KERNDT, Harold Henry 1926-2003

MARTI, KERNDT, HALVERSON, WIEMERSLAGE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/13/2005 at 07:06:15

HAROLD HENRY KERNDT

Harold H. Kerndt, 77, of Waukon, died Sunday, November 30, 2003, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Schneider and Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Burial with graveside military rites will be in Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Harold Henry Kerndt was born July 13, 1926, on the rural Lansing farm of his parents, Herman Henry and Clara Elizabeth (Marti) Kerndt. He attended the Lycurgus School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1945. Following school he farmed with his family in rural Lansing.

From 1951 until 1953 he served as a Corporal in the US Army, attended officer training school and saw action in the Korean War. He returned to the Lansing area following the service and on August 5, 1961, married Sharon Kay Vinton at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cresco.

From 1965 to 1971 he operated a custom home construction business. In the early 1970s, Harold purchased farms in the Waukon area. The operation eventually grew to 1,000 acres on which he grew corn and raised dairy and beef cattle with the help of his longtime herdsman Arnold King and his family.

At the same time, he began a career with Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank in Lansing as a farm representative. He eventually rose to the position of Executive Vice President, and was an integral part of their expansion to Harpers Ferry and West Union. He was still serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors at his death.

Harold was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon, Knights of Columbus, VFW, American Legion, Allamakee County Antique Auto Club, Pheasants Forever, Waukon Golf and Country Club, and various other business and community organizations. He had also been an active supporter and former leader in 4-H and served a term on the Board of Trustees of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as traveling throughout the United States and several foreign countries.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon of Waukon; a son, Clark (Susan) Kerndt of Apple Valley, Minn., and their daughter Miranda Grace; two sisters, Lucille Halverson of Waukon and Dorothy (Les) Wiemerslage of Decorah; and two sisters-in-law, Patsy Kerndt of Lansing and Rosemary Kerndt of Mesa, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Donald and Warren Kerndt; and a brother-in-law, Jack Halverson.

Honorary casketbearers are Wayne Bicknese, John Meyer, Doyle Schroeder, Jeff Thoms, Merrill Nerem, Karen Brennan, Pat Kerndt, Rodney Bloxham, and James Kerndt.

Casketbearers are Julie Hawes, Bradley Kerndt, Charles Kerndt, Dick Kerndt, Joan Becker, Jane Wiemerslage, Robert Wiemerslage, Kathy Halverson-Carpenter, Larry Halverson, Tom Halverson, and Lisa Halverson.

©Waukon Standard 2003
source: Waukon Standard, Waukon, Allamakee Co. IA, 12/3/2003

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Posted By: Diana Diedrich
Date: 1/14/2005

Harold H. Kerndt, 77, of Waukon, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in Veterans Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Waukon, by Farher Joseph Schneider and the Rev. Monsignor Ed Lechtenberg. Burial: Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing. Firends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home, Waukon.

Harold was a lifelong Allamakee County farmer and had a long-term career as a farm representative, executive vice president and chairman of the board at Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank of Lansing, Harpers Ferry and West Union. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was active in numberous community organizations.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; a son, Clark (Susan) of Apple Valley, Minn; and two sisters, Lucille Halverson of Waukon and Dorothy (Les) Wiemerslage of Decorah.

Source: The Cedar Rapids Gazette, December 2, 2003