Vernon E. "Vern" Hecker

Vernon E. Hecker, 88, of Junction City, Kansas passed away on Monday, September 19, 2022 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan, Kansas. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Fr. Gnanasekar Kulandai officiating. A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service on Tuesday. The family will receive friends 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 26, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service Tuesday at St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to be given to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or to Good Shepherd Hospice House.

Vernon was born January 5, 1934, in Park, Kansas, the son of Emmanuel and Mary (Spies) Hecker. In 1940, he moved with his family to Salina, Kansas and graduated from Sacred Heart High School with the class of 1952.

In 1964, Vernon moved his family to Junction City, Kansas where he became a well known businessman having owned and operated Jayhawk Glass Company for thirty two years. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council #1029.

Vernon married Jacqueline Shirack November 19, 1955, in Salina, Kansas. They were married for sixty six years.

Survivors include his wife Jackie who resides at Chapman Valley Manor in Chapman, Kansas; one son, James Hecker of Salina, Kansas; three daughters, Jean Wolford and her husband Ron of Junction City, Kansas, Julie Taylor and her husband Pat of Wichita, Kansas and Diane Kramer and her husband Larry of Junction City, Kansas; nine grandchildren; five step-grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; four sisters, Veronica Stafford of Topeka, Kansas, Louella Clennan of El Dorado, Kansas, Delores Rider of Fort Collins, Colorado and Donna House of Wichita, Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Evangeline Jilka and Irene Fiffe.

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