John Menzo

John Menzo

Created by: Ellen Menzo

My husband was a free-thinking, independent guy who was also very friendly. He loved socializing and telling stories. He especially loved children. He would tease them and make them laugh. His own children and his nieces and nephews adored him.
His legacy includes a list of hobbies and past times. He worked as a draftsman for many years before obtaining his Mechanical Engineering Degree, after 9 years of night classes, while raising a family. Perhaps his woodworking skills were an offshoot of his drafting and engineering jobs. He started designing and crafting wood products in his thirties. He made furniture, toys (including elaborate doll houses) and other functional items for family.
One Christmas, while temporarily unemployed, he made wooden gifts for family and extended family members. A plant holder for the grandmothers, a mug rack for an aunt, a cutting board for my mom, a valet stand for his dad, a jewelry box for me, wine racks, initial bookends, and a football salt and pepper shaker set for his mom. The last one was for his mom’s salt and pepper shaker collection, which he had patented.
His other hobbies included golfing, fishing, card playing and bird watching. His favorite bird was the Bald Eagle. He loved searching for them and taking photos. In his golfing career he had one Hole in One (which his son witnessed) and a Double Eagle (a rare feat, even for pros). From then on, he nicknamed himself “Double Eagle”. He also loved animals, especially dogs, which led to our family adopting a Collie. He built a doghouse so Coco could live outside when our son developed allergies.
He was a hands-on guy who could fix almost anything. Then, at age 63, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but he didn’t let it slow him down. Together we attended educational seminars and support groups. He did well for 11 years, until dementia crept in and slowly stole his brain power. After about 5 years of struggle with this debilitating disease, he succumbed at the age of 82.
I miss him terribly, but I know he is now at peace, no longer trapped in a foreign body and brain.

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