OMAHA, NEB. — Thirteen-year-old Josh Fennen, one of four Boy Scouts killed when a tornado swept through Iowa’s Little Sioux Scout Ranch campground June 11, was the son of UP employee Charles Fennen.
Fennen is a senior project manager in the Network Planning group.
Josh was attending “Pahuk Pride” a week-long, national youth leadership training program for Scouting’s finest. Of 5,100 scouts in the Mid-America Council area, only 100 were selected. Josh’s principal at Andersen Middle School in Omaha wasn’t surprised when the eighth-grader was chosen for the honor.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, Principal Jeff Alfrey said Josh was a good student and hard worker, inquisitive and creative: “I could see him being a great leader. His mind was always working. He was always finding something new to do, something to experiment with.”
That included a great interest in railroads. Josh enjoyed building and operating large-scale models with his father.
Charles is a senior project manager in the Network Planning group. His work includes planning and analysis of capacity improvements on UP’s critical routes using computer simulation tools.
He began his career in 1978 with the Southern Pacific, working on a track maintenance gang. He held various positions in Texas, Kansas and Colorado before the Fennen family, which includes spouse Dorothy and daughter Erika, moved to Omaha in 1997 during the SP merger.
Cards may be sent to: Charles Fennen, c/o Peggy Ruiz, 1400 Douglas St., STOP 1120, Omaha, NE 68179.
Memorial donations may be sent to either:
* Josh Fennen Memorial Fund, c/o Streamliner Credit Union, 1400 Douglas St., STOP 0040, Omaha, NE 68179.
* Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council, 12401 West Maple Road, Omaha, NE 68164. Please designate the Scout Tribute Fund in honor of Josh Fennen.