Jack Chalmers Woerner

Jack Chalmers Woerner, 92, of Waverly, Tennessee passed away peacefully on May 3, 2024. He was born on September 14, 1931, in Stuttgart, Arkansas to George W. Woerner, Sr. and Pearl Anne Davis Woerner. He was married to Margaret Katharyn “Peggy” Wittman for 66 years.

Mr. Woerner served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1955 during the Korean War. During this time, he worked aboard the repair and rescue ships USS Deliverer and USS Ajax. Mr. Woerner then attended the University of Houston where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated in 1960 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After graduating, Mr. Woerner worked at Dierks Paper Company (later Weyerhauser) in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for 13 years and then moved to Waverly, Tennessee where he worked for Inland Container Corporation’s Holton paper mill (later Hood Container) in New Johnsonville, Tennessee. He was promoted to mill manager, a position he held for 22 years until his retirement in 1996.

Mr. Woerner was a member of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal in New Johnsonville, Tennessee and later a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burns, Tennessee. He loved hunting, fishing, and coaching Dixie Youth baseball. He enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves and cheering on the Tennessee Vols and his alma mater Houston Cougars.

Mr. Woerner is survived by his wife, Peggy of Waverly, Tennessee; children Gretchen (Kerry) Little, Jack (Tammy) Woerner, Jr. of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Emil Woerner of Benton, Arkansas, Katherine (Ervin) Greene of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and Heidi Anderson of Martin, Tennessee. In addition he is survived by 13 grandchildren, Clifton Higgins, Meghan (Jacob) Rochelle, Mills Higgins, Brigitte Anderson, John (Gray) Woerner, Katy (Brian) Roper, Louis (Hannah) Anderson V, Aaron Higgins, Emil Woerner, Jr., Amanda (Josh) May, Paul (Abbi) Anderson, Addie Woerner, and Jack Anderson; and 10 great-grandchildren, Emma, Maggie, Brian, Jr., Bonnie, Ollie, Emmitt, Margaret, Bleu, Louellen, and Bo.

Mr. Woerner was preceded in death by parents George and Pearl; his brother George Woerner, Jr., and sisters Mildred Mounce, Kate Davis, and Minnie Strabala.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at Magnolia Healthcare and Rehab in Columbia, Tennessee for their care the past six years.

Visitation was Monday, May 6, 2024 at 3 p.m. with services at 4 p.m., at Humphreys County Funeral Home in Waverly, Tennessee.

Burial with military honors will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Stuttgart, Arkansas.