John Martin Berner

John Martin Berner, age 88, of Dover, joined the Lord and Savior on Monday afternoon, September 10, 2012, after a long illness. He was in the care of Community Hospice of Tuscarawas, Stark and Carroll Counties. John was born on June 22, 1924 in Millersburg to the late Paul and Anna (Heinbuch) Berner, and spent his childhood working and playing on the family farm with his eight brothers and sisters, here named with their spouses: Henry and Eva Berner, George and Juanita Berner, Mary Berner, Paul and Betty Berner, Dorothy (Berner) and Dean Close, Clara (Berner) and Eugene Casey, Karl and Eileen Berner, and Bill Berner. John recently celebrated his 63rd wedding anniversary with his beloved bride, Adrienne May (Quillin), originally of Killbuck, on August 28, 2012. They were wedded in 1949.


John graduated from Millersburg High School in 1943 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy to serve in World War II as Motor Mechanist's Mate Second Class (T) USNR. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after receiving the Victory Medal and the American Area Campaign Medal, and went on to begin his career in the trucking industry. Starting with only one truck hauling coal, he eventually founded and was the owner and operator of Berner Trucking, Inc. With the help of James Knisely, and John's high standards and hard work, the company expanded into hauling hazardous waste, and operations eventually spread into the Toledo and Detroit areas, as well as Charlotte, NC. His business was a large part of his life, but by no means defined him.


John Berner was known as an avid hunter, fisherman, and all-around outdoorsman. He was an exceptionally devoted husband, an outstandingly supportive father and an actively present grandfather. Anyone who knew John knew he could and would fix anything, and that he was tremendously generous with his time and resources. It was a pleasure to be in his company with his relentlessly humorous personality; "Always up for a joke," some would say. John was a committed Dover Tornadoes and Ohio State football fan, rarely missing a game in his earlier years. Additionally, he was a charitable supporter of Union Hospital, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Dover Tornado Athletics Club, Dover's First United Methodist Church, The Salvation Army and the Dover High School band.


John is survived by his loving wife Adrienne, his brother, George, and his sister, Dorothy. His family has grown exponentially from the birth of his three daughters and seven grandchildren, to the arrival of nine great grandchildren. He is survived by Dean and Teresa (daughter) Peeler and their youngest son Greg. Mark Peeler, their oldest son predeceased John. Also predeceased, daughter, Ms. Cindy Knisely, mother (fathered by James) to Ms. Abigail McAbier and Blake and Charlotte Knisely. Blake and Charlotte blessed John with three great-grandchildren: Cadence, Charles and Annabeth. Further survived by John and Marsha (daughter) Antonucci and their three daughters listed with families: Curt and Jessica McCamon, parents of John, Caylah and Joseph, Jason and Stacey Edwards, parents of Jason Jr. and Owen, and Matt and Lauren Pannunzio, parents of Matt Jr. Additionally, John is survived by beloved son-in-law and president of Berner Trucking, Inc., James Knisely and wife Debbie. John will be greatly missed by all.


Family and friends are invited to call at the NewPointe Community Church, 3950 SR 39NW, Dover, on Friday, September 14, 9 11 a.m. A funeral service will follow the calling hours at 11. John will be laid to rest in Dover Burial Park with military rites. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the church. Services have been entrusted to the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of John, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.


The family asks that memorial donations please be made to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, in recognition of their tremendous help, service and loving care of John during his last days.



"...But He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling..." - from one of John's favorite hymns, He Walks With Me (In The Garden).