John Albert Fenoglio went to be with our Lord on Friday, February 24, 2023. He was 84. John was born on June 24, 1938 in Vernon Texas to his parents Earnest and Fern Fenoglio.
John’s lifelong love of work came to him early in life. His father, Earnest Fenoglio, died when John was only 12 years old. In order to help support his mother and younger brother, John went to work for Self’s Grocery store delivering groceries.
John graduated from Vernon High School with honors and pursued his bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne. He married his high school sweetheart and lifelong friend, Mary Rowlett Fenoglio on December 28, 1956. They were married for 66 years. She preceded him in death last year. After marriage they moved to Keller, Texas where she took a teaching job and he pursued a masters degree and later a doctorate degree at Texas Christian University. He completed his masters degree but the birth of their first child ended his pursuit of a doctorate’s degree. His first child, Elizabeth Lee Fenoglio (Messineo) was born in Richland Hills, Texas. Mary was a teacher and had to leave the teaching profession when she got pregnant. Therefore, in order to support his family, John had to forgo his doctorate degree and took a job with Texas Rehabilitation Commission as a counselor in Amarillo, Texas. He was an excellent counselor and was influential in helping many people with disabilities have a better life through his determination, ingenuity and persistence in his job. He made people’s lives better and gave them independence and a purpose in life where before him, they had neither. It was during this time that their second child, John Albert Fenoglio II, was born in Canyon, Texas.
He continued his counseling job for many years and the commission offered him a position in Austin, Texas. The family relocated to Austin where he worked his way up the professional ladder in the Texas Rehabilitation Commission to the Deputy Commissioner of Administrative Services. He was very proud of this position as it represented years of hard work and dedication to many disabled people. He retired from TRC after 30+ years.
He then created and opened a self-made corporation called Synergy Solutions. This too was a business that allowed John to help people and businesses meet the American Disabilities Act among other things. This corporation still exists today.
The family moved from Austin in 1971 to a small farm in Florence, Texas and began Keno Farm! He began the hard work of being a part time farmer with a full time job in Austin. The farm became his passion and he enjoyed raising his red Brangus cattle and dairy goats. He enjoyed farming the land and loved the rural life. He worked tirelessly on the farm to provide a legacy for his children until a series of strokes incapacitated him in Dec. of 2022. He said his greatest accomplishment in life were his children and the very large two story house that he himself built on that farm that later burned.
John is survived by his daughter, Beth Fenoglio Messineo; his son, John Albert Fenoglio II; grandsons John David Messineo, Timothy Fenoglio; granddaughter Sara Messineo; great grandson James Howard; son in law David Messineo and daughter in law Shelly Fenoglio; brother Frank Fenoglio.
John was a beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, husband, brother, uncle, mentor and friend. His hard work and dedication were invaluable to so many over his lifetime. He was an honest, trustworthy, honorable and very smart man that will be greatly missed by his family and friends and remembered by many more.
Those that wish to make a contribution in John’s honor, please consider making a donation to Resolution Hospice of Cedar Park. A private graveside will be held by the family. A celebration of life will be held at the Andice Community Center on March 23 from 2:00-4:00.