Jack H. Venner

Jack Harrison Venner, age 99, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 2, 2024, at his residence at The Birches of Newtown, PA. Son of the late John H and Florence W Venner; husband of late Mary Lewis Venner who passed away in 2020 and brother of the late Earl Venner. 

Jack was born On September 3, 1925, in Newark New Jersey. He attended Asbury Park High School, where he played football, baseball and ran track, but most importantly it is where he met the love of his life Mary Lewis. Prior to graduating from High School, he was drafted on January 13, 1944, into the Navy. Mary accepted his diploma for him, he later went to Junior College to complete his High School degree.

He entered active duty in the United States Navy on March 1, 1944, he was in the Navy V-5 program, attending Dartmouth College, Bucknell University, preflight school at the University of Georgia. The war ended, he was honorably discharged in September 1945 and went onto Lehigh University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. Along with his Bachelor’s Degree, he has a Master Degree in Business Management & Finance from the Newark College of Engineering (NJIT).

He was the director of plans and programs for the ACF Electronics Division of Paramus NJ, and Chief of the Windsonde Section for the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratory in Fort Monmouth NJ. He then became the Branch Manager for Management Systems Corp of Washington DC. In 1964 he was employed by Kollsman Instrument Corporation in Syosset as the General Manager, in 1968 he was promoted to Vice President. In 1970 he was named Vice President of the Link Division of Singer and General Manager of the Divisions Flight Simulation. In 1978 he was named President of the American Meter Division of Singer, and 1983 he took an early retirement from the Singer Corporation and moved to Reston VA to work for the Sperry Corporation, he retired in 1990.

Jack loved the beach, it is where Mary and he spent their summers hanging out with friends, he was a lifeguard and loved bodysurfing. He proposed to Mary on the beach, they were walking together on the beach one evening and realized how much he loved her and asked her to marry him. They were married on August 25, 1951, in the Trinity Episcopal Church, in Asbury Park. Jack and his wife Mary believed in teaching their children lifelong sports, they spent winters learning to ski & ice skate, summers learning to swim, play tennis and golf. They loved golf so much, when they retired, they moved to Pinehurst NC, where Jack was active in the men’s league, and they were both active in the PGA & USGA tournaments as Volunteers. Jack was the chairman of the Volunteers in the famous 1999 US Open. They decided to move back to Bucks County in 2000 to be closer to their children and grandchildren, that’s how great they were!!!Jack and his wife, who had a special bond on earth, are now able to share that in heaven together. They were loving & wonderful parents, grandparents, and aunt & uncle. They were amazing together, now they are once again dancing in heaven together.  

He is survived by his three children: John Venner, Andrew Venner (daughter -in- law, Kelly), Sharon Venner Spiess (son-in-law, Tim), six grandchildren, Olivia, Dean, Ryan, Rachel, Matt & Jackie, and three great-grandchildren, Cole, Carter & Nora Rae, and many nieces and nephews.

His funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 235 East State Street Doylestown, were friends and family may call from 9:30 until 10:15. Interment will be private following Mass in St. John Neumann Cemetery, 3797 County Line Road, Chalfont.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8639782&fr_id=154020&pg=personal , (Click on link to Donate). The organization was one of his wife, Mary’s favorite charities, and he continued to make contributions after she passed away.