Phyllis Patricia "Pat" Kern (1924-2013)

KERN, DANNEMAN, STANTON, PETTIT

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/11/2013 at 13:23:59

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Phyllis Patricia "Pat" Kern, 89, of Ames, Iowa, died of complications from dementia and aphasia on July 16, 2013, at home in Heartwood House at Northcrest Retirement Community. She was born on June 19, 1924, in Des Moines, IA, to Herman and Elsie Kern, of Norwalk, IA. Pat was the third of four children and now joins her brothers and parents in heaven, a journey for which she'd been longing for some time. According to her wishes, Pat has been cremated. A memorial service to celebrate Pat's life will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., in the Green Room at Northcrest in Ames. Burial will be in the Norwalk Cemetery at a later date.

Pat graduated from Norwalk High School as valedictorian in 1941. She will be remembered for her fierce independence and adventuresome spirit. Pat attended Simpson College from 1941-1942 and later attended Iowa State University. She worked at several jobs in the Des Moines area until 1946, when she passed the Civil Service Test and took her stenograph and foot locker of clothes to Washington DC where she worked for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She returned to Des Moines in 1947 and worked for William Beardsley (who would later become Governor) in the State Legislature and for the Des Moines Register and Tribune.

Pat moved to Minneapolis in 1948 and began working for Gamble Skogmo Hardware. From 1952 until her retirement in 1984, she worked for Pillsbury. In 1974, she was promoted to Manager of Consumer Protection and was responsible for customer liability claims and consumer complaints. Pat was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church while living in Minneapolis.

Pat returned to Norwalk in 1988. She moved to West Des Moines in 1997 and to Ames in 2004, to join the Northcrest family. While at Northcrest she volunteered in their library for six years and enjoyed frequent walks around the community. She loved reading murder mysteries and watching Law & Order on TV. She also enjoyed art, plants, birds, and coloring.

Pat is survived by her nephews Ben (Carolyn) Kern and Byron (Sue) Kern of Norwalk; niece Katie (Mike) Danneman of Aurora, CO; niece Elizabeth (Tom) Stanton of Danvers, MA; six great nieces and nephews: Michael Kern of Des Moines; Adam Kern, Jennie Kern, Nick (Crystal) Kern, Scott Kern, and Michelle (Austin) Pettit, all of Norwalk; three great-great nieces and nephews: Aurelia Kern, Shyanne Pettit, and Hunter Pettit, all of Norwalk; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers: John, Byron, and Dick.

Pat's family wishes to thank Dr. Berryhill and the staff at Northcrest/Heartwood House for their compassionate, dedicated, loving, and competent care over the past several years. Memorials may be made to Northcrest Health Care Center/Heartwood House or WOI-Iowa Public Radio.

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