Michael L. Hennenfent, 75, Knoxville, died at 3:50 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg.

Mike was born May 31, 1945, in Galesburg to Leo A. Hennenfent and Shirley (Cunningham) Hennenfent, who both preceded him in death. He was raised in rural Knox County, the oldest of 10 children. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1963 and attended Ag Short Course at the University of Illinois.

Mike is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judith A. (Palmer) Hennenfent; daughter, Julie Hennenfent of Galesburg; two sons, William (Becky) Hennenfent of Gilson and Matthew Hennenfent of Gilson; and six grandsons, Nicholas Hennenfent, Benjamin Norville, Ryan Hennenfent, Blake Hennenfent, Case Hennenfent and Dane Hennenfent. He is also survived by his nine siblings, Margaret (Peg) Hannam of Galesburg, Connie Smith of Gilson, Becky Conley of Clinton, Iowa, Mary (Mark) Ebert of Kewanee, Daniel (Marcy) Hennenfent of Ottawa, Patrick (Kim) Hennenfent of Wataga, John (Holly) Hennenfent,of Galesburg, Robert Hennenfent of Wataga and Jeffrey (Merris) Hennenfent of Dahinda; and many nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, Mike was preceded in death by a granddaughter at birth; a daughter-in-law, Marcy Hennenfent; a sister-in-law, Christine Hennenfent; and brothers-in-law, James Smith and William (Larry) Conley.

From a young age, Mike was highly involved in agriculture. He was a member of the Henderson Aggies 4-H Club, Galesburg FFA and Knox County Farm Bureau Young Farmers, where he held many leadership positions. He also was on the Knox County 4-H Federation Board as well as an attendee of the 4-H Club Congress. Later he was on the State Young Farmers Committee. He also served on the Knox County Pork Producers, Knox County Cattlemen’s Association, Knox County Corn Growers, State Corn Growers, Knox County Farm Bureau and Knox County 4-H and Extension Foundation Boards. Mike served on the local FS board for decades, which led him to serve on the Growmark Board for nine years.

Mike did not limit his activities only to agriculture, as he was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church of Galesburg, where he served as a Eucharistic minister, and attended St. James Catholic Church of Williamsfield with his grandsons. He was also a past Knoxville School Board member as well as past president of the Knoxville School Board. He was also a 10-gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross, he served on the Appleton Fire Department, and was a current member of the Knoxville FFA Alumni Committee.

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