John Anthony Dennel

“Memories are something no one can steal.”

John passed away peacefully at Royal Stoke University Hospital on Friday 21st January 2022 aged 78 years.

The Devoted Husband of Christine. Cherished Father of Terry, Andrew & Samantha. Much Loved Grandad of Brie, Jordan, Jack, Kaden & Esme.

His funeral took place on Thursday 10th February at St Matthews Parish Church, Haslington at 10.30am followed by Interment in the church yard.

Kind donations in memory of John are going to Diabetes UK & Young Minds.

For further information and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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Christine; Terry and Bernadette; Andy and Heather and Sam and her children, Brie, Jordan, Jack and Kaden, would like to
thank they very many family members and friends who attended the Service of Thanksgiving for John’s life at St. Matthew’s Church, Haslington on 10th February 2022. Special thanks to John Axon for playing the organ and Rev. Dr. Jane Lloyd for taking the service in such a lovely and appropriate way to honour the memory for the wonderful person John was in every way. Thanks also are due to the staff at Crewe Golf Club where we remembered John after the service. We would like to thank everyone who has sent flowers, cards and messages of support and sympathy.

Many thanks also to everyone who gave donations in memory of John. As a result £800 will be divided between Diabetes UK and Young Minds.
Thanks also to those who gave to Blood Cancer in lieu of birthday presents for Sam. We are extremely grateful to Dr Hill, Dr Finlay, Claire and all staff
members at Haslington Surgery for the constant care and help they gave to John over many years. We would also like to thank the medical, nursing and care staff both at Leighton Hospital and at Royal Stoke Hospital. We would also like to thank Wendy Wyatt and all the staff at Joseph O’Connell’s Funeral  Services for the care, understanding and support they have given to us.

Memories of John by Chris
John was born on 13th May 1943 and spent his early years living in and near
Wybunbury as the much loved only child of Edna and Harry Dennel and
became part of a small but loving family that included his father’s sister and his
mother’s sister and her family.
As a child John loved playing football with friends and going to watch Crewe
Alex play (with an enthusiasm he continued throughout his life – his last goal
was to go to the boxing day match this season, whatever the state of his health
– thank goodness it was postponed!) John also started his lifelong love of
horses as a child, first riding and looking after his own ponies and horse and
then keeping brood mares to breed with. One of his many brave acts I
remember clearly was when we were told a visiting mare to the stud next door
had got itself completely entangled in a roll of barbed wire. Without thinking of
his own safety and despite never having seen the horse before he calmly went
to it, talked to it then quietly bent down and released each hoof in turn
ignoring the fact that one kick in that position could kill him. This calm
willingness to do what others needed, ignoring his own needs, was so typical of
the way he lived his life
Following his school years he was persuaded to take an apprenticeship in
Crewe Railway Works where he stayed for the whole of his working life,
particularly enjoying the friendliness of the members of the progress office
where he worked for many years.
As a teenager he was introduced to golf, quickly became proficient, and then
became competition secretary and Junior team organiser at Crewe Golf Club. It
was through his golf friendships that he came to know Peter Hankey and so
went with him to the opening of the new St. Matthew’s Church Hall. As people
often remind me, we met that night, sweeping up together after it ended. A
couple more meetings at dances in the following weeks and we became a
couple, engaged before Christmas and married the following August.
Shortly after our marriage John decided to build a youthful football team to
play in a local league. This became so successful that it quickly developed into
five teams all known as Red Rovers, which was fine until all the muddy kits
arrived home at the end of each weekend! During this time he also did

