Obituary of John Milton Laning

Born in Fairfield Township, not far from his present home, he was the son of the late Frank Everett Laning, Sr. and Bessie Graves Laning and was the husband of Joan Hollingshead Laning. A farmer all of his working life, he and his late brother, F. Everett “Bud” Laning, Jr. became involved in the operation of the family farm to assist their late mother, Bessie, after the death of their father at a young age in order to help support the family. The farm grew through the years becoming Laning Brothers Farm owned and operated by Bud and Milt and later involving members of their own families continuing the operation today. Milt was a member of the Fairton United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the Fairton Volunteer Fire Company # 1and had served as a member of the Agway Petroleum Board in years past. An avid traveler, he and his wife Joan had owned a home in Florida and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, four wheeling and snowmobiling. In addition to his wife Joan, he is survived by his two sons, John M. Laning, Jr. (Wendy) and James K. Laning (Penny) all of Fairfield Township; four sisters, Betty Ayars Gaskill of Shiloh, Shirley Gauntt (Art) of Arizona, Eleanor Taylor of Cedarville and Alverna Wood of Fairton; his daughter in law, Debra Laning of Hopewell Twp.; eight grandchildren, John M. Laning, III (Jen), Kassandra J. Runkle (Rob), Kristen N. Laning (Taylor), Paige Garrison, Danielle Laning (Ken), Ashton N. Laning, Robyn M. Rudish-Laning and Jamie K. Laning and four great-grandchildren, Tori M. Hitchner, Lane D. Browning, Matthew W. Runkle and Larz Runkle; sister in law, Carol Lomberk (Ted) and brother in law Theodore Hollingshead (Sue). He was predeceased by his sons, Richard Wayne Laning and Thomas D. Laning, his brother, F. Everett “Bud” Laning, Jr., his granddaughter, Martha M. Laning and his great-granddaughter, Lorelai M. Peterson. Funeral services will be held at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township on Saturday, February 28th at 11 AM. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 9 to 11 AM prior to the services. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions in Milt’s memory be made to the Fairton United Methodist Church, 20 Main Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family at Fernwood Memorial Park in Hopewell Township.