William Kerns

William Kerns died Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Hospice of the Ozarks Hospice House at the age of 77. William Kerns was born in Rolfe, Iowa, a small town in northwest, Iowa, on the 25th of June, 1931, the son of Fred and Gertrude Peterson Kerns. He attended grade school in Plover and High School in Marathon, Iowa. He also attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota until the Korean War started in 1950 when he enlisted in the Navy and served 4 years. On June 3rd, 1956 he married Virginia (Ginny)Dettmann of Emmetsburg, Iowa. He was a 54 year member of the American Legion Post #12, having served as post commander and a 52 year member of the VFW and a charter member of the Korean War Vets of Mountain Home. He served on the Board of the Marathon Electric Co-op and the Albert City Thresherman and Collector Association. He enjoyed collecting old gas engines and tractors and was an avid woodcarver and member of the North Arkansas Woodcarver's Association. Bill was baptized in the Rolfe Lutheran Church and confirmed at Grace Lutheran in Marathon and also served on the church board. He and Ginny farmed in the Marathon area for 25 years while working part time for the U.S. Post Office and retiring after 26 years. In 1993 they moved to Midway, Arkansas. Survivors: Survivers include his wife, Ginny of the home, daughter, Kaye (Jim) Patterson of Olympia, WA, son Kyle (Leona) Kerns of Mountain Home, AR and grandchildren, Amanda and Jamie Patterson, Kaleigh and Keller Kerns, and Josh and Mike Spence, 2 brothers, Jim (Carol) Kerns of Springfield, MO, and Don (Barb) Kerns of Mountain Home, AR. Preceded in Death by: He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation: Visitation will be from 4-6 P.M. Sunday, January 11, 2009 at Kirby & Family Funeral Home, Bull Shoals. Funeral: Memorial services for William L. Kerns (Bill) of Midway, AR, formerly of Marathon, Iowa will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 12, 2009 at Christ by the Lake Lutheran Church, with Reverend David B. Mattson, officiating. Burial: Burial will be in Poland Township Cemetery, Marathon, Iowa. Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Ozarks or Christ by the Lake Lutheran Church. Additional Notes: Military Honors provided by Hoevel-Barnett VFW Post 1341