Hennip, John Robert July 22, 2026

John Robert Hennip, age 81, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2026, in Edinboro, Pennsylvania after a courageous battle with cancer and myasthenia gravis.

Born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, John was the eldest son of Jacob and Alberta Hennip. He grew up on the family dairy farm with his older sister Ruth and younger brother Richard. He attended high school at Northeast Bradford High School, where he was an outstanding athlete in both baseball and basketball. He affectionately earned the nickname Snake from his teammates due to his agility and slim build.

Following his graduation from high school, John attended Randolph Macon Military Academy in Front Royal, Virginia. He then went on to Edinboro State College, where he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Education.

After college, John began his teaching career at Maplewood High School in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He worked there for over thirty years, teaching various courses in the Social Studies department including Criminal Justice and U.S. History. John was very involved with student activities on campus such as coaching the baseball team, sponsoring a skeet shooting club, and teaching Driver’s Education.

Outside of work, John was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. One of his colleagues recalled John explaining his passion for hunting as “always in search of the elusive buck.” As for fishing, John traveled across the United States with his beloved wife Susan and their brittany spaniels, camping and seeking out all of the best fishing holes in the country. And, on most weekends, he could be found with his regular foursome out on the links at the Venango Valley Golf Course. He also spent much of his time on his “farm”, an 85-acre plot of land just south of Edinboro. He thought of the property as his home away from home where he would ride his four-wheeler exploring the property, hunt deer, and plant food plots.

In addition, he was well known around the Edinboro community for his volunteerism. He coached and was on the Board of Directors for the Little League baseball program, initiated and coached an American Senior Legion baseball team and, on the first day of fishing season, volunteered at Mallory Run to help local children learn how to fish.

John is survived by his wife Susan Hennip; his sister Ruth (Robert) Chapman; sisters-in-laws Raylene Hennip, Tina Crothers and Mary Bobbitt; nieces, Sandra Hennip, Denise (Nick) Kostiv, Or-Corine Chapman, Susan (Gabe) Wetlesen, and Shannon Crothers; and nephews Brian Hennip, Jonathan (Renee) Bobbitt and Jordan Crothers.

He is pre-deceased by his parents Jacob and Alberta Hennip, his younger brother Richard Hennip, and brother-in-laws Robert Crothers and J.D. Bobbitt.

The funeral will be held at Van Matre Funeral Home, Edinboro on August 1, 2026. Visitation hours will be from 10:00-11:00 AM with a service following at 11:00 AM. At a later date, a private family committal service will be held at Bradford County Memorial Park Cemetery in Towanda, Pennsylvania.

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