On May 28th, 2020, Frederick Fence said goodbye to its most seasoned and faithful employee.
Jon Wisner went to work for Charles Powers around the same time Frederick Fence was founded in 1982. He did not know it at the time, but he would remain a friend and partner to Charlie for the rest of his life. Jon’s work history included painting and carpentry, which made him not unequal to the task of helping Charlie “install a few fences.” That “few” soon turned into many, many more as the newly formed fence company duo took on the fencing industry, bringing a new level of quality, service, and value to the Frederick area.
Charlie and Jon became well known for the passionate and meticulous fence work they had to offer, and the company began to flourish. The two grew in their friendship and began sharing in many of life’s milestones, including the births of their children and multiple location changes for the company
As time went on and the company continued to grow Jon took on new roles, constantly evolving into whatever the company needed him to be. He stayed true to his passion for excellence in every job that Fence Co. completed. His dedication to great work impacted the company’s growing number of employees to have the same mindset. Thus, a good fence company became bigger and greater over many years.
To this day, all who knew Jon at the company long enough will say that he played one of the most significant roles in the success of the company. He continues to be extremely appreciated not only for his skill as a craftsman, but also for his love and care for the company and its people.
Nearing the end of his time with us Jon served as the operations manager. In this role he oversaw inventory, operations, and workplace safety. He also served as a dedicated mentor to Charlie’s three children, who would eventually take over the company. Jon spent much of his time with Kelly, Erin, and Todd; training them in the specific roles they would play in the running of the company.
On May 28th, Jon passed away after a five-year long fight with cancer. He will be sorely missed by his lifelong friend, Charlie, who continues to value his friendship with Jon, along with the hard work and loyalty he showed Charlie over the years. At Fence Co., Jon will continue to live as a memory in the form of the passion we put into every project, the loyalty that our employees have for the company, and in the values he ingrained in the next generation of our company’s leaders.
Written by Laura Braden