Geoffrey Konrad "Geoff" Kern

Services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, September 20th at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Pastor Edwin Ledezma officiating. Burial will follow in Providence Cemetery.

Geoffrey was born on April 1, 1956, in Washington D C. His parents were John Konrad Kern and Nancy Baber (Kern) McNeill. As a young boy his parents traveled from the United States to live in Germany. While living abroad, his family traveled throughout Europe. Living in Germany as a young boy, that whole experience gave him insight into the different cultures, languages and the history of each place he visited. Upon their return to the US they lived in Kansas, Illinois at his mother’s ancestral home. He enjoyed spending time with his grandfather, Adin Baber. The relationship with his grandfather continued through letters after his parents moved the family to Carpinteria, California.

He attended Carpinteria High School and developed his love of music while playing trombone in his high school band. Before graduating, he traveled to Bogor, Central Java, Indonesia as a foreign exchange student. Later in life, he was able to reconnect with a friend he had while living in Indonesia via social media.

His life dramatically changed once he committed his life to Christ. He pursued his college education at North Texas University in Denton because of their nationally recognized Jazz Music Program. He had a love of jazz that was rooted from spending time listening to his father’s jazz music collection. Later, he enjoyed writing multi-instrument pieces and his original works that he later sold on an internet music platform.

Geoff was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, William Baber Kern.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Lindsey Kern, whom he married on December 1, 2001, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They built their lives together here in Paris, Texas for almost 24 years. A sister-in-law, Cheryl Lindsey of Reno, Texas. His eldest brother, John Michael Kern & wife, Melissa of Pacific Grove, California. Geoff has two daughters, Shannon Kern of Lakewood, Colorado. His youngest daughter, Stephanie Garland of Arvada, Colorado is the mother of his two grandchildren, Lillian Iris and Dillon Reese. His special canine companion, Evee Mae, was adopted from Baby Gunn’s rescue. She brought an extra level of support to him through a difficult time in his life.

He considered the Paris SDA as his church family. They loved and supported him in prayer through each of his battles with cancer. In fact, many local and area churches added him to their prayer lists. He was a firm believer in the power of prayer. His doctors were amazed by the fact he had surpassed any medical statistic with the different cancers he endured. He was thankful for modern medicine and the advances in cancer treatment, but he never hesitated to remind his physicians of his faith playing an even bigger role in his victories.

His family gives thanks to all who loved and supported them in words of encouragement and prayers during this almost 2 year battle with cancer. The family would like to express appreciation to Platinum Palliative & Hospice Care for the compassion shown to Geoff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Baby Gunn’s Animal Rescue, 601 CR 43340, Paris, TX 75462 or the charity of your choice.