Albany, MO: John Franklin Hensley, age 57 passed away on September 2, 2023 surrounded by family. John was born on July 7, 1966 in Albany, Mo., to Kenneth and Joan (Goodwin) Hensley.
During his younger years, John was a Boy Scout and proudly earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Albany High School in Albany, Mo. and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and International Relations from William Jewell College in Liberty, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. John received a M.B.A. in international business from the renowned Thunderbird School of Global Management.
John met his wife, Zatuilla Nara at Thunderbird and they were married in Singapore. They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in July.
John enjoyed hunting, fishing, morel hunting, watching football games, and traveling in the US and overseas. He was multilingual in Spanish, Portuguese, and French. John was a global citizen of the world and enjoyed meeting and working with people from different cultures, but also maintained a strong connection to his hometown in Albany. John always had a story to share or a joke to tell. He was known for his humor and willingness to help his friends and family.
John had a successful career both in the public and private sectors. He most recently worked at the Missouri Department of Agriculture, where he was awarded the State of Missouri Employee of the Month award in recognition of his years of service to the state and its citizens. John also worked for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Tetra Tech, Wind Capital Group, and Kintentsu. He was a member of the Jefferson City Evening Rotary Club.
While John had a successful career and was involved with his community, he was most proud of his daughter Jackie. He truly valued time cheering for her at cross country and track meets, traveling with her, and watching her make her way in the world. John always talked about Jackie and her accomplishments with joy and pride.
John is survived by his wife Zatuilla Nara; daughter, Jacqueline (Jackie); parents, Kenneth and Joan Hensley of Albany, Mo.; siblings, Nancy Bagnall of Liberty, Mo.; Kenneth (Teresa) Hensley, Lake Winnebago, Mo.; Robyn (Harold) Neth of Liberty, Mo.; six nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service: 2:00 PM Thursday, September 7 at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany. Burial will be in the Koger Cemetery, Denver, MO. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 PM Wednesday evening at the chapel. Friends may call anytime after 2:00 PM on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to any of the following charities: Heifer International, Conservation Federation of Missouri, or Rotary International and can be mailed to Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402. Online Condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com