John Joseph Wenckus

WENCKUS, JOHN JOSEPH, of Torrance was lost to this community and to all Americans on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 during the first of the terrible acts carried out by terrorists. John was born in Waltham, Massachusetts on September 4, 1955 and graced us with his huge smile, talent and giving nature for fourty-six years and seven days. John's working career embraced key executive positions in aerospace manufacturing and upper level management positions at high profile companies, including Hi-Shear Technology Corporation and Lockhart Industries. Of late, he had been pursuing yet another leap in his personal quest for excellence by developing his own company in the field of tax preparation. All of John's career involved ever-increasing responsibility over greater budgets and larger human resources. In all of these endeavors, his signature was his caring attitute of universal worth and brotherhood and, of course, his radiant smile. Left to mourn his passing are his parents; John and Joan Wenckus, his sisters, Carol Hamill and her devoted partner, Richard Murphy and Lynne Patten and her husband, Richard...all of Waltham, MA. John is also survied by a sister, Lisa Maloney and her husband, Terrence of Framingham, MA and his brothers, Daniel Wenckus and his wife Kathleen of Natick, MA and Brian Wenckus of Waltham, MA and numerous caring aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. These loving family members and warm friends acknowledge the pain of their loss and that a great light has gone out of their midst...but only for a brief moment. John soars on now, unfettered by his earthly limitations and now serves as a loving liaison and ambassador between us and his Creator.

John's closest friends in the community at large have arranged for a Memorial Service in his memory to be held at theTorrance American Legion, 1109 Van Ness Avenue in Torrance. The service will be on Saturday, September 29, 2001 at 1:00 PM. All of John's greater circle of friends and the community are invited to celebrate the singularly beautiful life which was, and still is, John Wenckus. There will be guest speakers including city mayors and the spiritual portion of the service will be appropriately presided over by Rev. Richard Shinkle, Chaplain for the Torrance Police Department and representative cleric from St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach. En lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate in John's memory to a charity directed to help end the suffering of our sisters and brothers in New York City.