John R. Ennis

A long-time resident of the Town of Tonawanda, John was born on February 2, 1933, in Buffalo’s Sisters Hospital to John Joseph Ennis and Theresa Lorretta Schumaker. John was a member of the Kenmore West Senior High School graduating class of 1950.

While stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, John married Charlene Boyd Gibson on February 29, 1952. John and Charlene (deceased) are both survived by their five children, Glenda Diane Ennis Ranallo (Jake Kuss), Robert Roehl Ennis (Charyle Duke Dollins), William Taylor Ennis (Marcia Shumway Ennis), Nancy Irene Locke Ennis Brown (Nathan Brown, deceased), and Michael Joseph Ennis (Mary Beth Doster Ennis). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

John married Nancy Knochenhauer (deceased) on May 18, 1973, in the Town of Tonawanda, New York. John is survived by stepdaughters, Cynthia Steiger Beery (Dewayne Beery, deceased), Marcia Steiger Groff (Edward Peters), Dawn Steiger (Greg Goodridge), three step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.

John was predeceased by his brothers Kenneth Ennis and Harry Ennis. John is survived by his brother Richard Ennis, and beloved nieces and nephews Beverly, Richard, Kimberly, Tracy, Robin, Dawn and Gregory. Nephew David Ennis predeceased John in 2024.

John was extremely proud of his entire family and never missed an opportunity to boast about them all.

A lifelong Dodger fan, John loved baseball and went into mourning annually after the conclusion of the World Series and until the beginning of spring training each year. He played baseball for his high school team, then softball while in the military, and for many years after returning home. In 2006, John was inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame. Following his softball career, John could be seen behind the backstop of Sahlen Field (originally Pilot Field) cheering for the Buffalo Bisons. A long-time season ticket holder and member of the Diamond Club, he often bought extra tickets for family and friends as well as donating tickets to various groups.

From 1950 to 1953 John served in the Air Force and was stationed at San Antonio, Texas and Rapid City, South Dakota. He completed his military career with the rank of Sergeant.

Following his military service, John became a Land Surveyor. Throughout his career as a surveyor, John was licensed in the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. John started as a rodman on a survey crew and worked his way up to crew chief, director of surveying and eventually Partner and Executive Vice President of Krehbiel Associates, Inc.

John’s professional and philanthropic affiliations were many. At different times he served as the president of the Niagara Frontier Land Surveyors Association, the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors, as well as the Niagara County Builders Association. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Kenmore.

John actively supported Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Niagara Challengers Sled Hockey, McKinley Vocational High School, Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Kevin Guest Houses among others by raising funds and engaging other agencies and private resources.

John will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched. The family would like to give a special thanks to John’s wonderful neighbors who were selfless in looking out for Dad in his later years. It allowed him to stay in his beloved home for as long as was possible.

A celebration of life event for John will be scheduled for early this summer. Please provide contact information to any member of the family if you would like to be included in that event. Also, in lieu of flowers the family would ask that donations be made instead to the VA Western New York Healthcare System (https://www.va.gov/western-new-york-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DenglerRobertsPernaKenmore.com