Jesse Allen Henoch

Jesse Allen Henoch, 41, of Hamilton, IL, took his final bow on March 9, 2025, at home amongst his biggest fans--his mother and his brothers.
He made his world debut on September 19, 1983, to Reva (Bailey) Terry and Mark Henoch in Moberly, MO. The nurse thought he hadn't made it through delivery until he squeezed her finger and was revived. Thus began his flair for dramatics and leaving his audience in awe of his abilities.
He was the oldest of four brothers close in age and quickly became the pack leader, instigator, and mastermind of their endless shenanigans. To hitch a short ride on a train or run off a pack of bullies was all in a day's work for the Henoch boys! Till the end, they were a tight crew with an unbreakable bond and inappropriate jokes as their love language.
At a young age, Jesse's love of music and theater began to emerge and the spotlight found him. His energy, instincts, and talent on stage, coupled with his courage to make a fool of himself in the name of laughter, landed him many leading roles. This included his award-winning performance as Harold Hill in the Music Man for which he was named Best Leading Actor in a Musical by the Iowa Community Theater Association in 2013. Great River Players was his home away from home and a community that counted him amongst their brightest stars. He wasn't just a musical theater enthusiast but also a passionate frontman of several hard rock bands over the years. His bandmates from "Slow Motion Sickness" were among his longest-standing and closest friends. For the past several years, he enjoyed creating and performing original music with his band, "1thirty6".
After attending Keokuk High school Jesse entered the Marine Corps in November 2002. For someone who didn't follow rules or like being told what to do, this was a considerable challenge. He conquered it with his grit, humor, and charm. His service took him to Japan, Korea, Australia, and Iraq. He was a decorated marksman and was honorably discharged as a Corporal in November 2006. Along the way, he married his childhood sweetheart, Catie, and they spent 10 years laughing and loving. Although he had no children of his own, he embraced the title of uncle with relish and had an easy way with kids of all ages.
Jesse found joy and love in a million different ways: animals of all kinds, silly faces, outlandish fashions, hunting for seaglass, the Grand Theater, fantasy books, Cadillacs, reciting movie lines, rocks, sneakers, pondering the cosmos, and technology (to name a few). He was the first to tell a joke and the first to laugh at a joke. Children, grandmas, and dogs loved him. Strangers would spill their life stories to him. He had a magnetism and charisma that he couldn't turn off.
He is survived by his parents and brothers John Henoch of Keokuk, Jacob Henoch of Fort Bragg, CA, Jonah Henoch of Carthage, IL, and step-sisters Amber (Andrew) Hall and Emily (Dalton) Bohl both of Hamilton, IL. Also his nieces and nephews, John R. Henoch, Brogan Henoch, Gianna Henoch, Lincoln Henoch, Delia Henoch, Phoebe Henoch and Lona Henoch, Brayden Hall, Jackson Hall, Grayson Hall, Jaiden Bohl, Austin Bohl, Kyson Bohl, Genesis Bohl. And of course, his beloved dog, Maleah.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Patty and Perry Bailey, and Linda and Dennis Henoch, his step father, Charles Terry, and best dog friends, Wolfgang and Louis Melvin.
The final curtain call to celebrate the life and times of Jesse was held at 12 noon, Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, IA with Calvin Stevens officiating. Burial with military rites was at the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, IA.
Visitation was held prior to the service from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home with family meeting with friends at that time.
Memorials may be made to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.