John E. Fahrner, Sr.

John E. Fahrner, Sr., son of Alexander Fahrner and Mary Ellen Egan from Ireland, was born on the 7th of July 1923 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The oldest of eight children, he is survived by his brother, Carl, in Maryland. He is predeceased by Marguerite, Flora, Joe, Mickey, Mary Ellen and Dorothy. John attended the University of Maryland on a football scholarship which was interrupted by WWII. He was a Sergeant who trained pilots how to swim at Miami beach as members of the Army Air Force Special Forces, before being deployed to Okinawa, Japan. After college he coached football for Longwood Prep School in Maryland, then returned to Salem, N.J. with his wife Awilda Shearer from Woodstown and their first daughter, Carla Anne. He was the proprietor of the Nelson House Hotel and Broadway Inn with his brother Joe Fahrner. They started the first shuffleboard league in South Jersey and had a successful softball team for years. At one point he served as the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus for St. Mary's, and leader of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Besides being a walking encyclopedia of history and football, his great loves were fishing, and boating and he spent many a happy day with the Salem Boat Club. He was also a constant presence at the Salem County high school football and basketball games.

He is survived by his children: Carla Anne Fahrner, (Dec) Kathleen Fahrner, Terri Craycraft, John E. Fahrner Jr. (Dec), Joni Benos (husband Tommy), Denise F. Quinnette, Bartholomew Fahrner, Jeffrey Fahrner Sr., (Dennis and Kevin Francis dec.), and His grandchildren: Kathleen Milanov (husband Ivan), John E. Fahrner III, Alan Craycraft (wife Tanya), Rina Benos, Arielle Brousseau (husband Matthew), Mark Quinnette, Jr., Dimitri Benos (wife Jessica),Celia Quinnette, Jeff Fahrner Jr., Christian Fahrner Great Grandchildren: A.J., Hailey, and Ginger Craycraft; C.J. Abbott (wife Haili), Addyson and Emilee Milanov; Taso Benos; Jeffrey Fahrner III; Harmony and Matthew Jr. Brousseau. Great-Great Grandchildren: Ayla and Harper Abbott; and his Spoltore cousins from Bridgeton, and many, many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 8th in St Mary's Church, 25 Oak St., Salem where friends may call from 10:00 AM till time of service. In lieu of flowers contributions in John's memory may be sent to St. Mary's Cemetery, c/o St. Gabriel The Arch Angel Parish, 350 Georgetown Rd., Carneys Point, NJ 08069.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John E. Fahrner, Sr., please visit our floral store.