JOHN CARL DANNENFELSER
On Friday, January 11, 2008, John Carl Dannenfelser peacefully departed this life. He is, and will continue to be, dearly missed by Betty,
his loving wife of more than forty years, his son Dave, his sister Mary Ann, his grandchildren Danielle, David, Derrick, and Daryl, Daryl's wife
Melody, and their son, Mateus. John’s younger son, Daniel John, Preceded him in death.
Born on May 19th, 1935, John was raised and educated in Texas and he was proud of his Texas roots. He became a mechanical engineer,
working for thirty years in the aerospace industry, specializing in design and quality control. He worked on a variety of complex defense and
commercial projects, including the Minuteman and Titan Missiles, the B-58 Bomber and flight simulator, the Advanced Orbiting Solar Observatory
for the Apollo Mission, Bell’s Cobra and Lightweight Observation Helicopters, the Vulcan Weapon System for General Dynamic’s F-111, and Boeing’s
727, 737 and 747 commercial aircraft.
John was best known, however, for his passion for American-made cars, particularly Cadillacs, in his later years. When just fourteen, he would ride
his bicycle to the local car lots to look at the new car brochures. He began racing cars in the 1950’s: he drove in the first NASCAR-sanctioned
Texas race and held several drag racing championship titles in Texas, Utah, and Idaho. He was a charter member of the North Texas Timing
Association of the National Hotrod Association. In 1982, after retiring from the aerospace industry, John established Cadillac Parts & Cars Ltd.,
which is now a nationally recognized source for classic cars and parts. As knowledge of John’s expertise became more widespread, car enthusiasts
from around the world sought his advice. A co-founder of the Silver State Region of the Cadillac LaSalle Club, Inc., John was recruited to draft
the national club’s Authenticity Manual for 1950 to 1953 Cadillacs. Locally, John was an active participant t in Reno’s “Hot august Nights” classic
car extravaganza, driving in its very first parade and participating virtually every year thereafter.
A memorial celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date which the family will announce. His love of cars being paramount, John’s final
wish for his family and friends was that each of us take a drive – in an American-made car --- across this great country, his beloved United States.
John’s immediate family would like to thank Great Basin Medical Group, especially Dr. Dieringer and Jane, Reno Heart Physicians and staff, and
John’s extended family and friends for all of their years of support. We also give special thanks to Marihelen Webb, the dearest of friends to John
and Betty, for providing her love, support, and caring whenever and however she was needed.
“John, your memory is our keepsake with which we shall never part, God has you in his keeping, we have you in our heart.”
