REV. JOHN KERN

KARNAK, Ill. -- Funeral for the Rev. John F. Kern of Cypress will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Mounds. Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery at Cypress.

Friends may call at Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak from 6-9 p.m. today.

Kern, 63, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at his home, following an extended illness.

He was born June 14, 1935, at Benton, son of Eldon and Alma Lorene Richardson Kern. He and Lydia M. Wells were married Sept. 22, 1957, in Ina.

Kern was ordained May 1, 1960 at Ina Missionary Baptist Church. He pastored 38 years at Ingraham Baptist, First Baptist in Bonnie, Ware Baptist, Unity Baptist, First Baptist in Ullin, Maple Grove Baptist in Perks, Mt. Pleasant Baptist in Pulaski, Caledonia Baptist in Olmsted, and First Baptist in Mounds.

He received bachelor and master degrees in science and education from Southern Illinois University. He taught and was principal at Jonesboro Schools more than 30 years. He also taught evening classes at Shawnee Community College in Ullin.

Kern was a member and interim pastor at First Baptist in Mounds, president of Retired Teachers Association, and president of Illinois American Buckskin Horse Association.

He was a former member of Union County Hospital Board, and served on several committees of Clear Creek Baptist Association.

Survivors include his wife; four sons, Kyle Kern of Dongola, Randy Kern of America, Terry Kern of Olmsted, Jeff Kern of Cypress; a daughter, Debbie Meyer of Vienna; his father of Perks; a sister, Mary Sweetin of Flora; a brother, Ivan Kern of Moultrie, Ga.; a half brother, Danny Winemiller of Wellston, Mich.; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother.