Rodney J. Henningsen

Rodney James Henningsen, 82, of Montgomery, Texas, departed this life on August 8, 2023. Rod (also called “Jim” by his Nebraska family), was a genuine person who made everyone feel welcome. Rod was known for loving and accepting people where they were at, and Rod demonstrated empathy through his generosity and thoughtful, personalized acts of kindness. Good-natured and young at heart, he always had a good outlook on life. He never met a stranger. A family friend once asked his wife Judy, “What do you do when Rod gets mad?” Without hesitation she responded, “Rod doesn’t get mad.” Instead, Rod regularly brought joy to those around him.

Rod was born in Wakefield, Nebraska, on July 18, 1941, to Harvey and Agnes Henningsen. He was raised on a farm in Dixon County, Nebraska along with his brother and two sisters. In addition to his immediate family, he grew up amongst a close-knit community of aunts, uncles, and cousins, (descendants of Danish immigrants), and was beloved by all. He attended a one room schoolhouse and early on demonstrated his love for people, animals, and music. As a young boy he raised ducks and other waterfowl. He also won awards at the Sioux City Interstate 4-H Livestock Show, placed Superior in the District Music Contest, and was an accomplished scholar who graduated from high school at the age of sixteen. He attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and graduated in 1962 with a BS in sociology. He earned a PhD from The University of Nebraska in 1968, focusing on criminology.

While a college student, Rod met Judith “Judy” Moore, the woman who would go on to be the love of his life, in Wayne, Nebraska. They were married on August 1, 1965, and were the parents of three daughters and six grandchildren. They had a close and loving marriage and were physically separated temporarily only by Judy’s death in 2020.

A lifelong and beloved teacher, Rod taught for over thirty years as a college professor. He was tenured at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, during which time he never received a bad review from a student. After he retired from a long successful career, he and Judy traveled the world, leaving no major region of the world unexplored. He was active in his church Grace Lutheran, including playing charity poker to raise money for their sister church in Peru.

Family was always Rod’s priority, and he was a dedicated husband and father who spent summers taking his family on long road trips where they would visit and learn about new places and just be together. He was always looking for new and fun things to do and share with his family. He taught his daughters how to fish, took them crabbing in Galveston, and went on camping trips and many other countless adventures with them.

Rod and Judy would always toast at midnight on New Year's, and celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays together. They cherished each other and celebrated life. Their bond only grew stronger with time. Rod would often tell her she was as beautiful as the day he met her. Losing Judy after 55 years of marriage was challenging, but Rod continued to engage with life, while keeping Judy’s memory central. During the last few years, he traveled with his children, grandchildren, and brother. He attended graduations, Christmas Eve performances, concerts and ventured into birdwatching and camping all over Texas.

Rod was also a talented, life-long musician who learned to play the piano at a young age, played the trombone, and sang as a soloist and as a member of choirs. In college, he was a member of the select and internationally celebrated Augustana Choir, singing high-quality choral literature from the Renaissance forward on recordings and in venues across the United States and in Europe. More recently, Rod was a valued member of the choir at Grace Lutheran Church. He was also a lover of jazz and blues music and a great dancer who could close down the club if the right music was on. In addition to being able to sight read music easily, Rod was gifted with the ability to play music by ear and played at many family gatherings. His versions of the traditional spiritual “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and jazz standard “Misty” were frequent requests and were amazing and memorable. He also supported others who played music. He attended his daughters’ concerts and taught them piano, supported his grandkids’ musical and theater (and other) endeavors, and was a leader of a music program at a newly established church in Huntsville, Texas. Some of his grandkids’ best memories were road trips combined with a healthy dose of Motown classics.

Cards played an interesting and humorous role in Rod’s life, and not only through charity poker at his church. As a part of his studies in criminal justice for his PhD, Rod worked as a parole officer. In this position, and consistent with his nature, he treated everyone fairly and humanized them. One such instance was a man who had escaped to Florida. Rod picked him up and taught him how to play cards the whole way back to Nebraska. The man was so entertained that he didn’t think of escaping again. He was so grateful that Rod took the time to teach him something fun. And escaped parolees were not the only ones he prepared to play cards; he also taught his daughters and grandchildren. The games were good-natured and competitive. Everyone wanted to win, but cheating wasn’t an option in the Henningsen household. No one was “allowed” to win. This made victory all the sweeter. It built confidence and patience.

Throughout his life Rod was both engaged and insightful. Conversations on the porch in which, according to him, “we solved the world’s problems,” were routine and treasured. Rod had the ability to live according to his own principles but see the best in other people and remained interested in learning about places, cultures, and people his entire life. He discussed complex topics, but also laughed easily, especially at “I Love Lucy” and “The Golden Girls.” As his brother recently said, “he was a really smart person who could show love to everyone.”

So, although we will all miss him deeply, we also can say to him, “Thank you for being a friend.”

Rod will remain a friend and role model to all who know him, and to all who will know him through those who keep his memory and legacy alive. Rod is survived by his daughters Ann Henningsen Al-Bahish (Anan), Kay Henningsen, and Christine Henningsen Cloud; grandchildren Kathleen Henningsen (Ren Tamayo), Sam Al-Bahish, Sabriah Al-Bahish, Hayden Cloud, Laith Al-Bahish and Lauren Cloud; brother LuVern “Bud” Henningsen and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, valued friends and all those whose lives he touched.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., September 22, 2023, at Grace Lutheran Church, 13123 Texas Highway 105 W Conroe, Texas 77304. Charitable donations may be made in memory of Rodney James Henningsen to the following organizations or to a charity of choice:

Grace Lutheran Church and School, Mission Endowment Fund-13123 Texas Highway 105 W, Conroe, Texas 77304 or at www.glcsconroe.org

Healthcare for the Homeless- Houston, 1934 Caroline Street, Houston, Texas 77002 or at www.donorbox.org/hhh-giving-fund

Operation Pets Alive, PO Box 132104, The Woodlands, TX 77393 or at www.operationpetsalive.org/donate

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.metcalffuneraldirectors.com for the Henningsen family.