John Wehncke, 92, of Chilmark, died peacefully on April 30, 2015, at the Henrietta Brewer House in Vineyard Haven, a place he had called home for the past 2 years.
John was born May 27, 1922, on Staten Island, N.Y., to Evangeline Cole and Martin H. Wehncke. John received his bachelor’s degree at Washington and Lee University. He had a long career as a metals broker with Kennecott Copper Corp. He rose to senior vice-president of sales with Kennecott, and traveled the world in that capacity.
In 1982, John retired to Chilmark, where he and his wife Jane Ellen had built a lovely little home off Fulling Mill Road. He served the Town of Chilmark as a tax assessor, was president of the Unitarian Church, and was active in volunteering with Planned Parenthood. John was an avid golfer, and could often be spotted in his light blue cabriolet, wearing his straw hat, heading for Farm Neck.
John loved this Island with his whole heart. To him, there was no more special place in the world than Martha’s Vineyard. He loved the little house on Little Oak Lane that he and his wife built together. He enjoyed sharing this home with family and friends.
John is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Annie and David LeBlanc of Blue Hill, Maine, his son Malcolm of Seattle, his son Daniel of South Yarmouth, his granddaughter and her husband Erin and Oliver Garthwaite of Portland, Maine, and sister-in-law Anne B. Seeley of South Yarmouth. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
No services are scheduled, as was his wish. Donations to his memory may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Island charity of your choice.
