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John Harold Senn passed away peacefully on March 4, at the age of 84. John was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on Feb. 27, 1938. He was the son of the late Eleanor DeGroff Senn. He was a graduate of Wheeler County High School in Bartlett, Nebraska.

John was a Navy veteran serving from 1957 to 1962. While in the Navy, he attended electrician school, submarine school, and nuclear power school. He served on the USS Darter and then was a plank owner of the USS Robert E. Lee SBN601, where he served during its construction, commissioning, and three patrols amid the Cold War.

He was then employed for 31 years by Connecticut Light & Power as a maintenance electrician and retired in 1994 as supervisor of substation maintenance in Madison. In his retirement, he created Sennsational Home Repair, where he restored multiple houses and provided service to many customers.

John was a volunteer fireman from 1957 until his death. He first joined the South Windham Fire Department and then in 1965 joined the Essex Fire Engine Company #1, where he served in positions ranging from engineer to chief of the department. He formed the junior division of the Essex Fire Department in 1968. He served as president of Valley Shore Fire Chiefs, president of Middlesex County Fire Chiefs, and president of Connecticut State Fire Chiefs.

In 1974, he became an emergency medical technician. Seeing the need for a local ambulance, he was one of the founders and first chief of operations of the Essex Volunteer Ambulance Association. He also served on the Board of Directors.

In addition, John also volunteered with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Little League.

In 1953, John’s family purchased a new Ford Golden Jubilee Tractor that John drove from the dealer to the home farm in Bartlett, Nebraska. In 1997, John drove to Nebraska to pick up the tractor and brought it to Connecticut, where he completely restored it. He entered the tractor into many shows with his grandson, John, and they won multiple first-place trophies. With the success of this restoration, he purchased six more antique tractors that he also restored.

John was a stock car fan and took many trips with various people to his favorite venue, the Daytona 500. His interest in that area motivated him to purchase his first winter home and began a 30-year period of snow-birding between Florida and Connecticut. He was very excited when he had the opportunity to drive 128 miles per hour in a stockcar on the Daytona International Speedway Track.

John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ethel Sherman Senn; his sons Gary and wife Mandy of Aiken, South Carolina, Ron and wife Karen of Essex, and Douglas of Ivoryton; his grandchildren Ryan and wife Janessa, Keryn, Julianna Herman and husband Matt, John and fiancée Hannah, Ashley, Whitney, and Jason; his great-grandson Rayden; his sisters Norma Robinson and Naomi Huck; and sister-in-law Nancy Senn, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother and his brothers Jerry Senn and Art “Jiggs” Senn.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, at Essex Fire Engine Company #1 Headquarters, 11 Saybrook Road in Essex. Burial with the rendering of full military honors will follow in the Centerbrook Cemetery, Westbrook Road in Centerbrook. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Essex Fire Engine Company #1, P.O. Box 786, Essex, CT 06426. To share a memory of John or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.