Eleanor M. McKern (1934-2009)

MCKERN

Posted By: Padriag
Date: 12/26/2010 at 12:54:19

Eleanor M. McKern

Eleanor M. (Gerst) McKern, passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009, after a long illness. She was born in Oakville, Iowa on April 27, 1934, she grew up on her parents' farm with five siblings.

She was valedictorian of her senior class at Huron High School in Oakville and attended nursing school in Burlington, Iowa before moving to Council Bluffs. Eleanor worked many years as a registered nurse at Mercy and Jennie Edmundson Hospitals. She married her husband, Lawrence on June 8, 1957 and with her husband, raised seven children on an acreage in rural Council Bluffs. In 2006, Eleanor moved to her daughter's home in Papillion, Neb., where she passed away.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her sister, Naomi Thompson; brothers, Ronald and Hank Gerst; grandson, Mark Roberson.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence; sons, Fred (Freda) McKern, Roanoke, Virginia, Larry (Mary) McKern of Council Bluffs; daughters, Pamm (Tim) Killeen of Papillion, Neb., Denise (Rick) Martin of Pensacola, Fla., Nancy Roberson, Sherri (Dan) Cooper, Patti (Lyman) Jacoba all of Council Bluffs; 13 grandchildren, Toby (Melissa) McKern, Andy McKern, Jason (Jaime) Roberson, Eric and Megan McKern, Shawn (Brooke) Killeen, Ashley (Joel) Bails, Aaron (Tressa) Cooper, Justin and April Cooper, Brandon Jacoba, Heather and Scott Hansen; 3 step grandchildren, Stephanie McCorkle, Richard and Patrick Martin, 16 great grandchildren; brother, Dennis (Ann) Gerst of Mediapolis, Iowa; sister, Wanda Lee of Burlington, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Gerst of Burlington, Iowa, Sandra Gerst; brother-in-law, Dick Thompson both of Phoenix, Arizona; dear friends, Loyd and Margaret O'Neill of Neola, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Waters and Vera Jensen.

Funeral service is today at 11 a.m. at the Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home with Rev. David Weesner, Pastor of Salem United Methodist Church officiating.

Interment Garner Township Cemetery with a lunch following at Salem United Methodist Church.

Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association or Lewis Township Fire Dept.

Source: The Hawk Eye
PO Box 10, 800 S. Main St.
Burlington, Iowa 52601