John Edward Autenreith's Obituary
“For if you always think of me, I will never have gone.”
Margaret Mead
John Edward Autenreith (January 23, 1949-November 4, 2024) was a beloved and cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Known to family as “Big Dog” and friends as “Big John”, he always had a story to tell and laughter to share. John never met a stranger, was always curious, and always willing to share his life with others.
John was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of John Robert Autenreith and Lucille Loubat Autenreith. He had many stories about his time at Sam Barthe School for Boys and Isidore Newman High School. John starred in all sports at Newman where he was voted Most Outstanding Athlete in 1966 and Louisiana High School Athletic Association Most Valuable Back in the State in AA Football, and second team All-State in basketball. He received many football and basketball scholarships and chose Tulane University then McNeese University, where he graduated in 1971. During his college years he joined the U.S. Army ROTC and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserves for the Corps of Engineering.
Thus began John’s journey into a life where he traveled the world, regaled friends and family with his adventures and developed a deep appreciation for the life he would lead. His career took him all over the world, which provided compelling characters and vivid settings that made his storytelling real. He was never sad about anything in his life and often told of the poverty witnessed on his travels, realizing as few do, how lucky he was to have the life he led and the family he loved.
Early in John’s career he served as a Marketing Director for Valvoline overseeing all states west of the Mississippi. His next positions were as General Manager/Marine Superintendent Western Hemisphere for Jackson Marine and Vice President/COO at American Offshore operating large supply vessels in the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean, building the company as a major force in the market. Returning to Houston in 1982 he co-founded Channel Bunker Service, Inc. a fuel oil barge company. 1987 saw the co-founding of Intergulf Fuels (sold) that is still in operation today. He was especially proud that he taught himself organic chemistry to better understand precisely how the refining process worked. In 1995 he founded Transgulf Liquids Inc. and Products Trading Corporation Inc., overseeing blending and trading of petrochemical products used as blendstocks in gasoline, diesel, and fuel oils. In 1998 he joined American International Refinery in Lake Charles as Vice President overseeing all aspects of refinery operations. In 2005, John joined San Angel Trading Inc., a start-up with emphasis on the supply of petroleum
products and petrochemicals to Mexico via ship, rail, and truck transport. As President, John traveled to all parts of Mexico and liked to say that he visited every state in the country. John returned to his petroleum consulting business in 2015, where he offered services to midstream and downstream petroleum and maritime transportation companies, such as Martin Asphalt, Cantraco, Striker Trading, TriMore, Ineos, Dan Bunkering and many others.
John loved the water and on his best day could be found fishing with his sons on one of the many boats he owned in his life. On his last boat “Dragonsong” he entertained as only he could do………good cheer, a raised glass, and many tales to tell. John’s wish was that he be remembered as a man who loved family most of all and celebrated life to the fullest. His sons grew up with a father who coached them in the many sports they excelled at. Being there for his children was a driving force in his life. He never failed to tell them he loved them and how immensely proud he was of them.
John is survived by the love of his life, Julie, whose smile made him the happiest man in the world. Their blended family celebrated their wedding in 2013 and supported and loved them both. He is survived by sons John Richard Autenreith and his wife Joy; Kurt Autenreith and wife Kelly, granddaughters Emma and Cameron; Michael Autenreith and his wife Susan, grandson Mitch and granddaughter Ava; James Robert Autenreith and his wife Elizabeth and granddaughters Avery, Ellis, and Laine. He is also survived by Julie’s children and grandchildren whom he loved as his own. Andrew Rhodes and his wife Jennifer and granddaughters Abigail and Audrey; Jonathan Rhodes and wife Tawny, grandson Roman and granddaughter Marigny. John is survived by his brother Robert, his wife Penny and their children Robert Jr and Erin.
Services are scheduled for 2PM Friday November 22, 2024, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas.
John asked that we celebrate a life well lived. The family would like to invite you to raise a glass and celebrate a man loved and cherished by those lucky enough to know him. Family and friends will always miss that spark in his eyes as he began a new or oft-told story, but we always knew we would laugh. Please join the family after the service at Sam’s Boat, 5720 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas.
St. Martins’ does not accept flowers for the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the following:
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Outreach Program
Still Water Camps/Christian Ministries/Christian Summer Camp
And for John’s beloved Wolfie, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
Sail on John, fair winds and following seas!
Or as Kurt said so eloquently, “All Big Dogs Go to Heaven”.
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