Donald Henneuse

1941 - 2022

Donald Henneuse
June 11, 1941 – March 18, 2022
Santa Cruz
Donald Patrick Henneuse, engineer, inventor, and beloved Eeyore, died at his family ranch in Santa Cruz on March 18, 2022. He was 80 years old.
Don was born in Santa Cruz on June 11, 1941, to William E. Henneuse and Hattie Lincoln. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1959 and earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1965 while serving as a volunteer firefighter.
He married Nanette Seigle in June 1965 and had two children, Nicolle and Kent. During the Vietnam War he served as an officer in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, where he was captivated by the extreme beauty of Alaska.
His engineering career was broad, including mechanical, nuclear, and agricultural disciplines, earning him a number of patents. He was a life long inventor and learner, with an encyclopedic memory that amazed his family. He was able to fix nearly anything and most of the time would finish the job.
He loved stories, especially ones where the underdog conquers the odds, and always sympathized with misfits, including Christmas trees that no one wanted. He was passionate about sailing, skiing, trials motorcycling, light houses; he played the ukulele and recorder; was the inventor of "disco car"; and could ride a unicycle. He could identify nearly every plant but was lousy at remembering birthdays and anniversaries.
He is survived by his wife, two children, two grandchildren (Kathleen and Max), his brother Paul, and his furry buddy, Dini. His ashes will be interred beside his father and his service will be held at Santa Cruz Memorial on April 29 at 11 am. We miss you already, Grumpa, but we know what you would say….Yeah, right.


View the online memorial for Donald Henneuse