John Kevin Henebery

John Kevin Henebery of Manassas, Virginia passed away after a brief illness on January 10, 2026. He is survived by his beloved wife Susan Henebery; his four children and their spouses:, Dan Henebery and wife Amelia Schmidt, Ann (Henebery) Phelan and husband Joe Phelan, Meg (Henebery) Wagner and husband Tyler Wagner, and Cat Henebery; and his sister, Mary Ellen Leply. He was the most wonderful and energetic “Pops” and “Bops” to his three grandchildren, Clara Wagner and Cormac and Louis Phelan. To all his other friends and family, he was a loyal friend, ever-reliable caretaker, storyteller, Diet Pepsi connoisseur, lover of history, and dedicated sports fan. John was born on January 19, 1949 in Kingston, New York to Patricia (McIver) and John J. Henebery. His father was an Army officer who served abroad, which meant John grew up all over the world, including in Paris and Addis Ababa. This may have been exciting, but it wasn’t easy or idyllic, as both John’s parents struggled to deal with the trauma of World War II even in its aftermath. As a young man of only 22, he lost both his parents within three months of each other. From this place of ultimate loss, he built a remarkable legacy. John graduated from Villanova University in 1971 with a degree in business. His mother, a lover of Perry Mason, encouraged him to attend law school. He took her advice and attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston. In his third year, he met a cute little brunette named Sue Gingras from Rhode Island, and they were married in 1978. After graduation, John joined the Navy as part of the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. He served for 22 years, earning his Masters of Law from George Washington University along the way. He acted in a number of high-profile roles over the years including head of the trial defense department at the Naval Legal Service Office in Norfolk, Virginia; Special Assistant for Medical Legal Affairs for the Surgeon General of the Navy at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; Deputy Director of the General Litigation Division for the Office of the Judge Advocate General; Commanding Officer of the Naval Legal Services Office and Director of the General Litigation Division for the Office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington D.C. He also once worked on the case that inspired the film A Few Good Men; he liked to joke that many JAGs claimed they inspired Tom Cruise’s character, but only he claimed to inspire Demi Moore’s. After retiring as a Captain, John had a 23-year career with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he tried civil cases in the Commercial Litigation Branch and Civil Frauds Section. He loved his job as an attorney and served as a thoughtful mentor to many over the years. More than his career however, he loved his family. Sue, his dear wife of 47 years, was his best friend, devoted partner, and the love of his life. He loved his children with his whole heart and was always so proud of them, never missing a chance to brag about their latest accomplishments. He will be remembered for his exemplary life–a life marked by unconditional love, joyful duty, a rigorous mind, and deep curiosity–leavened by a famous sense of humor. Above all, John was a caretaker at heart and devoted his life to caring for everyone around him. He will be missed by all who knew him. “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand Who saith ‘A whole I planned, Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!'’” Robert Browning In lieu of flowers, donations to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in John’s name are welcome. Service: Viewing: 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Wednesday, January 21 at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110 Funeral Mass: 11:00am, Thursday, January 22 at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 6720 Union Mill Rd, Clifton, VA 20124 Burial: 1:30pm, Thursday, January 22 at National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, 18424 Joplin Rd, Triangle, VA 22172

John Kevin Henebery

January 19, 1949 - January 10, 2026