self-written obituary

John Lee Hafenrichter died Wednesday, December 7, 2011, age 83, at Batavia, IL. He was born April 26, 1928 at Copley Hospital, So. Lincoln Ave., Aurora, IL, son of Reuben and Amanda (Hummel) Hafenrichter. Following his mother’s death, Dec. 9, 1932, he was raised by father and his aunt, Ella Barbara Hummel. Reuben and Ella subsequently married Oct. 23, 1946.

He is survived by two sisters: Uarda (Bruce) Henderson and Glenda (Bill) Leigh; sister-in-law, Lucille (Everett); nephews, nieces, numerous relatives. Preceding him in death: father, mother, step-mother, brother Everett; brothers-in-law, Bruce Henderson and Bill Leigh.

John attended Lumbard School, a 1-room elementary school in Wheatland Twp., Will Co. (dip. 1942); East Aurora High School (dip. 1945); North Central College (B.A. cum laude) 1948; Univ. of Michigan (M.A. 1949; A.M.L.S. 1956); Univ. of Pennsylvania (attended 1949/1951).

He was confirmed in the Evangelical Church on April 16, 1939 by the Rev. Eugene. E. Krel, Pastor, Oswego Prairie Evangelical Church. He was confirmed in the Pro-testant Episcopal Church on June 9, 1957 by Archie H. Crowley, Bishop of Michigan, at St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He enlisted, July 4, 1951, Private, in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), then being created out of the old U.S. Army Air Corps. On graduation from Office Candidate School (OCS), June 19, 1952, he was commissioned, 2D LIEUT, and immediately appointed instructor in “Military Geography,” on the faculty of the Officer Basic Military Course (OBMC), Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX (the USAF unit used to orient directly commissioned civilian specialists).

John’s active duty USAF career came to an end Aug. 23, 1953, one of the results of the U.N. negotiated Armistice Agreement to the Korean War signed July 27, 1953. His 3-year commission was converted by the USAF to indefinite status, attached to the inactive reserve. Here he continued to serve until honorably discharged, 1ST LIEUT, July 28, 1965.

He was employed as history instructor/reference librarian at Union College, Schenectady, NY (1953/55). Then in varying positions in the universities of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Eastern Michigan, Ypsilanti (Acting University Libra-rian, EMU, 1958/59). Beginning in 1959 and on-going for 25 years he served as library advisor and human resources development officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), posted (overseas) in American embassies in Egypt, Nepal, Niger, Viet-Nam, & headquarters, Washington, D.C. (1974/1978).

Following retirement in 1987 he resided in Sandwich, IL, relocating in 2000 to the Holmstad, Batavia, IL. Establishing his clan’s genealogy occupied John during the decades of retirement. He has bequeathed records of this research and his writings to the Little White School Museum, Oswego, IL Here documented: the German emigrant settlement in Oswego Township, Kendall County, 1843 and onward.

Ashes interred in Lincoln Memorial Park, Aurora, IL. Moss Family Funeral Home is handling final details.