John M. Shenk, age 101, passed peacefully on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Brookdale Senior Center, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

John was born July 27, 1923, in the Mennonite Colony of Denbigh, Virginia, the seventh of ten children to Levi J. and Amanda Yoder Shenk. Two sisters, Miriam Baer and Martha Godshall, survive him. Preceding him in death were his wife, Evelyn Landis Shenk, his siblings Mabel, Wilmer, Lester, Mary Florence, Margaret, Mildred, and his parents.

John is survived by four children: Gloria (Tony Worme) of Mount Joy, PA; Jonathan (Sheryl Longacre) of Harrisonburg, VA; James (Juliana Marquez) of San Diego, CA; and Joseph of Denver, PA. John is survived by six grandchildren: Gloria’s son, James Paul Kniss; Jonathan and Sheryl’s children, Suzanne (Dan) Pozzo, David, and Brian; Jim and Juliana’s children, Briana and Noah; and three great-grandchildren, Coralie, Luca, and Vivienne Pozzo.

He attended Morrison High School in Denbigh and graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School in 1942.

On May 10, 1952, John married Evelyn Landis Shenk in Harrisonburg, VA. They lived and raised their four children in Richmond and Harrisonburg. Evelyn died in January 2011.

His work career included Colony Farms Dairy milk delivery, Reynolds Metals Co. (Research and Development), Brunk Mechanical, and Eastern Mennonite University as Supervisor of Mechanical Services 1977-1997. He worked full time until age 74. Following retirement, he enjoyed working part-time driving cars for an auction car lot until age 85.

John, and his wife Evelyn, along with others, were founding members of First Mennonite Church of Richmond, VA. After they moved to the Shenandoah Valley, they became long-time faithful members and supporters of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church and Agape Sunday School class.

John was passionate about travel all his life, from his youth until age 95. He loved Ford cars and especially driving them fast. In his youth, he was sometimes a prankster and rebel rouser. He enjoyed singing bass and was in a Denbigh men’s quartet, and later in life he performed with the Rockingham Male Chorus. John met regularly with the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and loved the camaraderie. In 1995, he compiled, distributed, and sold five hundred copies of a cookbook For Men Who Like to Cook, Want to Cook (or Have to!) John was a quirky, happy-go-lucky, carefree, self-reliant, and adventurous man.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, 1552 South High Street, Harrisonburg, VA. Family and guests are invited to refreshments immediately following the service where memories of John may be shared. A private interment will be at Weaver’s Cemetery, Harrisonburg VA. The memorial service will be available online at the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church YouTube website.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers and staff at Brookdale Senior Center and the First Choice Hospice team for their kindness and loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eastern Mennonite University, Music Dept. 1200 Park Rd. Harrisonburg, VA 22802.