Daniel Richard Kern

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 We are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Daniel Richard Kern went home to be with the Lord December 15, 2021. A celebration of the life will be held Saturday January 22, 2022 at 2pm at Cascade Community Church in Monroe WA.

Daniel Richard Kern was born September 6, 1953 to Geraldine (Gage) and Richard Kern in Faribault Minnesota, graduating from Owatonna (Minnesota) High School in 1971. Following a trip to Glacier National Park with his grandparents as a youth, Dan knew he wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest and announced he wanted to build a horse farm in the mountains. Dan's uncle Milt Fritze provided Dan an opportunity to join him in his construction business in Coeur d' Alene Idaho, where Dan met and married Gretchen Doran, bringing three children into the world. The construction industry led them to the Puget Sound where Dan began providing finish carpentry services as Kern Construction, where he enjoyed intricate, challenging custom millwork. Dan and Gretchen later divorced. Dan earned a reputation as a skilled craftsman with several Puget Sound area builders, not just in millwork and finish carpentry but also in solving difficult framing problems. Dan was especially proud when his son Joel joined the family business, and they worked together for many years.

A mutual friend succeeded in her matchmaking efforts when Dan and Jeanine Richardson were married March 3, 2001. In 2003 they embarked on their "Great Adventure", moving to rural Snohomish County outside Monroe Washington, fulfilling Dan's dream of building their home with architectural and millwork details of his own design, surrounded by evergreen trees.

At various times in his life Dan enjoyed riding road bicycles, single track mountain biking, downhill snow skiing, growing dahlias, Gordon Setter dogs, helping friends and family with remodeling projects, serving as President of the Cherry Ridge Estates Property Owners Association, puttering in his newly-finished shop, and sharing the joys of a rural lifestyle with his children and grandchildren. Dan was a member of Cascade Community Church in Monroe Washington.

Dan is survived by his wife Jeanine, sons Joel (Donna) Kern and Justin Kern, daughter Jillian (Jeff) Skillman, brother Jeff Kern, three grandchildren, half brothers Kurt Kern and Kipp Kern, and half-sisters Kari Selthun, Kelli Kern, and Kami Jensen. Dan is preceded in death by his parents, and sister Kimberly Peach.

Memorials may be made to the Cascade Community Church Community Care Fund, Pacific Northwest Gordon Setter Rescue Fund, or the Daniel Kern Trade School Scholarship Fund.