John E. “Jack” Heniff of Saxeville, age 86, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2019.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 23, 1933 to the late James and Mary (Burns) Heniff. On March 24, 1973 he married Jean. He attended Blue Island High School and played four years of football and was selected to the 1951 Illinois Football Squad. He received a full scholarship to the University of Illinois/football. He became a member of Phi Delta Theda Fraternity. During football practice he was tacked by JC Caroline, which ended his football career. Jack joined the Naval ROTC. After graduating with a degree in Marketing he was stationed at Fort Townsend, Washington, where he was an Executive Officer in Harbor Defense. After leaving the service he moved with his family to Blue Island, IL and started his career in the elevator business. First with Otis Elevator as an office manager and then as an installer and then as a sales representative. He transferred to Minneapolis and then to Chicago for Schindler Elevator as Senior New Sales. One of Jack’s loves was Long Lake Wisconsin. When he was 16, he and his parents bought property on Long Lake. When he retired, he and Jean bought a home and 10 acres ½ mile from the lake and called it “Happy Heniffs”. He had many fond memories of raising his children on the lake and summers spent with his grandchildren on the lake.
He will be sadly missed by his wife, Jean; children: John Heniff Jr., Mary Tueth, and Rick Heniff; grandchildren: Joe, Chris, Kurt and Rebecca Heniff, Kelsey and Lauren Tueth; great-granddaughter, Annette Heniff, beloved daughter of John Heniff III. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, John Heniff III; brother, James Heniff and nephew, James Heniff Jr.
The Funeral Service will be on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 12 p.m. at the Maple Crest Funeral Home. The visitation will be on Friday at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are appreciated to Waupaca Humane Association.