John Koenes was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 21, 1935. He passed away at the age of 87 on Nov. 7, 2022. His parents, Henry Renza Koenes and Edith Koenes, preceded him in death. John had three siblings: Ruth Koenes, Carl Koenes and Alfred Koenes.
John graduated from Garden Grove High School in Garden Grove, California, in 1953. His first job, as a child, was delivering newspapers. As a teenager he worked at a dairy in the processing plant, and after high school, he entered the United States Air Force.
In 1954 he served four years as a radio repairman. Upon his entrance into the Air Force, he completed basic training at Parks Air Force Base, then was transferred to Keesler in Biloxi, Mississippi, for radio training. Following this training, he completed his military career at Hamilton Air Force Base.
After discharge, John became an electrician, working construction for many years. In 1979, his wife bought the Napavine Grocery Store, and he became a business owner and worked maintenance until his retirement in 1999. John enjoyed a “good deal” at garage and estate sales in Green Valley, Arizona, where he was a snowbird for 15 years. His other hobbies included shopping for clothes. In fact, the ladies always said John was the sharpest dressed guy at the Elks Club dances, where he was a member. John loved to go to the dollar store and come out with enough to start a store of his own. He enjoyed the accomplishment of building, albeit adding on to his personal residence, building his own home or putting in a laundromat where a beauty shop used to be. He also enjoyed building storage units at the Napavine shopping center with the constant help of his two sons, John and David. All of these hobbies, along with his wife that operated Milles Market Basket, built a legacy for the next generation.
John is preceded in death by his wife Amelia (Thornton) Koenes, who he married on Jan. 14, 1956. He is also preceded in death by his son David Koenes, his brother Carl Koenes and his sister Ruth Koenes. He is survived by his children John Koenes, Cynthia (Jones) Koenes and Janet (Stowe) Koenes. He is also survived by his brother Alfred Koenes as well as eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
John will be laid to rest at 11 a.m. at the Napavine Cemetery on Nov. 21, 2022. There are no scheduled services at this time. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Sticklin Funeral Chapel.
