Peter Joseph “Pete” Hensel, Jr.

January 28, 2015

Peter Joseph “Pete” Hensel, Jr., age 88, died peacefully at his Cantonment home on Monday, January 26, 2015. Pete grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Barrineau Park. He graduated from Tate High School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the US Navy, telling friends he chose the Navy because he knew he’d always have warm food and a dry place to sleep. He served as an LST (Landing Ship Tank) driver delivering troops and equipment to beaches in the European-African-Middle East theaters of war.

After the war ended and Pete was being reassigned stateside, when asked by a geographically challenged officer what was the closest Navy base to Barrineau Park, he replied, “Miami, sir,” and finished his enlistment enjoying the Miami nightlife in his off duty hours. Pete then returned to the Panhandle where he tried the grocery business with his brother, Joe, at Hensel’s Market in Cantonment. But, the lure of better pay for less hours landed him a job at the St. Regis Paper Company mill in Cantonment. He started his 39-year career as a paper mill helper and retired as the Pulp Mill Superintendent. At the mill café, he met the love of his life, a dark-haired beauty from Pascagoula, Mississippi named Winnie to whom he was married for 67 years. Pete’s retirement included 4 loves: family, fishing, casino gambling and yard sales. He was a true “Mr. Fix-it” able to repair almost anything and even built his house on Highway 29 from the ground up. While his ability with a fly rod was legendary, his winning at the slots was not so much. He had better luck catching mullet and blue crab off the pier at “Hensel’s Hideaway” on Ward Basin in Milton.

Pete is survived by his wife Winifred and four children, Carol Elaine Moore (Joe), Randall Joseph Hensel, Sr. (Sharon), Gary Wayne Hensel (Donna), and Mark Edward Hensel. Pete survived his siblings, Mary Hensel Ging, Joseph Peter Hensel, and Frank Joseph Hensel. He leaves behind multiple nieces and nephews as well as six grandchildren, Stacey, Taylor, Ross, and Joseph Hensel, Cary and Casey Moore; and one great-grandchild: Tyler Retzer.

The family wishes to thank his caregivers Tammy, Tami, Gloria, and Belinda along with Emerald Coast Hospice nurses and aides for their loving care and support for the last 18 months, especially our angels, Brenda, Sherri and Ms. Evelyn.

Funeral services will be held at Faith Chapel North on Saturday, January 31, 2015, with visitation from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. immediately followed by a memorial service.

The funeral procession will then leave for St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Barrineau Park.

Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries