John Albert Denz

John A. Denz, 81, former owner of Yreka Machine Works, passed away at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon on September 15, 2015. John was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 28, 1934, the only child of John and Marie Denz. The family settled in Yreka after falling in love with the majestic Mount Shasta, which reminded his father of his home town in Linthal, Switzerland. Shortly after, Yreka Machine Works was founded in 1947 by his father, John F. Denz. Time were hard back then; they couldn’t afford to buy or rent a house, so they lived in a small section in the back of the shop made of sawmill end pieces and sawdust. John graduated from Yreka High School in 1952 and joined the U.S. Navy a year later. John and his father worked side by side putting in long hours at the shop, and then worked nights and weekends to build a house. They started small, and bought what they needed, made what they could, and when they were through, John Sr. had a debt free home. After completing Machinery Repairman School in the Navy, John served as a Seabee, and put to good use his machine shop skills, impressing numerous commanding officers, and quickly earning his own shop facility where he manufactured custom projects while stationed in Japan. After the Navy, he courted Marilyn Hankins, driving 300 miles on what was then a one lane highway almost every weekend from Yreka to Pittsburg, CA. They were married in Pittsburg on June 25, 1967 In St. Peter Martyr Catholic Church among friends and family, followed by a honeymoon in Hawaii. These were very happy times for them. They were married for 48 years. John returned to Yreka, where he proudly worked as a machinist at his father’s business, Yreka Machine Works, for over 60 years. He retired on September 19, 2010. The business is still in operation, and continues to serve the community’s needs after 68 years. John was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Greenhorn Grange. He was an avid reader, with a book never too far from hand. He had a love for travelling, and enjoyed many fine trips to destinations all over the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Panama Canal, New Zealand, and Australia. No matter where he was, his happiest days were spent surrounded in laughter and love with family and friends. John was a very loving, good natured and caring husband, father, and grandfather. We will all miss him very much. Those that knew him best know that he was “sweet, kind, innocent, and generous to a fault.” Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; four children, Alexander Denz and his wife, Sharon, Paul Denz, Christopher Denz, Maria Branigin and her husband Scott; and three grandchildren, Kayla, Shay, and Ashlyn. A Recitation of the Rosary will be held Friday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. at Girdner Funeral Chapel, 202 S. Oregon Street, Yreka. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, with interment to follow in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Madrone Hospice, 255 Collier Circle, Yreka, in John’s name.

John Albert Denz

May 28, 1934 - September 15, 2015