JOSEPH HENJUM JR. Final Flight on January 10, 2010 |
Joseph Henjum Jr., Col., USAF (Retired) February 13, 1934 - January 01, 2010
Joseph Henjum Jr. February 13, 1934 - January 1, 2010
Memorial Service: January 21st at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 20 East St. Vrain with a live video feed and additional seating at First United Methodist Church one block away, 420 North Nevada Ave. Reception to follow at First United Methodist Church.
Donations in his honor may be made to: The Home Front Cares, P.O. Box 38516, Colorado Springs, CO 80937-8516 and to First Congregational Church, 22 E St. Vrain, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Obituary: Joseph (Joe) Henjum Jr. died at home on January 1, 2010, after a long illness.
Mr. Henjum was born in Hollywood, Florida on February 13, 1934, one of five children of Joseph (senior) and Alpha Henjum (deceased), both originally from Norwegian families in Minnesota. He attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he majored in Music Education, played clarinet and saxophone, and was Drum Major of the Band of the Hour. Later he earned a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University and a Master of Science in Education from Troy State University.
After graduating from college, Joe entered the Air Force in 1956, completing pilot training and helicopter school. During a 26-year career, he logged over 5,000 hours of flying time before retiring as a Colonel in 1982. He enjoyed a rich variety of assignments in nine states, the Philippines, Vietnam and Hawaii, as well as a tour of duty at the Air Force Academy.
In his second career, Mr. Henjum served as General Manager of Cheyenne Place Retirement Community from 1983 to 1996 when he and his wife, JoAnne, worked as a team, planting roots in Colorado Springs.
In the "third half" of his life, Mr. Henjum became actively engaged as a volunteer in several community service organizations and projects. He served six years as a member of the Colorado Commission on Aging and was Co-Founder and Past President of the Senior Resource Council. He was a proud member and Past President of the downtown Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. Joe was also Past President of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.
With an intense interest in improving our transportation system, Mr. Henjum was a Co-Founder and Past President of the Colorado Mobility Coalition and the Pikes Peak Mobility Coalition. He also served on the East-West Mobility Study Group and was later a member of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Board for Colorado Springs.
One of Colonel Henjum's most passionate efforts was as Co-Founder and Past President of The Home Front Cares, a local, non-profit, community grassroots organization that provides urgent financial support for the families of military troops deployed in harm's way. He attributed the outstanding success of this organization to the hard work of a small corps of local volunteers and the community at-large that appreciates the service and sacrifice of those who serve in the profession of arms.
Mr. Henjum was selected as the 1998 Volunteer of the Year by the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and was a Grand Marshall of the 2006 Veterans Day Parade.
Mr. Henjum and his wife of 56 years, JoAnne, were college sweethearts. Their son, Mark, and his wife, Peggy Strahan Henjum, gave them two granddaughters, Lindsay Henjum Hoover and Jocelyn Henjum. Their daughter, Nancy Henjum, and her husband, Steve Kern, gave Joe and JoAnne two more wonderful grandchildren, Dylan Kern and Kate Henjum. In addition to these family members who all live in Colorado Springs, Mr. Henjum is survived by his two sisters Shirley Henjum Meucci in Lady Lake, Florida and Dot Earney in Hollywood, Florida. His two brothers, Don and Ted also live in the family's hometown of Hollywood, Florida.
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