John Kerns

JOHN H. KERNS

Oelwein

John H. Kerns, 75, of Oelwein, died at his home, surrounded by his family, on Saturday morning, Feb. 4, 2017.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, with the Rev. Paul C. McManus and Deacon Jim Patera officiating. Visitation: 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein. Military service: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, by Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post 9 Honor Guard and VFW Post 1725. Parish scripture service: 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein.

A memorial fund has been established for Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.

John Henry Kerns was born March 29, 1941, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Loraine and Silva (Menuey) Kerns. He graduated from Arlington High School in the Class of 1958. John attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette and then served in the U.S. Army in Germany and Turkey during the Vietnam era. John was united in marriage to Sherry Ann Love on June 13, 1964, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. John graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Mortuary Science in the Class of 1965. He worked as a funeral director for Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion and Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop. John moved his family to Oelwein in 1968 and joined Brant Funeral Home. He later purchased Brant Funeral Home in Oelwein, Delsing-Wright Funeral Home in Maynard and Gleim Funeral Home in Arlington. He owned and operated the funeral homes until May 1, 1987. John later worked as public relations and entertainment director for Omaha Wilbert Vault and Wilbert Vault of Waterloo, Fort Dodge, Mason City and West Union. He also was part owner of Zenith Casket Co. in Des Moines.

John was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he had previously served on the Parish Council, taught religious education classes and was a lector. He also was a member of Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post 9. John was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and Iowa Funeral Directors Association, receiving his 50-year funeral director pin at the 2016 convention. John enjoyed being a member of the Oelwein Sertoma Club, traveling to Europe and Hawaii, spending winter vacations in Florida, and playing cribbage. He was a renowned storyteller. Later in life, John served as vice-admiral of the Clayton Navy and enjoyed being co-owner of Ashak McKern, the famous northeast Iowa racing donkey.

Left to honor John's memory are his wife, Sherry Kerns of Oelwein; daughter, Lisa Kerns of Plano, Texas; son, Michael (Tracy) Kerns of Oelwein; sister, Delores Sernett of Bella Vista, Ark.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ardith; four brothers, Wayne, Grant, Lynn and Dean; and a daughter-in-law, Brooke Kerns.