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Vest a Kern
VESTA KERN
Tipton
Vesta Vae Kern, 95, of Tipton, passed away Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at Cedar Manor Nursing Home, Tipton. Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. Interment will follow at Red Oak Cemetery, with her grandchildren as pallbearers. Visitation will be from noon until time of service at Fry's.
A memorial fund has been established for Tipton Senior Dining Center and Cedar County Historical Society.
Vesta, daughter of Gerald Draper and Ruth Emma Little Crispin, was born Jan. 18, 1919, in Red Oak Township, Cedar County, Iowa. Vesta was a 1937 graduate of Tipton High School and attended Iowa State University and the Business College in Waterloo. On Nov. 2, 1940, Vesta was united in marriage to Clarence "Hank" W. Kern at Red Oak Presbyterian Church. Vesta retired as an administrative assistant for the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa.
She was a member of Tipton United Methodist Church, Tipton Senior Dining Center, Cedar County Historical Society, Open Prairie Chapter DAR, Ida Mansfield Kings Daughters, Tipton Study Club, Tipton Women's Club, Tipton Senior Center, Rebekah Lodge, American Legion Auxiliary, Priscilla Circle of UMW, VFW Auxiliary, OES, National Notary Association, National Secretaries, Staff Council of U of I and its executive board, Senior Center board, Nutrition Council, Cedar County Task Force and volunteered at the VA Hospital, Cedar Manor and Senior Center. She enjoyed playing cards, belonging to several bridge clubs, good jokes, reading, and most of all, her family and friends.
Vesta is survived by her children, Craig W. Kern (Sandi) of Estes Park, Colo., Gerri Scherer of Guttenberg and Bruce Kern (Myrl Ann) of Mechanicsville; grandchildren, Scott (Charlotte) Scherer, Sara (Dave) Wendt, Michael (Alisa) Kern, Daniel Kern, Zachary (Amanda) Kern and Darcie (Rob) Bahr; 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Pat Crispin; and several nieces and nephews.
Vesta was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence "Hank" Kern; three brothers, Carl Crispin, Max Crispin and Clyde Crispin; and sister, Rosemyrta Heick.
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