Leo Edmund Kern

Leo Edmund Kern
(August 13, 1920 - September 30, 2008)

Leo Kern, age 88, passed away in Grant''s Pass, Oregon, on Tuesday. Leo
was born in Faribault, Minnesota. The son of a farming family, he
attended Walcott Township''s District 12 School in Rice County. He was
one of 13 children, and married Ursina Ellen Anhorn (from a neigboring
farm) on August 10, 1942, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in
Faribault. Leo and Ursi had three daughters, Barbara (Carrico), Janet
(Bauer) and Debra (Jacques). Leo was a loving husband and father and
will be sadly missed.

Leo was a soldier in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis,
Washington. In 1952, he moved his family to California, to take a
heating and refrigeration mechanic position at Point Mugu Pacific
Missile Test Center in Oxnard. They lived in the Thousand Oaks/Newbury
Park area for 28 years. Prior to his retirement in 1979, Leo worked in
Adak, Alaska, for three years. Leo and Ursi moved to Lake Nacemiento
(central California) in 1980, where they built a log home. For 22
years, they enjoyed fishing, boating and grand times with friends.

Then in 2002, Leo and Ursi made their final move to Glendale, Oregon,
where he enjoyed working in his workshop, playing cards and being with
his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren during their
visits. Most of all, Leo loved Christmas and spending the holiday
season with family and friends gathered round. Leo faithfully attended
Holy Family Catholic Church.

Through the years he was a member of several organizations, including
the Eagles Lodge, the Moose Lodge and the American Legion. Leo was a
quiet man with a dry wit and a willingness to help whenever he was
needed. He was affectionately called 'Ole Blue Eyes' by his family.

Leo is survived by his wife, Ursina; three daughters, Barbara and her husband Frank,
Janet, and Debra and her husband Ray; eight grandchildren, Cary Bauer, Jeffery Carrico,
Robyn Long, Justin Kern, Roland Jacques, Jesse Jacques, Monica
Plagenza and Danielle Jacques; seven great grandchildren, Cody Bauer,
Steven Carrico, David Carrico, Hanna Bauer, Kaaylie Todd, Michael Long,
and Kristin Long; one sister, Gloria Baranski of Lincoln Park,
Michigan; three brothers, Bernard Kern of Blue River, WI, Donald Kern
of Savannah, GA, and James Kern of New Brighton, MN; and numerous
nieces and nephews.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents, Englebert and Jeanette
(Valentyn) Kern; his sisters, Mary Gudonis, Lorraine Mileham and Betty
Roberts; his brothers, Raymond, Harry, Englebert, Robert and Thomas; and a son-in-law, George 'Woody' Bauer.

Donations can be sent to the Parkinson''s Disease Foundation.