Henry George Hemenway

Henry George Hemenway, 91, of Maryville, MO, passed from this life on January 12, 2016, at Circle of Life Hospice with his family at his side.

Henry was born in New Raymer, CO, on January 20, 1925. His parents were George and Mary Matheny Hemenway.

Henry was bitten by a rattlesnake on his right hand at age 3, and this was a story he always enjoyed sharing.

At age 9, on Thanksgiving, the family moved to his grandparents farm in Clearwater, NE, and he graduated high school there.

Henry joined the US Army Air Corp at age 19. He served his country for 2 years and was honorable discharged in Edmonfield, FL, when WW II ended.

Henry used the G.I. bill to attend one year at Norfolk Junior College before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Zoology. The degree was delayed by his father’s illness which necessitated his returning to the family farm to take over the farming operations for 2 years. That experience convinced him that farming was not the profession for him.

In 1953 he returned to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to complete his baccalaureate degree in science and then enrolled as a master’s degree student in history. It was at this time he began considering a teaching career.

While attending school he worked as a Park Historian at Mt. Rushmore, Rapid City, SD, during the summers to earn money for school

Henry completed his master’s degree and took his first teaching job at the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Northeast Nebraska. He taught Omaha and Winnebago Indian high school students science. Spent 4 years there and continued working at Mt. Rushmore during the summers.

In 1957, in the Sioux City, IA, Methodist Church, Henry was united in marriage to Beulah Schultz

From 1960 to 1967, he taught social sciences in Bellevue, NE, public schools, and was also the senior class sponsor.

From 1967 to 1969, Henry enrolled at the University of Nebraska to work on his doctorate in education and also managed to be a teaching assistant at Nebraska.

In 1969, Henry accepted a teaching position at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO, and completed his doctorate. He supervised student teachers in southwest Iowa. He always said that he came to northwest Missouri to learn southwest Iowa. He also taught special education classes, secondary method classes, and 5th grade Social Studies at Horace Mann lab school.

At age 62, Henry retired from Northwest Missouri State University.
He loved the process of education and teaching and had amassed 300 college hours by the end of his life.

Henry’s memberships included the First United Methodist Church, Nodaway County Historical Society, James Edward Gray, American Legion Post 100, and The Men’s Forum, all of Maryville. He had served on the Northwest Missouri Credit Union Board.

He enjoyed gardening, reading, and crossword puzzles. He loved to visit with people, playing cards, and drinking coffee.

His survivors include his wife Beulah; his son Martin and wife Joan (Collins) Hemenway, Rogers, AR; 2 grandchildren, Collin and Jullian Hemenway, Rogers, AR; and nephews and a niece.

Henry’s body has been cremated under the direction of the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church, Maryville. The inurnment will be in the Miriam Cemetery, Maryville, MO.

Memorial contributions can be made in Henry’s name to a hospice of the donor’s choice.

For online condolences and guest book, visit www.bramfuneralhome.com