John Paul Wenrich, Jr.

John Paul Wenrich, Jr., age 75, died on August 19 in Northeast Georgia Hospital Gainesville Georgia due to Corvid-19.

He is survived by his wife Shirlyn Marie Houser Wenrich; daughter Diane Marie Wenrich McKenna and her husband Richard Mckenna of Cumming, GA; son Paul Ryan Wenrich of Phoenix, AZ and sister Merriam Elizabeth Wenrich White of Haddon Heights, NJ; nieces Cheryl Lee Foster of NJ and Lynn Ann Kogel of FL; and nephew Bradley John Hartsock of AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Ann Hartsock of Stratford, NJ and nephew Eric Michael Hansen of Westmont, NJ.

The youngest child and only son of John Paul Wenrich, Sr. and Dorothy Elizabeth Kennedy Wenrich, John was born August 3, 1945 in Lakewood, New Jersey. He lived early childhood years in Westmont, NJ. After graduation from Haddonfield High School in Haddonfield NJ, he enlisted and served 4 years in the US Army during the Vietnam War. The last three years of his tour of duty he was stationed with the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland.

While serving at Ft. Meade he met and married his beloved wife, Shirlyn Marie Houser, on June 25, 1966.  They were blessed with 54 years of a strong and happy marriage and two loving and devoted children, Diane, and Paul.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, the couple returned to Westmont, NJ.  There John used his military training to launch a career in Technology Architecture while attending night classes at Rutgers State University in Camden, NJ over the next 9 years. In 1982 he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with High Honors from that University.

John’s technical skills led to job opportunities with several large national corporations and increasing responsibilities in a career that spanned 43 years before his retirement in 2014. He held technical management positions with RCA Corporation in Moorestown, NJ, Philadelphia National Bank, Boeing Computer Corporation, First Financial Management Corporation, Tyco, and ADT Corporation. John and his family moved to Roswell Georgia for his work in 1988. 

John was a 32-degree Mason of the Collingswood NJ Lodge 101 for 31 years.  He was a man of many and varied interests. He most enjoyed fishing, boating on Lake Lanier, bird watching,  playing pickleball and travel in his retirement years. Always generous with his “technical support” for computer-challenged neighbors, he will be remembered as a capable and generous man of integrity and loyalty to family and friends. His daily walks with family, friends and his rescue dogs were a tradition at the end of each day. He was a jovial neighbor and valued friend to many. A loving husband and father, he was best known for his infectious laughter and a broad dimpled smile that was always ready to be shared with those he met. The memory of his laughter will always echo warmly in the hearts of those who were fortunate to have known him in this life.

Cremation arrangements have been handled by Little & Davenport Funeral Home in Gainesville. Due to Covid19 health concerns, plans for a celebration of life service at a future time to be determined will be announced by the family. Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at https://www.littledavenport.com/

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions in John’s memory be made to the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. Memorial gifts can be made on line at http://humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org or mailed to 845 West Ridge Road, Gainesville GA 30501.

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