John Vernon Welkner Jr., 85 died peacefully on December 3, 2015 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his son, John Vernon Welkner III and his wife Linda of Leavenworth, KS; sons, Richard and his wife Vivian of Easley, SC; and Gordon and his wife Debbie of Kennesaw, GA; granddaughters, Elizabeth Brownell (David), Jane Montgomery (Daniel), Rachel Henderson (Andrew); and Lindsey and Kate Welkner; grandsons John Ryan Welkner (Lisa), and Zachary and Kevin Welkner; great grandsons, Nathan and Johnathan (Elizabeth), James, Ben, and Luke (John), Micah (Jane), Jayden and Braden (Rachel); great granddaughters, Abigail (Elizabeth), Hannah (John), and Adelynn (Rachel). He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane Welkner; parents, John Vernon and Bessie; his half sister, Violet Heinmuller, and his brothers, Donald Welkner and Clarke Welkner.
Vernon was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. After high school, he joined the Navy and served in the Navy’s construction battalion. He then completed a two year technical college program in mechanical engineering. He worked as an HVAC mechanical contractor in Miami, Fl until retiring to O’Brien area in Florida. He served as the associate and interim pastor at Peace Baptist Church until he went home to be with the Lord.
He loved the Lord and the scriptures with all his heart and was an active member of New Testament Baptist Church, where he and Jane started a Jewish ministry and served for over 25 years. He loved his family and church family dearly.
A service will be held at Peace Baptist Church on Monday, December 7th, at 9:30 AM. Visitation will be at 9:30 AM. Interment will bel at the National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Fl.
