George Horner Obituary

George Jurg Horner, born Jürg Beat Horner, age 81, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026, after 3 months of hospice due to cancer, surrounded by his loving wife and all six of his children.

George was born August 12, 1944 in Olten, Switzerland, the son of Franz and Margrit Horner.

He and his family immigrated from Switzerland to New York State in 1955 when he was eleven years old. They eventually settled in Woodstock, NY.

He graduated from Onteora High School in 1963, then went on to Rochester University, earning a degree in Chemistry. While at university, George traveled with a chorale playing the bassoon.

George was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1967 and served as a meteorologist, with most of his time being spent in Thailand. In 1969 he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

While attending chiropractic college at Northwestern in Minnesota, George met the love of his life, Mary Jo Heyl, and they married two years later on her birthday in 1977. They were married for 48 rich and wonderful years. During that time, they had 7 children, made countless moves to different states and homes, and had 12 grandchildren.

George and Mary Jo opened a chiropractic clinic in Pipestone, Minnesota. As a business owner, George felt it was important to be part of a local church. His intention was to make connections and grow his business, but God sovereignly had a plan to use it for so much more. Through relationships and reading, God brought him to saving faith at the age of 35. This faith would carry both him and Mary Jo through the loss of their firstborn daughter, Alisha, only a year later in 1984.

Shortly after this time, God placed the call of ministry on George's heart, and he began attending Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 1988.

George took his first call as pastor at Calvary CRC in Vermillion, SD. He served there from 1994 to 1996. He then took a call to Hope Reformed Church in Sutton, NE, which was his introduction to the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS), which is the denomination he would serve in for the majority of his ministry. He remained in Sutton until 2001, when he took a call to Grace Reformed Church in Bakersfield, CA. He served there until 2006, when the Horner family moved to Denver, CO. George then took a call to serve as interim pastor at Emmanuel American Reformed Church in Westminster, CO. A few years later, in 2010, he took a call to serve at Providence Reformed Church in Rock Springs, WY. George and Mary Jo remained in Rock Springs until 2019 when he "retired" and they moved to South Carolina's low country. Over the next four years, they flew cross-country many times to Manhattan, MT where George preached and helped establish a small reformed church. In 2023 they returned to Colorado, where George served as interim pastor once again at Emmanuel Reformed Church. He remained in the pulpit there until he was no longer physically able.

George's work and service for the Lord were truly his passion and joy, and his ministry of 31 years impacted many through his faithful preaching of the Gospel.

Over the course of his life, George and family traveled many places which allowed him to enjoy his other passions: photography and driving (which took place in MANY different vehicles as George also loved cars).

George is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Alisha Bethany.

He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Jo and their six children: Tyra (Christine), Talia (Jeremy), Elijah (Lindsey), Jerusha (Chris), Lydia (Jay), and Josiah. He is also survived by his twelve grandchildren: Caitlyn, Emma, Annabelle, Brayden, Rosalie, Aidric, Bennett, Timothy, Adeline, Gresham, Theodore, and Sadie. He is also survived by his sister, Brigid.

Visitation and funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 17th with visitation starting 9:00AM and service beginning 10:00AM at:

Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church

4455 W 112th Ave.

Westminster, CO 80031

Services will be conducted by Reverend Joe Vusich of Providence Reformed Church. Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery with full military honors, immediately following the service.