Born in Allentown on June 27, 1931, he was married to Beatrice A. Leedy Werner for 53 years.
The son of Josiah A. and Flora L. Werner, he graduated from Kutztown State Teachers College and began his career as an elementary school teacher at Palmer School in Easton before being called to the ministry.
He attended and graduated from United Theological Seminar in Dayton, Ohio, and was ordained as a minister in the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church, which later became the United Methodist Church.
During his ministry, he served EUB and United Methodist churches in East Greenville, Milford, Palmerton, Telford, Easton, Shamokin, Columbia, Fairless Hills, Fallsington and Christiana.
The Rev. Werner also was active with the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served on the Board of Ordained Ministry as registrar and on the Board of Christian Education. He also served on the Anthracite and North East District Commission on Ordained Ministries.
Following retirement in 1995, he served briefly as pastor at Mountville United Methodist Church (Lebanon County) before becoming visitation pastor at Covenant United Methodist Church in Lebanon where he served for 13 years, comforting the sick, homebound and infirmed.
Affectionately known as “Pastor Joe,” the Rev. Werner was a faithful, gentle and caring shepherd of God in addition to being a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather.
Preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Wilmer Werner, he is survived by his wife, Beatrice A. Leedy Werner of Cornwall; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Douglas and Pingjuan Werner of State College and Jeff Werner of Newtown; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and David Godleski of Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Nathaniel, Hannah, Christelle, Simon, Lydia and Isaac Godleski, all of Charlotte, N.C., and Lillian Werner of Boston, Mass.; a sister-in-law, Shirlene Werner of Allentown; a brother-in-law, Kermit Leedy, of Fostoria, Ohio; an aunt, Marguerite Kennedy of Honey Brook; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
A viewing will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1 prior to the 11 a.m. funeral service at Covenant United Methodist Church, 346 North 9th Street, Lebanon. Burial will be private in Allentown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Covenant United Methodist, 346 North 9th Street, Lebanon, Pa. 17046, or to Cornwall Manor, P.O. Box 125, Cornwall, Pa. 17016.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Rohland Funeral Home, Inc., 508 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, Pa.
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