John Henry Poerner went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 23, 2022, in Round Rock, Texas. He was born in D'Hanis, Texas, on November 21, 1932, the fifth of six children of Henry Jacob Poerner and Maria Amalia (Mollie) Zerr Poerner.

A 1951 graduate of D'Hanis High School, he served in the United States Air Force before becoming a Land Surveyor, Rancher, Legislator, Railroad Commissioner, and Papal Knight.

On June 30, 1953, John married Jo Ann Ney at Holy Cross Catholic Church in D'Hanis. John was a loving and devoted husband of sixty-six years, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of thirty-two offspring. ln just under ninety years of life, he left his mark on his beloved Medina County community, the State House in Austin, his Catholic Church, and on the lives of his many descendants. All these varied and disparate groups were enriched by his life on earth. 

John Henry is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his daughters, Margaret Agnes Poerner and infant daughter Mary Poerner; his brother, Mervin Poerner; sisters, lrene Poerner Fohn, Leona Poerner Finger, and Effie Poerner Bendele; sisters-in-law, Naomi Nugent Poerner and Beatrice Ney Koch; brothers-in-law, Herman Fohn, Joseph Finger, Fritz Bendele, Lloyd Tschirhart, John and James Ney, and John Gilhooly.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna (Terry) Mechler of New Braunfels, Lucy (John) Needham of Austin, Cathy (Ray) Supak of Houston, Sarah (Christopher) Hahn of Round Rock; grandchildren, Lauren (Dr. Elijah) Bolin, Grayson Mechler, Garrett (Becca) Mechler, Christen (Rev. Christopher) Colquitt, Joshua Needham, Jordan (Hannah) Needham, Amanda Supak, Rev. Cameron (Kayleigh) Supak, Reagan Hahn, Rachel Hahn, and August Hahn; fifteen great-grandchildren; sister, Anita Poerner Tschirhart, sisters-in-law Mary Agnes Ney Gilhooly and Margaret Ney; brothers-in-law Mathias Koch and Tom (Margie) Ney; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 6, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home with the Holy Rosary recited at 5:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 7,2022 at St. Mary Cathedral, 203 E.1Oth Street, Austin, TX 787O1. lnterment will follow at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in John's memory to the D’Hanis Lions Club, dhanislionsclub.org or Brookwood in Georgetown, brookwoodingeorgetown.org.  Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondreguinn.com