John Adolf Widner

John was born in Buckholts, Texas on June 16, 1931, to Adolph and Mary (Dussetsleger) Widner. He served in the U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean conflict. After returning from military service, he continued working in construction for Steel Building Corporation, owned by W.R. Rainey (for whom he worked his entire career), eventually attaining the position of Foreman. They constructed many warehouses and buildings (using steel and tilt up walls) for businesses around San Antonio, including National Cash Register, Frito-Lay, Big Red, Scobey Moving and Storage and Pioneer Flour Mills.

He married Helen Joan Chernosky on December 14, 1957, in San Antonio, Texas at Trinity Lutheran Church. They moved to Helotes in 1966, where they raised three sons. John was an involved resident, dedicating over 20 years to the Helotes Area Volunteer Fire Department, serving as a firefighter, Assistant Chief and Chief at various points. In 2007, John and Helen moved to Hermann Sons Retirement Home in Comfort, Texas where they enjoyed the beautiful scenery while making friendships, with John yet again involved in the community by repairing broken items, building an outdoor covered workspace and a separate greenhouse, planting landscaping and feeding wildlife (especially including foxes). They moved back to Helotes in 2020, returning to the home where so many memories were made.

John enjoyed yard work and gardening, refinishing furniture and especially woodworking, which he devoted much of his time to in Comfort. Despite his limited education, he was known as a “Mr. Fix It Man” and was able to repair most everything that people brought to him. He was often given seemingly impossible construction tasks and he was able to design and fabricate what was requested.

John was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, Richard, sister, Ella, and his nieces, Alice and Eloise. He is survived by his wife, Helen; his son, Jeff and daughter-in-law Lisa of Bandera, Tx, his son Bill and daughter-in-law Corinne of Port St. Lucie, Fl, and his son Mike of Helotes, Tx; his grandchildren, Stacy and husband Kirby, Jennifer, John, Will, Dana, and Violet and his great grandson, Carter; his brother, Cecil and sister-in-law Corrine, many nieces, nephews and extended family.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2024, from 5-7pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church. A committal service will occur at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery on July 1, 2024 at 10 am. Following this, Pastor Shelley Simmont will preside at a memorial service at 11:30am at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1129 Pat Booker Rd., Universal City, Tx 78148 with a reception/meal to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, which will be split between the food insecurities ministries and a memorial in John’s name. These donations can be sent directly to the church and envelopes will be available on the day of the service.