Wayne L. Kern

CWO5 Wayne L. Kern, U.S. Army (Retired), 65, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, in Raleigh, NC, after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. He was born May 6, 1947, in Smith Center, Kan. Shortly after graduating from Norton High School Class of 1965, he joined the Kansas Army National Guard. In May of 2007, he retired from the National Guard Bureau Headquarters, Arlington, Va., after 43 years of dedicated service to our country, with tours of duty in Germany and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He received numerous awards and citations, including: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was then employed as a civilian military contractor with CACI until his passing. He was preceded in death by his father, Max M. Kern, and his grandparents, Ed and Ethyl Kern and William and Grace Goodell. He leaves behind, his wife of 20 years, A. Heather Kern of Wendell, NC. Survivors also include mother, Virginia Kern of Wyoming, Mich.; daughter, Kelli Kern-Denner and her husband Bob Denner of Gardner, Kan.; sisters, Jeannette Walters and Carolyn Templeman and her husband Steven; brother, Kevin Kern and his wife Alison. His extended family included many cousins, nieces and nephews. He earned many loyal friends and was highly respected amongst his fellow soldiers and co-workers. We are all deeply saddened, as he, and former wife, Cheri L. Kern, had hoped to meet his first grandchild due to arrive in early June of 2013. Wayne will be missed terribly and remembered fondly. Be with God, Wayne. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, Kan. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch, Overland Park. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. U.S. National Cemetery #1, Fort Scott, Kan. In lieu of flowers, please participate by sending donations in memory of Wayne Kern to: U.S. Army Caisson Platoon Equine Assisted Programs at their website: www.cpeap.org or contact Larry Pence, [email protected] McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-642-3565 www.mcgilleyhoge.com