volunteer work at the residential school for children with problems in return
for use of their playing field. His organising skills were recognised by the local
FA and he then went on to organise their Youth teams. It was not uncommon
for Football League scouts to ring him and ask his opinion of local players at
this time. He maintained his interest in local football throughout his life,
becoming a life member of the local FA.
A home loving creature of habit, John also loved his family and also history,
nature, bowling and gardening.
John was a modest man with no appreciation of his own worth. He had a ready
smile that was never far from his face. He was gentle, caring, kind and patient
and would always put the needs of others above his own , as I have been told
so many times in the many messages of sympathy I have gratefully received.
Several people have reminded me of how he would always quietly appear,
often with a tray of tea, whenever help or a listening ear was needed. Indeed I
know that if I was putting on a concert or musical there was no need to worry
that the helpers would be catered for during the interval. Clearing up together
became a given and he would quietly wait by the door until I was ready to
leave for home, even if it meant staying an extra hour or two. I have also been
told his sorting out of halftime drinks was valued at football matches from
schoolboy matches to Crewe Alex matches.
We always wanted our own family and when we finally managed to adopt our
three lovely children, Terry, Andrew and Sam, John was so thrilled that he
promptly went out and bought full Alex home and away kits for Terry and
Andy, it caused our first argument over them as I was afraid of him spoiling
them. It made no difference: he continued to do everything he could to make
them happy, whatever the cost, for the rest of his life. When Terry married
Bernadette, Andrew had Esme and later met Heather and Sam went on to
have her four wonderful children, Brie, Jordan, Jack and Kaden, no one could
have been happier than John to spend as much time as possible with them. He
was simply the best husband, Dad and Grandad anyone could ever wish for.
His love, commitment, loyalty, sense of humour and consistent care were
never brought into question. We will all love him for ever and then some.

During the last time he was able to talk to me I said, “We’ve been a good team
haven’t we? He opened his eyes, looked at me and said, “A very good team”.
Thank you John, I have been the luckiest woman ever to have been married to
you and I feel very honoured to have been your wife.

DAD

Mum and Dad adopted us when Terry was nine, Andrew was seven and Sam
was three.
Our Dad was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was completely
selfless. As long as everyone else, including us, was all right he didn’t care
about himself.
He showed us the meaning of love and always made us feel safe. He became
our world.
We will always love him and be grateful to him.
He was funny, with a great sense of fun and humour. He would tease us
mercilessly, but then spoil us with treats.
He was simply the best Dad and Grandad ever. His grandchildren all love him
too as much as we do.
Thank you Dad.

Memories of Grandad by Brie
I can’t stop thinking about all the memories we both made together, all the laughs we have had and
all the smiles that we shared. To think that you’re gone is the most heart-breaking thing ever, I think
about you all day long but knowing you are now in peace makes me feel that little bit better.
I love you so much and have always looked up to you, you’re like a father to me and that will stay
forever in my heart. I’ve known you for 16 years and it’s been the best 16 years of my life with you
always by my side. You stuck with me always, even if we had a little clash.
I will always remember how I’d play hairdressers with just that little bit of hair you had on your head
as you said, “Ay don’t mess my hair up, that was very expensive.” I’d brush a comb through your hair
and style it in all funny ways, you would always go “Ooo! do I look nice and smart now?”
I will always remember our song. It’s a funny one, the sort you’d see teenagers partying to, we
would be driving home and have it blasting with you in the background going, ”Do you really like it,
do you really like it.” You’d give me the laugh, I’d say it was a tummy laugh. I’d be laughing that hard
it would start to hurt my tummy, and my cheeks would start to hurt too from all the smiling but we
would carry on anyway. We would both go “We’re loving it, loving it, loving it. We’re loving it like
this.” You’d always go, “See I’ve got the best singing voice.” And then say, “ Hey! Why are you
laughing at me, that’s cheeky.”
It’s those days that I will always and forever cherish.
Everybody knew you as the man with a heart of gold. You’d always put others before yourself as that
was the kind of man you were. You’d do anything for anyone as it would make your day knowing you
had helped someone else; I’d say people knew you as that happy Chappy always facing the world
with a great big smile on your face, even if you were fighting something yourself.
You knew how to put a smile on anyone’s face even when they were down. I used to think you were
magic or something till I grew up to know you as this special man with the kindest words and the
most loving touch.
I can remember when I was younger, you’d always play this silly game called I’ve got your nose,
where you’d pretend to take our nose but you’d always take it that little bit too far to the point
you’d get us all crying. Now when I look back on that I find it quite the laugh.
Everyone loves to talk about you Grandad, and it makes me feel so happy to know how loved and
known you really are. You’re the best man I’ll ever know. You had the best hugs and knew how to
calm me down. Thank you for all the memories we have made together. You’re the man and I’ll love
you forever and a day. I can’t wait to tell more of the stories we had made together to someone
else.
I wish to hear your voice that one very last time, or even that sigh of yours that you always do. I wish
to see your face again someday and I wish to feel your arms wrapped tightly around me.
I know I’m not little now but I will always be your little girl.
Rest in peace Grandad. I love you.