Mr. John Alfred Renner, beloved husband, father and grandfather, age 90, of Ashland departed this life on March 6, 2008 after a long illness. He was born on August 4, 1917 in Weehawken, New Jersey, the son of the late Henry Renner and Katie von Seggern Renner. His father was founder of Renner & Maras, a prominent New York ornamental iron firm. He was educated in the public schools of Flushing and Manhasset, New York. During World War II he was a member of the Army's 389th Port Battalion, which served at Churchill, Manitoba, and at Oran and Bizerte in North Africa. He was awarded the Purple Heart. On September 14, 1943 he was severely wounded when the ship he was unloading at Salerno Italy, the Bushrod Washington, was struck and sunk by a radio guided bomb during a Luftwaffe raid. Subsequently, he was stationed at Cushing Hospital in Framingham where he met his future wife, Irene Woodcock, an Army cadet nurse. He was a long -time resident of Ashland, living in the house he built with his own hands. He worked thirty years as a pipe fitter at the General Motors Framingham Plant retiring in 1977, and was a member of the United Auto Workers. He was an avid gardener and called his garden "his health club and medicine chest" and enjoyed oil painting and bird carving. He loved nature and classical music. He was also a fan of the Bruins and Patriots. He was a parishioner of St Tarcisius Roman Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Mrs. Irene Renner, two sons, Mr. John Eric Renner of Ashland, Dr. Carl Renner, daughter-in-law Mrs. Renee Renner and three grandchildren, Carla, John and Marie Renner all of Wilmington, Delaware and sister Mrs. Muriel Quist of Keene, New Hampshire. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday March 10 at 10 am at St Tarcisius Church with internment following at Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. Calling hours will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 pm at the Matarese Funeral Home (www.mataresefuneral.com) 325 Main Street, Ashland. Instead of flowers contribution may be made to the St. Tarcisius School, 560 Waverly St. Framingham, MA 01702 or the Sons of Mary Missionary Society.