We called them Big John projects – something he imagined and then engineered into projects for other people to do. You could see it coming….a charming smile, a twinkle in his eyes…"have I got a deal for you!" You could try to dodge him but if you were part of the plan, he would calmly corral you into the project. John was a tinkerer since his early childhood on a sharecropping farm in Garden County, Nebraska and it was often said he had a little larceny in his heart. Thus, his "imagineered" projects were quite creative, rarely costing him more than a bottle of Canadian bourbon, a couple of thick steaks, or a box of potatoes from Madras Farms. His projects often turned out to be more entertainingly effective than efficient. That was the point…it was the fun part of life for him. His parents thought a Diploma in Practical Diesel Engineering from Bailey Diesel School (1949) would tame his tinkering into a career. It did but it also gave him bigger tools and ideas to take into the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War where he served in Japan and Camp Lejeune, NC (1952-53).
With his un-relenting positive view of life, he charmed a fashionable young woman named Mary Joan Prohosky into marrying him in North Platte, NE on September 3, 1955. Together, he and Joan raised 5 children in a world of discipline and positive creativity. Caterpillar provided John with a successful 30-year career full of problems waiting for imaginative solutions in parts and service for roads, dams, mines, and pipelines. In a succession of management positions at Caterpillar dealerships (Nebraska Machinery, Wheeler Machinery, and NC Machinery), he created parts inventory systems and new service dealerships, traveling much of the western US and Alaska in search of people who were part of his grand plans. One of John's close friends who worked for him said it was stressful because John never wavered in his process to methodically plan and pursue ideas. "John was so calm and positive, he'd never have a heart attack, but he sure as heck was a carrier".
In 1979, John and Joan brought their family to Madras and establishing the JJ's Auto/NAPA Auto Parts store. His premise was 'take care of the customer first, deal with the paperwork later, guide and lead the employees to sustain a successful family business". He was proud of the business that serviced and supported the agricultural, logging, trucking and heavy equipment industries in Jefferson County. Particularly if it was 'CAT' powered.
However, the kids and grandkids were the most loved and endangered. Rides up and down in the trashcan on the makeshift hoist, blowing up milk cartons on the potbelly stove or rummaging for used bikes at the dump were safe compared to the lessons he taught on starting up old gas engines with extra fuel and flames in an enclosed garage. As he aged, John got more creative and more insistent that others participate in his projects. The motorized satellite grass catcher is proudly demonstrated on YouTube. He was full of "useless information" that he shared generously. In a hurried world full of problems, Big John imagined and lived an amazing life! He insisted that we all join in the fun! Life is one big adventure. We were a lucky family.
We will put together a "Big John" celebration for this summer in Madras. The family suggests any memorial gifts to the Jefferson Co. Senior Center, 860 SW Madison, Madras, OR 97741; Kids Club of Jefferson Co, 410 SW 4th, Madras, OR 97741; Garden County Historical Society, 405 West 6th St, Oshkosh, NE 69154.
John was born to Ignatz and Helen Jacobs Krenowicz and is survived by his 5 children: Michael J. "Joe" Krenowicz, Madras; Nancy K. Card, Littleton, CO; Mary A. Krenowicz, Madras; Donald R. Krenowicz, New England, ND; Diane M. Spalding, Littleton, CO; his 7 grandchildren Michael S. Krenowicz; Keri A. Krenowicz; Christopher T. Card; Allison N. Card; Nicholas I. Krenowicz; Kelsey L. Krenowicz; Julie M. Spalding, and by his brother, Robert A. Krenowicz, Edmond, OK; and two sisters, Dorothy A. Roberts, Denver, CO; and Eileen F. Duncan, Webster, NY.
With his un-relenting positive view of life, he charmed a fashionable young woman named Mary Joan Prohosky into marrying him in North Platte, NE on September 3, 1955. Together, he and Joan raised 5 children in a world of discipline and positive creativity. Caterpillar provided John with a successful 30-year career full of problems waiting for imaginative solutions in parts and service for roads, dams, mines, and pipelines. In a succession of management positions at Caterpillar dealerships (Nebraska Machinery, Wheeler Machinery, and NC Machinery), he created parts inventory systems and new service dealerships, traveling much of the western US and Alaska in search of people who were part of his grand plans. One of John's close friends who worked for him said it was stressful because John never wavered in his process to methodically plan and pursue ideas. "John was so calm and positive, he'd never have a heart attack, but he sure as heck was a carrier".
