John Harold Rodencal

Born in North East, Erie County, PA on August 15, 1930, to the late Louis William and Agnes Erna (nee Lexow) Rodencal. He was baptized on August 24, 1930, confirmed in 1944, and married to Alice Jeanette Haskell (Nov 21, 1950) also of North East, PA, in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at North East, Pa. 

John attended Heard Memorial (5 years), Jones Mill country school (3 years) and North East High School, graduating in 1948. In December 1948, he joined General Electric, Erie Works as an Apprentice Machinist, learning the machining of various metals connected with Locomotives, DC motors, and Refrigeration products while attending the company’s night school for 8 semesters. After graduation in 1952, he and his bride of 2 years were offered an opportunity to move to Cincinnati as a machinist to machine parts for a nuclear-powered aircraft engine. John progressed through the various chairs of manufacturing in General Electric’s Aircraft Engine Operation at Evendale, OH. 

In 1982, John accepted the position of Manager of Methods and Quality in a joint venture between GE/SNECMA (now Safran), called FAMAT (Fabrication Mecaniques de L’Atlantique) located in St. Nazaire, France. After 5 plus years, John returned to Evendale’s International Sourcing Group, managing a technical group which provided worldwide technical support for Engine Parts Procurement Offset Programs. He completed 42 years with General Electric while serving a 6-month assignment in Australia (with Jeanette); representing General Electric as a technical manufacturing consultant to Hawker de Havilland (HdH) for aircraft engine parts.

John and his late wife, Jeanette, were charter members of Messiah Lutheran Church, Greenhills, OH. Current membership was at Christ Lutheran Church in Groesbeck. Both were active in all phases of church work. They enjoyed power boating, coupled with timeshares, experiencing many of the navigable rivers/lakes throughout the Eastern US and at the same time visiting their four children. He is survived by his second son, Larry (Sandra) of Cincinnati, OH; a daughter Lynne Hubbard (Cecil) of New Philadelphia, OH; youngest son Lance (Rhonda) of Weatherford, TX; and his sister-in-law Eileen (Bottolfson) Rodencal of Plano, TX; as well as 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette of 70 years (2020); his oldest son Lee Frederic of NM (2014); his older brother Edward Louis of PA (2016) and wife Elizabeth (nee Durst, 2002); and his younger brother Louis Merle of TX (2015).

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of John may be made to the staff at Maple Knoll Village. Checks payable to Maple Knoll Communities Foundation (memo: J Rodencal-MKV Employee Christmas Fund) and sent to 11100 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45246. 

The funeral service will be held March 15th , 2025, at 11:00 AM, Messiah Lutheran Church, 10416 Bossi Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45218. 

The interment will be held on March 17th, 2025, at 12:30 PM, Oak Hill Cemetery in North East, PA 16428.