John A Hennessy

John Amel Hennessy passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of September 10, 2026. He was born on November 16, 1928, in Superior, WI to parents John B. and Amelia (“Emilia”) E. Hennessy (“Pietrowski”).

John graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1950 with a B.S. degree majoring in mathematics and minors in chemistry and physics, and physical education.

After graduating college, he took a teaching position (math) for a short time at Lincoln High School, Floodwood, MN before being drafted into the U.S. Army. John proudly served his country and was honorably discharged in December 1952 returning to Superior.

While back in Superior, John had a blind date at a Saturday night dance in Lake Nebagamon, WI to meet Mary Jane Morancyk (“Jane”). Jane was born and raised in Ashland, WI (near Superior) and her cousin Jackie Frisbie arranged the date. John and Jane dated a few times afterwards, but John’s search for a job after the Army was already in process. He accepted an Office Manager position with Commercial Credit Corporation, Des Moines, IA, in 1953. Timing and distance led to John and Jane losing touch with each other. Months later, Jane left Ashland, moved to Madison and started working in a pharmacy shop. Sometime later, John’s dad came across Jane’s address in Madison and forwarded it to his son, along with some encouragement to write to Jane…and his son did. They exchanged letters and John visited Jane in Madison a few times, but she left Madison and moved to Superior when her roommate got married. John continued to write to his “Baby Doll” in Superior. An opportunity presented itself and John left Des Moines to take a position as Vice President at First National Bank in Superior in 1955. John and Jane reunited and subsequently got married on February 3, 1958.

John also had an interest in getting a commercial pilot’s license, logging training hours after he moved back to Superior, but his finance/banking career took precedence.

With 3 boys and 1 on the way, John and Jane moved to Appleton, WI in 1964 after John accepted a position with Northern State Bank (subsequently Valley Northern Bank) and became President and Director. In 1985, John became President and CEO of Valley Bank Shawano and remained in that role until he retired from Valley Bancorporation in 1991. Shortly after retiring at 62 years old, a group of local business people in Appleton approached him to lead a bank startup. He played an integral role in the overall process of selecting a site to build and capitalize the bank. In June 1993, the doors of American National Bank Fox Cities opened, led by John, President and CEO. In 1996, as President/CEO, he received the Small Business Person of the Year Award (service category) from the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. At age 68, he retired from the bank although remained active for a couple more years as Chairman.

During his long and successful career in banking and community service, as well as being a husband and father, he graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completed the Mortgage Lending School at The Ohio State University and the Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma. He was Town Supervisor for the Town of Center (6 years) and Treasurer (8 years) in Outagamie County. John also served as an Outagamie County Board Supervisor during the 1970’s in a prominent leadership role on the board as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. John also made an unsuccessful run for the State Assembly, 4th District. He was active with the American Legion, Kiwanis Club, Wisconsin Bankers Association and Republican Party member. He was also Director at Fox Valley Technical College Foundation and Treasurer for Former Congressman Toby Roth political campaigns; Founder of Grand Chute, Freedom and Center (“GFC”) Little League Baseball organization; Founder of Fox Valley Pop Warner Football (“FVPWF”), his dedication, efforts and contributions were recognized with the naming of “John A. Hennessy Field”, at Plamann Park in Appleton. He also helped his brother Mike as an investor and finance person for his three bowling alley businesses in Superior and Solon Springs, WI.

Growing up, John hunted duck and pheasant with his younger brother Mike and their dad. He became an avid stamp collector and had a particular interest in duck stamps. John enjoyed sports and played high school football and basketball, and collegiate basketball as well as playing on the city of Superior basketball and baseball teams. He also enjoyed bowling.

John was a lifelong arborist with an interest in the environment. He planted thousands of trees throughout his lifetime in rural Appleton, Shawano and Gresham, WI. He always had a chain saw and a shovel in his vehicle ready to fell trees and plant new ones. Land he owned and developed, which included a trout pond, in Appleton, was donated to Gordon Bubolz Nature Center. He raised ducks, pheasants and geese, and a few chickens at times, and dabbled at home brewing wine and root beer.

Time slowed John physically, but he remained an avid sudoku puzzle solver, cribbage player and stock investor. He enjoyed talking about business, economics and politics with everyone including his grandchildren.

As a father, he was outstanding. His actions, energy and accomplishments truly spoke for him as a person and as a father: show respect, work hard, be active, learn/education, give/support community and family, and don’t watch too much TV. As sons, we learned the latter life lesson when we didn’t “turn off the TV and get outside” when he told us. He quietly walked to the TV with scissors in-hand and cut the power cord. Lesson learned.

Dad, we love you and will miss you. Tell mom we still miss and love her too. Thank you for all you have done for us and our family.

John is predeceased by his wife Mary Jane, his brother Michael (“Mike”) and his parents John and Amelia.

John is survived by his sons Mark (“Marcus”) John Hennessy, Timothy (“Tim”) James Hennessy (spouse Christina), Paul Jerome Hennessy and Thomas (“Tom”) Jay Hennessy (Spouse Tracy) and his grandchildren Amaryllis Hennessy and Alexandros Hennessy (Tim Hennessy), Max John Hennessy, Wyatt Paul Hennessy and Nicholas James Marx (Paul Hennessy), and Seth Hennessy and Luke Hennessy (Tom Hennessy).

Funeral services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hudson For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-386-3725