the staff of Siegenthaler Center.

Funeral services will be on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 11:30 AM at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 16 Park Ave Whitesboro where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Thomas Durant. Military Honors will be offered at the conclusion of the Funeral Mass. Interment will be private in Crown Hill Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to call on Sunday, October 13, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Dimbleby Funeral Homes Inc. 40 Main St. in Whitesboro.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Purple Heart Central New York Chapter No. 490 or Hospice & Palliative Care. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

For online expressions of sympathy please go to www.dimblebyfh.com