Virginia M. Kern

She was preceded in death by her husband, Max; son, Wayne; brothers Pastor Will (Billy) Goodell and Robert (Bobby) Goodell; sisters Dorothy (Goodell) Jennings and Barbara (Goodell) Jones; along with her parents and grandparents.

Surviving are daughters Jeannette Walters (Wyoming, Ml) and Carolyn Templeman and husband, Steve (Lake Ozark, MO); son, Kevin (Wyoming, Ml); sister, Shirley (Goodell) Koehler and husband, Ken (Council Bluffs, IA); 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her father was Pastor of the Disciples Christian Church. Virginia spent her growing up years in Indianola, Minden, Edison, and Burwell (all in Nebraska), before the family's final move to Lebanon, KS in November, 1939. Her father continued to pastor until his retirement in that area. Virginia graduated from Lebanon High School in 1944 and attended Phillips University in Enid, OK for one year. During that year, she traveled to many churches, holding revivals with her brother, Billy. She led the music and he preached.

When WWII ended on August 14, 1945, her fiancé, Max M. Kern (a Navy pilot) called from Livermore, CA, and asked her to ride the train to meet him there and get married. Their wedding ceremony was in Livermore on August 17, 1945. After Max ended his service in the Navy, they moved to their farm in Athol, KS, where they lived for six years. While living on the farm, three of their children were born: Wayne Larken (deceased) born May 6, 1947; Jeannette Louise born September 29, 1950; and Carolyn Sue born July 27, 1952. They then moved to Smith Center, KS for three years where Max switched from Navy to National Guard and formed the first Guard Unit in Smith Center. They moved to Norton, KS and lived there for 12 years, during which Kevin Lee was born on June 6, 1964. Major Kern continued in his service in the National Guard, retiring as Lt. Colonel in 1967 after serving 15 years in the Guard. Max then moved the family to Prairie Village, KS so he could begin work for the Social Security Department at the Federal Building in Kansas City, MO.

After Max's retirement in 1985, he and Virginia enjoyed ten years of camping across the U.S. and Canada. Max passed away in April of 2001 while visiting daughter, Carolyn and her husband, Steve, in Newport Beach, CA. He and Virginia enjoyed 55 years of marriage.

During Virginia's life, her favorite pastimes were camping, reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, watching westerns on TV, and singing. She had performed in musicals and operettas in high school, and she sang for 40 years in church choirs, in duets with Max, and in trios.

At the time of her death, she was a member of Wyoming Park Bible Fellowship and had many friends in the Maranatha Bible Class there. Virginia will be missed by all who knew and loved her!

Visitation with friends and relatives will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Cook Funeral Home (West building), 4235 Prairie St. SW, Grandville, MI 49418. In honor of Virginia and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cookson Hills Christian School, 60416 Highway 10, Kansas, OK 74347. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.cookcaresgrandville.com.