John H. Ferenz

John H. Ferenz, age 97, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 28, 2025. Born in Englewood, NJ on May 5, 1927, he was the son of the late Katherine (Ferenz/Ferenc) Canfield. Growing up surrounded by a hard-working extended family, John developed a strong moral code, love for his family, and deep respect for the working man or woman. He proudly served in the United States Navy at the end of WWII, and used his GI benefits to train for a newspaper career as a Linotype operator and printer. John worked at the Wilmington News Journal for 38 years until his retirement in1989, and served a term as the secretary of the Penn-Dell Typographical Conference printers union. A dedicated family man, John was married to his high school sweetheart Marge for 63 wonderful years until her passing in 2011. Together they raised 2 sons, Richard and Gary, and enjoyed the close friendships developed from living in the same house for over 60 years and always helping out where they could. As a man of faith, John was one of the founding members of Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church. In his spare time, John loved to go camping and took his family on trips throughout the Eastern US, first with a tent and then a camping trailer. After retirement, he and Marge enjoyed spending winters at Sun-N-Fun in Sarasota, FL and summer weeks in Bar Harbor, Maine. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Fritz) Ferenz; and sister, Bonnie Sue Nutter. He is survived by his sons, Richard Ferenz (Susan) and Gary Ferenz (Rhonda); 3 grandchildren, Greg Ferenz (Jodi), Michael Ferenz (Leslie), and Renee Robinson (Ryan); 5 great-grandchildren, Teddy Ferenz, William Ferenz, Alex Ferenz, Bryce Robinson, and Reese Robinson; and dear friend Chuck Conway, who he always considered a third son. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 10 Old Newark Road, Newark, DE 19713, where a funeral service will begin at 12 pm. Interment will be held privately in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to Compassionate Care Hospice. Please make checks payable to the Amedisys Foundation and mail to: 111 Continental Drive, Suite 407, Newark, DE 19713; or to St. Nicholas Episcopal Church at the address listed above; or to the National World War II Museum, Attn: Tributes, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 or online by clicking here.

John H. Ferenz

May 5, 1927 - February 28, 2025