Kern, Darlene Ann (1923 - 2023)

KERN, DOHRMANN, HEIN, PIERCE, MUELLER, DARRINGTON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/8/2023 at 14:44:37

Name of deceased: Darlene Ann Kern (nee Dohrmann, Hein)

Aged: 94 yrs, 10 mo, 11 days

Residence: Shelby, Shelby County, IA

Born: Sep. 18, 1928 (adopted at 5½ weeks); location not provided

Died: July 29, 2023; UnityPoint Hospice Taylor House, Des Moines, Polk County, IA

Funeral services: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023; Salem United Methodist Church, Council Bluffs, IA; burial was in the Shelby Cemetery, Shelby, IA

Survived by: Children, Kathryn (spouse, Douglas) Pierce of Norwalk, IA, Stanley (spouse, Cathy) Kern of Shelby, IA, Vicki (spouse, Michael) Mueller of Silverthorne, CO, and Connie (spouse, Craig) Darrington of Neola, IA; 9 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; brother, Glen Dohrmann (spouse, Betty) of Cedarburg, WI; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Birth parents, Johanna and August Dohrmann; adoptive parents, Ferdinand and Bertha (nee Noehren) Hein; husband, Kenneth; 2 sisters; 1 brother

Education: no information provided

Religious affiliation: Very active member, being a teacher for Bible School, Sunday School and much later a confirmation teacher. After becoming a member of Salem Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, IA, she worked as visiting director. At an Iowa annual church conference, she was given the job of door knocker in Carter Lake, being instrumental in starting a new Methodist church there. She retired when her husband died. She then wrote a book “Stones of Remembrance”

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Kenneth Charles Kern; Sep. 1, 1946; location not provided

Employment: Farmer’s wife

Hobbies/Interests: Was active with Ladies Aide, band mothers, on the Centennial Committee and deeply involved with each of her children’s education; was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #441 of Council Bluffs, IA for more than 50 years; she was the Sentinel and was elected into many stations, all the way up to Worthy Matron. She took training to become a Certified Lay Speaker and would fill in for pastors around Western Iowa. After the passing of her husband, she then wrote a book “Stones of Remembrance.”
Was very creative with yarn, making Christmas ornaments every year for each of her children and grandchildren; she created and designed Kleenex box covers, crosses and many unique gifts.

Sources: kjan.com; burmeisterjohannsen.com