Henry Nemenz Sr. Dies at Age 76

Ohio grocer Henry Nemenz Sr. died June 12 at age 76.

Nemenz opened his first store in 1976, Nemenz Valu King, in Boardman, Ohio, and at the time of his death served as president and CEO of H.P. Nemenz Food Stores Inc., which operated two IGA Supercenter Stores and several Save A Lot stores.

An active member of the supermarket industry, he served on the board of the Youngstown Grocers Association as well as previously serving on the board of the Ohio Grocers Association. Nemenz was named to the Ohio Grocer’s Hall of Fame in 2005 and was awarded the Ohio Grocers Pinnacle Award in 2012.

Nemenz also was honored by several organizations outside the grocery industry for his charity work and was named Small Business Person of the Year in 1987, Citizen of the Year in 1989 and Outstanding Individual Philanthropist in 1992.

He is survived by his four children and 10 grandchildren.