Nanny, a Marine Corps veteran who spent the majority of his life serving his community and other local veterans, died Jan. 9, 2022.

The pedestal was erected beside the Gold Star Family Memorial, a monument that Nanny himself was integral to bringing to the waterfront. In addition to his family, dozens of people attended the ceremony organized by veteran Steve Duncil with help from the VFW Post 4442 and Marine Corps League.

Duncil also served as the event’s emcee and remarks were made by Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, veteran John Looney, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Austin Renforth, veteran David Schoenian and two of Nanny’s children, Beth Gerken and Jeff Yoakum.

Elliott said he and Nanny were challenged by the late World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to bring a Gold Star monument to Wheeling.

“I looked over at John and if Mr. Williams had said, ‘Go get on your fatigues and march over Wheeling Hill,’ he would have done it right there, too. We were both ready – and you’re not going to say no to Woody Williams,” Elliott said.

He noted Nanny contacted him the next day about the task and it was Nanny’s “singular mission” to raise the money needed for the monument.

“It was something he was incredibly proud of, and it was a great joy to see it dedicated here a couple years ago,” Elliott said, adding Nanny touched the lives of so many during his life.

Nanny served in the Marine Corps from 1961-65, and attained the rank of corporal. He belonged to the Marine Corps League, and served as chairman of Hershel “Woody” Williams Scholarship Foundation. He also was a member and past commander of Wheeling American Legion Post 1, and a member of VFW Post 4442.

Nanny worked as director of attendance and social services for Ohio County Schools, and founded Youth Services Inc. in Wheeling. Additionally, he was a founding member of the National Youth Advocate Program and a member of the Youth Advocate Program International Board of Trustees. He was a past president of St. John’s Children’s Home, and a member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Wheeling.

Renforth, a Wheeling native, said he was happy to return to the city to help honor Nanny. He noted he could “neither confirm nor deny” that he first met Nanny while Nanny was working as a truant officer.

“I was actually a pretty good kid, but sometimes I would sway a little bit,” Renforth recalled. “There was John and he was talking to me in such a manner that I felt the genuine care the guy had.

“You know some teachers and coaches have that way to connect to you. He had that, that way to connect.”

Renforth said he was influenced by Nanny to join the Marine Corps instead of the Navy.

“He used to say to me, ‘You can join the Army. You can join the Navy. You can join the Air Force. But you become a Marine,'” Renforth said.

“That’s what is different about being a Marine. Whether you served four years like John did or 40 years like I did, you have two words seared into your soul, ‘Semper Fidelis.’

“That’s forever, always faithful to the Corps, your country, your family and whatever you hold dear as a person.”

Renforth said Nanny’s legacy would live forever in the hearts of those he touched.

“I am one of those,” he said.

Gerken said her father knew everyone in the community and people didn’t hesitate to ask him for help. It was common for their household to receive many calls a day from people in the community needing some assistance on a matter or project.

“He selflessly and unconditionally committed his life to service from the beginning,” she said.

Gerken said because her father was well known, she and her siblings did not get away with much mischief during their teenage years. That rule applied to their teenage friends as well, who knew of Nanny and his truancy officer work for the school system. Their moms would evoke his name when they would resist getting out of bed for school in the morning.

“It truly warms our hearts when we meet someone who knew him and they share a story about him,” she said, adding the stories are sometimes comedic.

Gerken thanked everyone for their work to make the pedestal memorial happen.