June 17, 2013
Denekamp, John H.
John Harold Denekamp was born to Hermanus and Reintje on August 14, 1923 in Boston. The youngest of 9 children, he was called “Babe” a nickname he carried throughout his long life. He was brother of the late Bernard, Johanna Fernandes, Hermina Dolan, Elsie Brack, Hennie Catenacci, Herman (Bob), Christina Little and Mary Funk. After Babe’s graduation from Boston’s Mechanic Arts High School, he worked as a mold maker at Special Tool in South Boston along with his two brothers, Bernard and Bob, a field he went back to until his retirement in the late 1980s from Texas Instruments in Attleboro. A WW II veteran, Babe joined the Navy in 1942 as an aviation machinist mate first class and was assigned to the 45th torpedo squadron and fought for his country in the South Pacific. It was during this period that he and Marjorie Madison (1923-2009) boarded a train to Kansas and were married. They had two children together, Robert J. of Hendersonville, NC (formerly of Norwood) and Jon B. of Wrentham. They had three grandchildren, Laura (Denekamp) Boothroyd of Norwood, Jon R. of East Bridgewater and Lynn (Denekamp) Bowen of South Orange, NJ, and five great-grandchildren, Derek, Jeremy, Larston Boothroyd, Nora Boothroyd, and Parker Bowen. Babe was a lifelong hunter, an avid fisherman and an accomplished bowler. He and Marge loved to entertain and looked forward to spending time with their kids, and their grandchildren, and their summers together in Truro on Cape Cod with their extended family and friends. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, June 20, 2013 from 4 to 7 PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Friday at 11 AM at the funeral home followed by burial with military honors in the Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury.
Comments(4)
Please accept our deepest sympathies.
Dear Bob, Jon and family:
How sad to hear of your Dad’s passing. The last of the Denekamp family. I have many happy memories of your Dad as he always visited us in Medfield after hunting in early AM.
He was always so supportive of me and our family as we grew up. Such a darling uncle.
My deepest sympathy to all of you.
Love, Ruth
Jonny & Hope, Bobby & Sandy and all the kids. Sorry to hear about Mr. D passing away. I will remember him as someone who never let getting older get in the way of doing things. It could be going to the cape, hitting golf balls in the Goodband’s field or getting up on the ladder to the second floor to work on the house, you have to say that he lived life his way.
Sorry I couldn’t make it by to the wake so hope this note will suffice.
Craig Edwards
John and Marge formed part of a cadre of people I came to consider surrogate grandparents during childhood summers on the cape – I have many fond memories of your parents and wish you my deepest sympathies.