Joseph Ennis' Obituary
On September 5, 2016, at the age of 96, Joseph Wheaton Ennis left us for a better place where he can be active again, play all his instruments, sing in the greatest of all choirs, and visit with old friends and relative. He was a man who set a great example of Christian living as a quiet leader, always positive and always loving. He was active at every level of the Presbyterian Church teaching a young adult Sunday School class for over forty years and serving in the organization as a conservative spokesman all the way to the general assembly level. He suffered trials and losses with no anger or loss of faith. He loved his family and was always ready to help them in any way he could. His wife of seventy years, “Dink”, died three years ago. He had two sons. Ken was married to Gwen Stewart. They had two children, Emily Leitch who married Justin, and they in turn had great grandchildren for him, Davis and Gwyneth. Their younger daughter Eleanor married Brad Langston and gave him two more great grandchildren, Miles and Smith. The other son Richard married Gina Dahnke. They gave him four more grandchildren; Richard Wheaton Ennis who with Andrea brightened his life; Rob Ennis who married Ashley Simmons and gave him two other great grandchildren, Wheaton and Emeri; John Ennis with his daughter Lyla; and Mary Harding who married Jack giving him another great grandchild also named Jack. His third great love was music. He could play any instrument with strings but was particularly known for playing his guitar and banjo. He had a beautiful baritone voice, sang in the church choir, entertained people by himself with his music and singing and entertained people with his grandchildren joining in and played in several bands. He was best known for singing How Great Thou Art and His Eye is on the Sparrow, having sung those at weddings and funerals too many to number. With his music he provided clean fun, smiles and happiness for others.He joined the United States Marines the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and served in the Pacific during WWII He worked for Sears for forty one years in management, and a number of people have told us over the years how kind and thoughtful he was in his executive position there. One man recently summed it up when he said “He was the best man I ever knew.” At age ninety six his arthritis had slowed him down, but he never lost his love of people or his positive attitude toward life. He will be missed. He was very active in the Gideons, and his church and memorials can be directed through the Gideons or the church of your choice. Services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Friday, September 9. Visitation will be from 1 pm until 2:30 pm, with services beginning at 2:30 pm.“Celebrating Life Behind the Stone Wall”
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