Fennewald, John H. 1932-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
John Henry Fennewald, 92, a long-time resident of St. Joseph, passed away on March 30, 2025. John was born May 14, 1932, in St. Elizabeth, Missouri, to Henry H. and Marie E. (Koehne) Fennewald.
He grew up on the family farm, graduated from St. Elizabeth High School, and served in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later in Korea. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1959. He retired in 1992 as District Geologist after 35 years with the Missouri Department of Transportation.
John married Dolores A. Sosinski on Sept. 29, 1962, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. They shared 50 years of marriage before her passing in 2013.
John was a long-time member of St. Francis Xavier Parish, serving as a lector, volunteering at House of Bread, and attending Adoration at Mir House of Prayer. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop LeBlond Council 5067, serving as State Chairman, District Deputy, and Grand Knight. He also held leadership roles with the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers.
A loving husband, father, and grandfather, John cherished family trips to Table Rock Lake, where he enjoyed fishing and quality time with loved ones. Some of his favorite activities were traveling with Dolores, working Knights of Columbus fish fries, cooking, carpentry, and gardening. He was known for his humility, kindness, and generosity.
John was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brother, Patrick Fennewald; and son-in-law, William Treu.
He is survived by daughters, Vicki (Jim) Phillips, Stacey Treu, Julie Fennewald; and son, Mark (Amy) Fennewald; grandchildren, Ashley Phillips, Christopher, Jeffrey, and Jessica Treu, and Afton and Zachary Fennewald; one brother, two sisters; one sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery. A Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel on Sunday, April 6, followed by visitation until 5 p.m.
The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or Kansas City Hospice. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
