John Drew Silvernail
Did you know John? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
John Drew Silvernail, age 91, died at home in New Berlin, WI on March, 14, 2021. He was born in New York City in 1929 to Frank G. and Ruth D. Silvernail. He was raised in and around New York City. He earned an A.B. degree from Hamilton College in 1951 and did graduate studies in geology at The University of Texas in Austin, TX. He went to work for Kerr-McGee Oil Company and worked in several states and in Cuba. Kerr-McGee transferred him to New Orleans in 1955 and he lived there for about fifty years. After leaving Kerr-McGee he worked both for small oil companies and as an independent consulting geologist. His clients ranged from major to small oil companies as well as individuals. In addition to the gulf-coast area he worked in The Netherlands and in Ras-al-Khaima (UAE). He was on a panel of special masters in a suit in condemnation (US vs Petit Bois) in Biloxi, MS, in 1988. He was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (Life Member), the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, the Shreveport Geological Society and the New Orleans Geological Society.
He married Shirley Poteet in 1975. John and Shirley evacuated from New Orleans in 2005 just ahead of Katrina. The flood caused by the failure of the levees severely damaged their home - they never lived in it again. They moved to Shreveport in 2006 into a home on high ground. His wife died in 2015. He subsequently moved to Wisconsin to be near his daughter.
John was predeceased by his parents and by Shirley his wife of forty years. He is survived by his daughter, Ruth S. Robertson of Wauwatosa, WI; his stepdaughter, Ellen S. Poteet of Ann Arbor, MI; three granddaughters, Elisa Munoz-Miller and husband Zachary of New Orleans, Diana M. Will and husband Jason of Hoover, AL; Ashley M. Bartkowiak and husband Brandon of Watertown, WI; one grandson, James C. Robertson of Wauwatosa, WI; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home at 10121 W North Ave in Wauwatosa, WI on Saturday, March 20, 2021. Visitation will be from 9:30 until time of service at 11:30am. The funeral service will be livestreamed via Zoom, www.schmidtandbartelt.com for link.