George Gerald Kernen

It is with a heavy heart that our family said goodbye to a truly wonderful man. George Gerald Kernen (Jerry), 82 of Gold River, passed away at home on the 24th of January surrounded by his family. Jerry was born on October 27, 1941, in Chico, California. He is preceded by his parents Marvin and Lois Kernen. After Jerry graduated from La Sierra High School in 1959, he went on to study at Eastern Washington University where he majored in Education. On August 25, 1962, Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Stromer in their hometown of Sacramento. After a two-day honeymoon in San Francisco, they headed back to Cheney so Jerry could finish his last two years of college. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1964, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the United States Army. Jerry’s military career spanned 26 years to include a tour in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 where he oversaw a Medical Company for the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He returned as a Captain with a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. It was obvious at this point he was to be a career soldier.

In between the many military moves, they grew their family to include three children: Brett, Kimberly, and Chad. After his retirement, and having reached his final rank of full Colonel, he was excited to pursue his passion for collecting and restoring antiques and ran “Kernen’s Antiques’ with his wife for over 15 years. He also loved hot rods which led him to join the ‘Over the Hill’ car club where he attended numerous car shows displaying his 1933 Vicky. He and Nancy also enjoyed playing golf with the Cordova Couples group for many years with yearly trips to Monterrey and Mexico. They also enjoyed their years of friendship with the Motley Crue investment club where they spent hours discussing investment strategies all the while creating lifetime friends.

He is survived by wife of 61 years, Nancy Ann, son Brett Kernen and wife Donna Jai, daughter Kimberly Holmes and husband Terry, and son Chad Kernen (deceased), three grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law and 1 sister-in-law (deceased), 4 brothers-in-law, and 1 brother-in-law (deceased), and 9 nieces and nephews.

He was truly loved by all who knew him. Rest easy my friend, your watch is done.