Loretta Marie Kern

Loretta Marie Kern, 93, of Shiloh, IL formerly of Fairview Heights, IL, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. She was born in Centreville, IL on January 26th, 1931, to John and Lenora (Vermeulen) Kiefer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Vincent and Clarence Kiefer, and her husband, Marshall C. Kern, whom she married September 15, 1951, in Centreville, IL. Together they shared 72 wonderful years of marriage.

Loretta is survived by four children, Marsha (James) Karwoski of Shiloh, IL, Patty (Terry) Isbill of Fairview Heights, IL, Larry (Melinda) Kern of O'Fallon, IL, and Tim Kern of Fairview Heights, IL; grandchildren, Brendan Karwoski, Danielle (Connor) McCarthy, Chris Broadway, Lara Kern, and Adam (Emily) Kern; great-grandchildren, Patrick, Reagan, Sloane, and Odin; one sister-in-law, Betty Wenkel; and many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins.

During her lifetime, Loretta was a devoted wife and a beloved mother and grandmother. She and Marshall owned and operated Kern Construction. While he carried out the manual labor, she oversaw the business’s books. Ever-passionate about baking delicious goodies, she was always willing to share recipes (that is, as long as she actually had one written - as many of her well-known dishes were intuitively crafted without concern for proper measurements). Loretta enjoyed bowling in her women’s league on Monday mornings at St. Clair Bowl, playing countless hands of Canasta with friends, watching the many birds that frequented her windowsills, and tending to houseplants and flowers. At Thanksgiving, she was known to spearhead the family’s cherished BINGO competitions.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, formerly St. Albert’s Catholic Church in Fairview Heights, IL - the beloved parish where she was, for a time, the president on the Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and actively involved in organizing parish activities.

VISITATION: Visitation will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 505 Fountains Pkwy, Fairview Heights, IL 62208.

SERVICE: Funeral Mass will be held following the visitation at 12:00pm at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Final interment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.

Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church so that she may continue her legacy of involvement, even from beyond the grave.