Mst. Sgt. John Leonard Kenimer also known as "Jake" in the Gainesville area, age 78, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2012. He was a member of Belton Baptist Church in Lula. John was a family man and was a dedicated and loving husband, Daddy & Paw Paw. He was a resident with his wife, Nell Kenimer at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living Home in Gainesville.
John entered the United States Marine Corp in 1952. His first tour of duty was in Korea in 1953, and then served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1969. He served his country for 22 years and then retired in February 1974 and settled in Lula, on Homer Road with his family. In the USMC, John served many meals stateside and overseas to many soldiers. He was an excellent cook and baker. After retiring, he worked with his brothers in carpentry work for a few years and then pursued his dream of opening his own restaurant. He opened his first restaurant in 1981, relocating two other times in the City of Gainesville. He graduated from Truett McConnell College and North Georgia Technical College. In 1981, he opened Jake's Cafeteria and was well known in Gainesville for his biscuits and his SOS. John and his wife Nell retired from the restaurant in 2000.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Buford Kenimer and Ellaree Satterfield Kenimer and a brother, Ray Kenimer. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Eunice Vernell Kenimer, daughters & sons-in-laws, Deborah Ann & Benny Faulkner of Murrayville and Cindy Denise & Stanley Mize of Gainesville, son & daughter-in-law, Johnny L. & Martha Sue Kenimer of Gillsville, four grandchildren, Veronnica & Jimmy Hayes, Benjamin J. & Dawn Faulkner, Lauren & Brandon Smiley, Cody Mize and his fiancé, Brittany Martin, six great-grandchildren, John, Katie and Gracie Hayes, Kenneth and Hunter Faulkner and Sawyer Smiley, sisters, Marie Medford, Louise Mooney and Jeanette Brock ,brother & best friend, Bobby Kenimer, who was devoted to his brother until his passing, comforting him and sitting by his bedside supporting the family, also survived by many nieces & nephews.
Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with interment to follow in Belton Baptist Church Cemetery. Reverend Stanley Mize, Dr. Tom Smiley, Reverend Tony Kemp will officiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 3
