A Requiem Mass for Mr. John Leonard Wernke will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Aiken. Interment will take place in Burke, SD. Memorial donations may be directed to the Knights of Columbus, Msgr. George L. Smith Council #3684, 1003 Spaulding Dr. Aiken, SC 29803 or Habitat for Humanity, 1026 Park Avenue Southeast Aiken, SC 29801. George Funeral Home & Cremation Center is assisting the family. Mr. Wernke, 65, of New Ellenton, died Monday at MUSC, Charleston after a long illness. A son of the late Leonard Wernke and Muriel Duerfeldt Wernke, he was born in Mitchell, SD and had last lived in Midland, TX before moving to New Ellenton 20 years ago. An accountant by trade, John worked in inventory control for SRNS at the Savannah River Site. He was a communicant of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and a third degree member of Knights of Columbus Council #3684, Aiken. John enjoyed cooking for family and friends, baking for others and was famous for his home made cinnamon rolls. John had a passion for sailing even though he never learned how to swim, he enjoyed telling stories and laughing with others, and had a nickname for everyone. A tireless volunteer, John gave his time and talent to projects such as Habitat for Humanity, Homeworks, Project Vision, and always took time to help those in need. John is survived by his wife, Nancy Fadhl Wernke, New Ellenton; two daughters, Carla Morgan, Amarillo, TX and Cathy Shane Swandal, Billings, MT; a son, Paul Rita Wernke, Duluth, MN; a sister, Lou Ann Ainsworth, Aiken, SC and two brothers, David Wernke, Clark, SD and Doug Wernke, Lennox, SD. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and one great grandson.