A native of Chicago, Ill., he was the son of the late Alfred and Jean Gillespie Wenner. He is an alumnus of Illinois Tech. and DePauw University and proudly served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. John retired from Universal Oil Products as a chemical engineer in 1984 after 32 years of service. He is a member of the Tryon Thermal Belt Universal Unitarian Church in Tryon.&bsp; Being an avid scuba diver and sailor, he also enjoyed playing the piano, guitar, and a challenging game of chess. &bsp;

Surviving is his wife of 62 years, Inez Elaine Burrows; daughters, Deborah Ellen Dendler of Newton, Mass., Elizabeth Suzanne Block of Eugene, Ore.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

No services are scheduled at this time.

An online register is available at www.ashevillemortuaryservices.com.