James J. Kiernan, Sr.

James Joseph Kiernan, Sr., resident of Jacksonville, FL since 1999, passed away August 30, 2011. He was born in 1930 in New York, NY, son of the late Charles Francis and Katherine Mary (Kahofer) Kiernan who both passed away after returning to Scotland in the 1960's.

Jim was a devout, old school Catholic, and a man of great faith. He studied Catholicism with a fervor and has an extensive library on the history of the Catholic Church that his estate will be donating to a yet unknown Catholic teaching institution.

Mr. Kiernan retired from the US Navy after 20 years of service in which he honorably ended his career as a Chief Petty Officer after a final two year deployment in Kenitra, Morocco, when he retired in Tampa, FL in 1968.

He was preceded in death by his brother Peter Kiernan and his second ex-wife, Ann Kiernan, whom he still loved after getting divorced. They lived together in Las Vegas where he was an excellent slot machine mechanic and then after his second divorce hibernated into prospecting in the hills near Reno and Sparks, Nevada where he was mildly successful.

Surviving are four children: Donald J. Kiernan (Kate), James J. Kiernan, Jr., Katherine Kiernan Fries (David), Charles Kiernan (Shea); first ex-wife Lillian Kiernan Brown; six grandchildren: Josh, Donnie, Kristen, Kyle, Dylan and Elysia; one great-grandchild: Gracie; and his sister-in-law: Dorothy Kiernan.

Visitation will be held at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL on Friday, September 2, 2011 from 9:15 am until 10:00 am. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 am at Jacksonville National Cemetery.