John Leonard Henning

John Leonard Henning, 89, of Norton; formerly of Canton, died peacefully at his residence in Norton surrounded by his loving family on January 3, 2012. He was the devoted husband of Virginia L. (Engelberg) Henning to whom he was married on June 20, 1946. Born in the Bronx borough of New York City on July 24, 1922, he was the son of the late Morris Rothschild and Anna (Bargon) Rothschild. John enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served on PT Boat 134. John earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart along with many other citations and awards. After serving in the Navy, John held various positions of increasing responsibility in the sales industry. He resided at the time in Wantagh, New York and moved to Canton in 1971. He was a Boston sales executive for Banfi Vintners and made Massachusetts the first state in the country to achieve one million cases sold of the Riunite brand. John was an avid fisherman, coached little league, taught Sunday school and confirmation classes, volunteered within the Canton school system and the Canton animal shelter. He will be lovingly remembered for his sense of humor, hospitality, quick wit, and great stories. He created lifelong memories with family and friends as a devoted husband to his wife of 65 years, Ginny, and as a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, cousin, and uncle. He is survived by his wife, Virginia L. Henning, their children: Peter and his wife Thalia; John and his wife, Karla, Susan and her husband, John; his grandchildren: Alexis and husband Kyle, Dena, Koren, Morgan, Peter and wife Susan, Anna, Ruth, Jackie and Marissa; his great grandchildren: Demetrius, Jason, Thalia, Savannah, and Liam and his dear cousin: Robert W. Klatt and family. Visitation has been respectfully omitted. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Orthodox Congregational Church -United Church of Christ, 17 West St., Mansfield with the Rev. Ted Newcomb III, Pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mr. Hennings name may be made to any Disabled American Veteran or Alzheimers Association organization. To send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit an online register book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.