SOLDIER- Charles J. "Chuck" Werns, 78, of Soldier, KS passed away December 15, 2009 at the Community Hospital in Onaga. He was born April 28, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York the son of Joseph and Lena Roth Werns.
He graduated from East New York Vocational High School in 1949, after graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. He was an electrician's mate and served on the USS Blenny. He lived in California for 41 years before moving to Soldier in 2001. While in CA he was an electrician for Kaiser Steel Mill in Rancho Cucamonga. He was also a deputy sheriff in Los Angeles County. He later retired from Transamerica Life Insurance Company.
Chuck was a member of the St. Dominic Catholic Church, an assoc. member of the WWII Submarine Veterans, U.S. Sub Vets Inc. and Knights of Columbus.
He married Mary Joyce Lawry on January 24, 1953; she passed away September 30, 1990. He then married June Slimmer Jepson on October 13, 2001. She survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Mary Keirsey (Jim) of Solon, IA, Nancy Miller (Dan) of Anchorage, AK; a son, Charles Werns, Jr. (Charla) of Stoughton, WI; two step-sons, Daryl Jepson (Joy) of Topeka, KS and Kent Jepson (Jane) of Soldier, KS; a step-son-in-law, Ron Smith of Soldier, KS; four sisters, Verna Nagorski of Long Island, NY, Evelyn Stendardo and Elizabeth "Micki" Werns both of Miami, FL, Ruth Palazolo of Long Island, NY; 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife; two sisters, Josephine Andersen and Rose Raduns; a brother, William Werns and a step-daughter, Cheryl Smith.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2009 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton. Burial will in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA. Rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Friday evening with visitation to follow at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, KS. Memorials may be given to Midland Hospice c/o Mercer Funeral Home P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.