05/19/2026
We are saddened to share the passing of Mr. John A. Runge, a longtime funeral director, colleague, neighbor, and friend.
John was a licensed funeral director in New Jersey for 50 years and served families throughout our area with professionalism, care, and quiet dedication. Since 1990, he owned John Espy Monument Works here in Verona, just down the street from Prout Funeral Home, and over the years he became a familiar and valued presence to our family, our staff, and so many in the community.
John also assisted Prout Funeral Home and other area funeral homes as an on-call funeral director, always bringing with him experience, dependability, and his unmistakable wit. He had a way of making people feel at ease, even in the middle of the work we do, and we will miss his humor, his stories, and his steady presence.
We are grateful for John’s many years of commitment to funeral service, to Verona, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, and the surrounding communities, and to the many organizations and neighbors he supported throughout his life.
Visiting will be held at Prout Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 20, from 3 to 6 p.m. Graveside services will be held at Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Upper Montclair on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Memories and condolences may be shared on his obituary page at https://proutfuneralhome.com/obituaries/john-runge.
For families who turned to John for monument and inscription needs, please know that those services will be completed as contracted.
John was born on June 27th, 1952 and passed away on May 14th, 2026 at the age of 73