Jerry F Briner

Jerry F Briner of Fort Wayne, Indiana was called home by his Lord and Savior January 17, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at home, 5 days before his 83rd birthday, ending his long struggle with Parkinson's. Born Jerome Frank Briner January 22, 1939, Jerry was the third child of Corvin and Oma (Greenawalt) Briner of Bluffton, IN and grew up on a farm in Uniondale, IN with his parents, brother Joseph and sister Janice before the family moved to Bluffton, IN. He graduated with honors from Rockcreek High School (Wells Co.) in 1956 serving as a class officer for 3 years and class President his Senior year. He played baritone saxophone in the band, was known for his fast action as a Guard on the Basketball team and as a member of the Cross Country team that won the Wells County Championship in 1956. He attended Manchester College (North Manchester, IN) his freshman year where he played Basketball and ran Cross Country, then transferred the following year to Purdue where he played his saxophone in Purdue's Military Marching Band and belonged to Farmhouse Fraternity and Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Fraternity graduating in 1960 with a BS in Agricultural Economics. He received his MBA at Indiana University graduating in 1962. During the Draft he enlisted in the Navy Officer Candidate School where he received 6 weeks training at Newport, RI and 6 weeks at Glynco, GA, and enjoyed being chosen for the Drum and Bugle Corps before being commissioned as Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) in 1963. Then was stationed 3 years in Alameda, CA aboard the USS Hancock (CV-19) aircraft carrier in the Operation's Dept. of the Combat Information Center, visiting the South China Sea, China, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong and Hawaii during the start of the Vietnam War. Jerry met his wife Joyce (Thomas) through a mutual friend while she was at Ball State. After keeping the Postal Service busy they were married April 25,1964 (Simpson Methodist Church, Fort Wayne, IN). After an Honorable Discharge in 1966 he worked for Central Soya and then joined his uncle's business with Strauss Veal Feeds in North Manchester. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years and greatly loved family members: son Lee Briner, daughter Cynthia (Briner) Arp, son-in-law Jason Arp and granddaughters Lydia and Abigail, all of Fort Wayne, sister Janice Head of Gold Canyon, AZ, sister-in-law Janet Briner of Bluffton and many extended family members, Navy buddies and great long time friends who know who they are. He was preceded in death by his brother Joe Briner (Bluffton, IN) and brother-in-law Bobby Head (Gold Canyon, AZ). A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Headwaters Church, Fort Wayne. Arrangements are entrusted to Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home 6131 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46835. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HockemeyerMillerFH.com.