Mr. George Vernon Ahrens Jr.

George Vernon Ahrens Jr., 79, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on November 5, 2025, at the Mexico Missouri Veterans Home. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia, followed by the Funeral Liturgy outside of Mass. Committal services will conclude in Memorial Park Cemetery with Knights of Columbus Honor Guard and full Military Honors.

George once felt a calling to the priesthood. In 1959, he rode the railroad from Fort Worth, Texas, to Kirkwood, Missouri, to attend Maryhurst Preparatory Seminary, where he studied until 1961. He graduated from Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth and later attended Texas Christian University and North Texas State University.

George was born on November 22, 1945, at Boca Raton Army Airfield in Palm Beach County, Florida, to Anne Jewel Ahrens and George Vernon Ahrens Sr. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force and was a Vietnam War veteran, volunteering for two consecutive tours in theater. George served as a Command Post Specialist and worked in combat reporting. Remarkably, he and his father, George Sr., both served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. Because of his expert marksmanship, George was temporarily assigned to ride shotgun on transport convoys after the onset of the Tet Offensive. During his service, his father had the honor of pinning one of his commendation medals on him during a ceremony in Vietnam.

George was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and belonged to Post 280 in Columbia, Missouri. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1529 in Columbia, where he was a Fourth Degree Knight and a member of Assembly 583. He was an active and faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

George was preceded in death by his wife Sandra Kay and brother Patrick Vernon. He is survived by his sons, Wallace Vernon Ahrens and his wife, Brandy, and their daughter, Emma Kae; and Justin Vernon Ahrens and his wife, Melinda, and their children, Jonah Vernon and Emery Lynn. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Fein; nephews, Brad and Steven Fein, and their families; and nieces, Amy Jacobs and her children, and Aurora Ahrens.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Father Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School or Our Lady of Lourdes, 903 Bernadette Dr, Columbia, MO 65203.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com