In 1979, John and Joan brought their family to Madras and establishing the JJ's Auto/NAPA Auto Parts store. His premise was 'take care of the customer first, deal with the paperwork later, guide and lead the employees to sustain a successful family business". He was proud of the business that serviced and supported the agricultural, logging, trucking and heavy equipment industries in Jefferson County. Particularly if it was 'CAT' powered.
However, the kids and grandkids were the most loved and endangered. Rides up and down in the trashcan on the makeshift hoist, blowing up milk cartons on the potbelly stove or rummaging for used bikes at the dump were safe compared to the lessons he taught on starting up old gas engines with extra fuel and flames in an enclosed garage. As he aged, John got more creative and more insistent that others participate in his projects. The motorized satellite grass catcher is proudly demonstrated on YouTube. He was full of "useless information" that he shared generously. In a hurried world full of problems, Big John imagined and lived an amazing life! He insisted that we all join in the fun! Life is one big adventure. We were a lucky family.
We will put together a "Big John" celebration for this summer in Madras. The family suggests any memorial gifts to the Jefferson Co. Senior Center, 860 SW Madison, Madras, OR 97741; Kids Club of Jefferson Co, 410 SW 4th, Madras, OR 97741; Garden County Historical Society, 405 West 6th St, Oshkosh, NE 69154.
John was born to Ignatz and Helen Jacobs Krenowicz and is survived by his 5 children: Michael J. "Joe" Krenowicz, Madras; Nancy K. Card, Littleton, CO; Mary A. Krenowicz, Madras; Donald R. Krenowicz, New England, ND; Diane M. Spalding, Littleton, CO; his 7 grandchildren Michael S. Krenowicz; Keri A. Krenowicz; Christopher T. Card; Allison N. Card; Nicholas I. Krenowicz; Kelsey L. Krenowicz; Julie M. Spalding, and by his brother, Robert A. Krenowicz, Edmond, OK; and two sisters, Dorothy A. Roberts, Denver, CO; and Eileen F. Duncan, Webster, NY.
We called them Big John projects – something he imagined and then engineered into projects for other people to do. You could see it coming….a charming smile, a twinkle in his eyes…"have I got a deal for you!" You could try to dodge him but if you were part of the plan, he would calmly corral you into the project. John was a tinkerer since his early childhood on a sharecropping farm in Garden County, Nebraska and it was often said he had a little larceny in his heart. Thus, his "imagineered" projects were quite creative, rarely costing him more than a bottle of Canadian bourbon, a couple of thick steaks, or a box of potatoes from Madras Farms. His projects often turned out to be more entertainingly effective than efficient. That was the point…it was the fun part of life for him. His parents thought a Diploma in Practical Diesel Engineering from Bailey Diesel School (1949) would tame his tinkering into a career. It did but it also gave him bigger tools and ideas to take into the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War where he served in Japan and Camp Lejeune, NC (1952-53).
With his un-relenting positive view of life, he charmed a fashionable young woman named Mary Joan Prohosky into marrying him in North Platte, NE on September 3, 1955. Together, he and Joan raised 5 children in a world of discipline and positive creativity. Caterpillar provided John with a successful 30-year career full of problems waiting for imaginative solutions in parts and service for roads, dams, mines, and pipelines. In a succession of management positions at Caterpillar dealerships (Nebraska Machinery, Wheeler Machinery, and NC Machinery), he created parts inventory systems and new service dealerships, traveling much of the western US and Alaska in search of people who were part of his grand plans. One of John's close friends who worked for him said it was stressful because John never wavered in his process to methodically plan and pursue ideas. "John was so calm and positive, he'd never have a heart attack, but he sure as heck was a carrier".
In 1979, John and Joan brought their family to Madras and establishing the JJ's Auto/NAPA Auto Parts store. His premise was 'take care of the customer first, deal with the paperwork later, guide and lead the employees to sustain a successful family business". He was proud of the business that serviced and supported the agricultural, logging, trucking and heavy equipment industries in Jefferson County. Particularly if it was 'CAT' powered.
