Ned Ferdinand Wernette

Ned Wernette, 67, of Lake, passed away Monday, June 13, 2016, at home with his family by his side. A Funeral Mass for Ned will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 16, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church with Father Ricky Varner as celebrant. A luncheon will follow at the Beal City Knights of Columbus Hall. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery in Remus. The family will receive friends in the gathering room of the church on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. with the Rosary service beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Thursday, one hour prior to Mass. Ned was born Jan. 13, 1949, in Remus, son of the late Carl F. and Ardyth J. (Carr) Wernette. He graduated from Chippewa Hills High School in 1967 and earned his Bachelors Degree from CMU in 1971. On June 4, 1977, he married Susan M. Drueke at St. Michael Catholic Church in Remus. Ned was known as a hard worker, putting his heart and soul into everything. His love of farming and gardening began at a young age, being raised on a farm in Remus. He was employed at CMU as a custodian for 25+ years. He also worked tending to his vegetable gardens and crop fields during the summer months, selling vegetables from a stand set up on the back porch, and selling hay to local cattle, dairy, and horse farmers. Before retiring from CMU in 2010 he was nominated numerous times for the CMU Staff Excellence award and received the award during his last year of employment. The staff at CMU that he worked with at Rowe Hall became like a family to him. Later in life, with more free time after retiring, Ned expanded his gardening operation to eight large gardens and began selling vegetables alongside his wife at the Farwell and Weidman Farmers Markets and also from a roadside stand across from Schafer's Bait & Sporting Goods in Weidman. Ned was a devoted husband and loving father. He enjoyed his other favorite pastimes of hunting and fishing with family and friends. Ned was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. He volunteered at St. Joseph the Worker School and the local homeless shelter. He was also a regular contributor to the Soup Kitchen. Ned is survived by his wife, Susan; four children, David Wernette of Shepherd, Shannon (John) Wernette-Clare of Mountain View, CA, Mary Wernette of Lake, and Christopher Wernette of Lake; seven siblings, Meroe Merryman of Midland, Sheila (Steve) Thomas of Lagrange, IN, Susan (Kent) Parker of Stanwood, Paul (Laura) Wernette of Remus, Lynn (Gail) Wernette of Mecosta, Heidi (Jim) Kingery of Utica, OH, and Kevin (Sheryl) Wernette of Remus; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. His family would like to express a special thank you to the MidMichigan Hospice staff who were all so caring and supportive to Ned and his family. Memorial contributions may be made to MidMichigan Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the church or at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home.