Thomas George Wehner

Thomas George Wehner, age 73, passed away unexpectedly in his home on July 9, 2020. He was born into this world on November 24, 1946, in St. Louis, MO, to Joseph and Jean Wehner, and he was baptized as an infant into the Catholic faith that he actively practiced his entire life. His love for Jesus and others was evident in his relationships with his family, including his nine siblings, and the many friendships he forged throughout his life. He later graduated from Lebanon High School in Missouri, spent a little over a year in the seminary, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla (now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology).

On June 1, 1968, he married the love his life, Barbara, and the couple was blessed with five daughters, Christine, Emily, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Jennifer. While building their family, Tom worked as an engineer for B.F. Goodrich Company for about 10 years, followed by a career of over 25 years with Anheuser-Busch Companies as an engineer and later Assistant Plant Manager in Jacksonville, Florida, where he retired in 2001. He was fondly respected by his coworkers and developed many genuine friendships that exist to this day.

After retirement, Tom remained very busy with volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and specifically with HabiJax, the local Jacksonville branch. He began his own small business in carpentry and other home improvements, called “Tom’s Shop,” and he took great pride in providing these services to friends and family and to those who spread the word about the quality of his craftsmanship, efficient service, and friendly demeanor. He also enjoyed traveling to new destinations with family and friends taking him to places as far away as Mexico, China, India, South Africa, Panama, Budapest, Barcelona, Ireland, and Alaska. In his time at home, he loved to read, watch soccer, spend time with his grandchildren, build in his workshop, and enjoy weekly dinner outings with his close group of friends. He was an active parishioner at St. Paul’s Catholic Church at Jacksonville Beach for over 20 years.

To know Tom, was to love him. He helped every person he met in any way that he could – he was truly selfless. It was not unusual for him to help his daughters, grandchildren, or their friends move to new homes, haggle for the best price on a new vehicle, build a custom coffee table or even better teach them to build for themselves, hang up countless pictures (perfectly level, of course), or entertain with jokes or stories leading to his infectious chuckle and a warm hug. All who knew him respected him for his honesty, his fairness, his loyalty, his intelligence, his dependability, and his sense of humor.

Tom will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Wehner, and his younger brother, Charles “Chucky” Wehner. He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Barbara; his daughters, Christine Reitz, Emily Wehner, Rebecca Hewitt (Jeff), Elizabeth Wehner, and Jennifer Wehner; and his grandchildren, Katarina Shepherd (Michael), Thomas Reitz, Noah Wehner, Christian Cato, Joshua Hewitt, Jeremiah Hewitt, and Jillian Hewitt. Tom is also survived by his mother, Jean Wehner of Lebanon, Missouri, and his siblings Robert Wehner (Kathy), John Wehner (Carolyn), Joann Overstreet, Kathy Schuyler, Ron Wehner (Pam), Patrick Wehner (Karen), Mark Wehner, and Nancy Musice (Jerry).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2020 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 435 1st Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Due to COVID-19 constraints, the service will be private, keeping to the church limitation of 75 people. The Mass will be live-streamed and can be watched through the links below

https://youtu.be/ZvK0UfEbzcA

https://youtu.be/hCmhRuXeUIY

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a financial tribute gift to HabiJax (Habitat for Humanity Jacksonville) in Tom’s name to assist in carrying out a mission to put God’s love into action, bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope – just like Tom did every day. You can donate online at https://habijax.org/donate/memorial/ or by mail to 2404 Hubbard St. Jacksonville, Florida 32206.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME BEACHES CHAPEL, 1701 Beach Blvd Jacksonville Beach FL,32250