However, the kids and grandkids were the most loved and endangered. Rides up and down in the trashcan on the makeshift hoist, blowing up milk cartons on the potbelly stove or rummaging for used bikes at the dump were safe compared to the lessons he taught on starting up old gas engines with extra fuel and flames in an enclosed garage. As he aged, John got more creative and more insistent that others participate in his projects. The motorized satellite grass catcher is proudly demonstrated on YouTube. He was full of "useless information" that he shared generously. In a hurried world full of problems, Big John imagined and lived an amazing life! He insisted that we all join in the fun! Life is one big adventure. We were a lucky family.
We will put together a "Big John" celebration for this summer in Madras. The family suggests any memorial gifts to the Jefferson Co. Senior Center, 860 SW Madison, Madras, OR 97741; Kids Club of Jefferson Co, 410 SW 4th, Madras, OR 97741; Garden County Historical Society, 405 West 6th St, Oshkosh, NE 69154.
John was born to Ignatz and Helen Jacobs Krenowicz and is survived by his 5 children: Michael J. "Joe" Krenowicz, Madras; Nancy K. Card, Littleton, CO; Mary A. Krenowicz, Madras; Donald R. Krenowicz, New England, ND; Diane M. Spalding, Littleton, CO; his 7 grandchildren Michael S. Krenowicz; Keri A. Krenowicz; Christopher T. Card; Allison N. Card; Nicholas I. Krenowicz; Kelsey L. Krenowicz; Julie M. Spalding, and by his brother, Robert A. Krenowicz, Edmond, OK; and two sisters, Dorothy A. Roberts, Denver, CO; and Eileen F. Duncan, Webster, NY.
With his un-relenting positive view of life, he charmed a fashionable young woman named Mary Joan Prohosky into marrying him in North Platte, NE on September 3, 1955. Together, he and Joan raised 5 children in a world of discipline and positive creativity. Caterpillar provided John with a successful 30-year career full of problems waiting for imaginative solutions in parts and service for roads, dams, mines, and pipelines. In a succession of management positions at Caterpillar dealerships (Nebraska Machinery, Wheeler Machinery, and NC Machinery), he created parts inventory systems and new service dealerships, traveling much of the western US and Alaska in search of people who were part of his grand plans. One of John's close friends who worked for him said it was stressful because John never wavered in his process to methodically plan and pursue ideas. "John was so calm and positive, he'd never have a heart attack, but he sure as heck was a carrier".
In 1979, John and Joan brought their family to Madras and establishing the JJ's Auto/NAPA Auto Parts store. His premise was 'take care of the customer first, deal with the paperwork later, guide and lead the employees to sustain a successful family business". He was proud of the business that serviced and supported the agricultural, logging, trucking and heavy equipment industries in Jefferson County. Particularly if it was 'CAT' powered.
However, the kids and grandkids were the most loved and endangered. Rides up and down in the trashcan on the makeshift hoist, blowing up milk cartons on the potbelly stove or rummaging for used bikes at the dump were safe compared to the lessons he taught on starting up old gas engines with extra fuel and flames in an enclosed garage. As he aged, John got more creative and more insistent that others participate in his projects. The motorized satellite grass catcher is proudly demonstrated on YouTube. He was full of "useless information" that he shared generously. In a hurried world full of problems, Big John imagined and lived an amazing life! He insisted that we all join in the fun! Life is one big adventure. We were a lucky family.
We will put together a "Big John" celebration for this summer in Madras. The family suggests any memorial gifts to the Jefferson Co. Senior Center, 860 SW Madison, Madras, OR 97741; Kids Club of Jefferson Co, 410 SW 4th, Madras, OR 97741; Garden County Historical Society, 405 West 6th St, Oshkosh, NE 69154.
John was born to Ignatz and Helen Jacobs Krenowicz and is survived by his 5 children: Michael J. "Joe" Krenowicz, Madras; Nancy K. Card, Littleton, CO; Mary A. Krenowicz, Madras; Donald R. Krenowicz, New England, ND; Diane M. Spalding, Littleton, CO; his 7 grandchildren Michael S. Krenowicz; Keri A. Krenowicz; Christopher T. Card; Allison N. Card; Nicholas I. Krenowicz; Kelsey L. Krenowicz; Julie M. Spalding, and by his brother, Robert A. Krenowicz, Edmond, OK; and two sisters, Dorothy A. Roberts, Denver, CO; and Eileen F. Duncan, Webster, NY.
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