John W. Cornelsen

1944 - 2015

John Wesley Cornelsen Sr. passed away peacefully surrounded by all of his children and devoted wife on the afternoon of Sunday, March 22, 2015. John was 71 years of age. Funeral: 1 p.m. Thursday in Biggers Funeral Chapel. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. John was born in Houston on Jan. 21, 1944, to Oliver A. Cornelsen and his loving wife, Albina Brumek Cornelsen. John was a gifted mathematician and draftsman. He thrived and was grateful for the 20-plus years in which he worked in the engineering business, especially enjoying his time at Carter-Burgess on Macon Street. John eventually left the field in order to serve his previous clients through his namesake land maintenance company of which he served as president and CEO. John enjoyed and deeply valued the multitude of friendships and relationships formed through his work. John was also known as "Bro. John" to the many people with whom he worshipped. To know him, was to know the God he worshiped and the Savior he served. John's love of the Lord was reflected in his love of Southern gospel music to which he sang. Adding to the list of bountiful gifts, John loved to play the piano and accordion and did so solely by ear. One could not separate John, his music and his desire to worship the Lord. He had a gift and this gift touched many lives. He made a difference. John was preceded in death by his parents. His father, Oliver, worked at General Dynamics until his passing in 1967. His mother, Albina, was ordained with the Assemblies of God. Their love of God was clearly evident in the life of their beloved son. Survivors: John is survived by his sister, Mary Ann Clounch of Jeffersonville, Ind., and her four children, Tim, Rebekah, Philip and Anna Joy, as well as her numerous grandchildren. John is also survived by his lovingly committed wife, Lana Mann Cornelsen, formerly of San Antonio. Though they were only 17 and 23 when they married 1967, the joining of these souls continually pulled them together and their commitment was renewed in 1981. John is also survived by his four children and his nine grandchildren, John W. Cornelsen Jr. of North Richland Hills and his three daughters, Chelsea, Michaela and MaKenzie, Tabitha Young of Greenwich, Conn., and her two sons, Ensign Vincent Young and Grant Cornelsen Young, Rachel Evans and husband, Brian, of Fort Worth, and their children, Connor Evans and Madison Evans, and Shalom Cornelsen and her two children, Brianna Cornelsen and Cameron Houston-Cornelsen. Though only hours have passed, our father and our mother's husband is profoundly missed.