John "Jack" Richard Hoerner
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John "Jack" Richard Hoerner, 91, of Indianapolis, passed away Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at his son's home.
John was born on December 1, 1928, in Springfield, Ohio, son of Harold and Nellie (Meranda) Hoerner. He graduated from Springfield High School, Springfield, Ohio, in 1946, served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1949, and attended Ohio State University to study civil engineering from 1953 to 1957. He married Elfleda Jane Eaton on April 25, 1959, in Beatty, Ohio. They made Greenwood, Indiana, their home since 1960.
John worked for New York Central Railroad from 1957 to 1966 in positions from Instrumentman, Chief of Party, District Assistant Engineer, to Supervisor of Track. In 1966, he joined Clyde E. Williams & Associates, later acquired by Farrar, Garvey & Associates, as Project Engineer and Land Surveyor for highway, street, railroad and recreational facility design. Some of his engineering and survey projects over the years included Potato Creek State Park, Indianapolis Zoo, and Spring Mill Inn. In 1997, he joined Sieco, Inc, later acquired by Strand Associates, working there until his retirement in 2010 at age 81. In 1994 his son, Tobin, began working alongside him at the same company. They worked together through company changes until Jack's retirement, allowing him to teach Tobin a love of the profession.
John enjoyed many years volunteering with Greenwood High School's Marching Woodmen and Irish Guard, well beyond his children's graduations. He served countless hours as a church youth leader and bus driver for Greenwood United Methodist Church, and in recent years as a deacon at Southport Presbyterian Church and devoted member of their Saturday morning men's breakfast group.
Most of John's life was spent in devotion to his wife of 54 years, raising their family and assisting with Elfleda's day care, scouting, and crafting adventures. His love for her shone brightest as her primary caregiver in the final years leading to her death in 2013.
Survivors include his daughter Adela H. (William) Dickey, of Fort Wayne, IN; son Tobin A. (Amy) Hoerner, of Greenwood, IN; grandchildren Joshua (Lindsay) Dickey of Franklin, TN; Andrew Dickey of Ossian, IN; Jordan (Rachel) Dickey of Scottsdale, AZ; Ashton and Jeremy Hoerner, Joel and Aaron DeWitt, and Jessica Cuzick, all of Greenwood, IN; great-grandsons Benjamin and Noah Dickey of Franklin, TN; and brother Robert Hoerner, of Mesa, AZ. He is preceded in death by his wife and parents.
A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Southport Presbyterian Church, 7525 McFarland Blvd., Indianapolis, IN, 46237. Donations may be directed to the Southport Presbyterian Church Deacon Benevolence Fund.