George Martin Kerns (1871-1942)

KERNS, GARNER, MILLER, VON SCHRADER

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 10/31/2019 at 20:47:30

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier April 11, 1942
George Martin Kerns, above widely known Ottumwa architect, died Friday, at his home 155 East Court street, at 6:30 p.m. He had been ill for over four months. Mr. Kerns came to Ottumwa from Rock Island in 1903. Distinguished in his profession, he drew plans for and built more homes in Ottumwa than any other person in the city's history. Among the larger buildings which he designed, outstanding are the armory-coliseum, and the new Wapello county home. He had begun the practice of architecture in Rock Island before coming to Ottumwa. Mr. Kerns was an elder in the First Presbyterian church and was active in civic affairs. He was one of the 16 charter members of the Ottumwa rotary club in 1916 and was president of the club in 1920. He was a former president of the Ottumwa Country club and a member of Ottumwa Lodge No. 16 A.F. & A.M. He was also a member of the American Institute of Architects and other professional associations. Mr. Kerns was born October 12, 1871, in Moline Illinois, the son of S.A. and Clara Martin Kerns. He married Edna Garner of Ottumwa in 1897. She preceded him in death in 1903. He married Leona Miller in Bloomington, Illinois in 1906. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Gertrude von Schrader, Ottumwa, and Clara Alice Kerns, art teacher in Shenandoah. Two grandchildren Jean and Chandler von Schrader, also survive. Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Lester Jay funeral home, in charge of the Rev. Richard Paul Graebel D.D. of the First Presbyterian church. Funeral services for George M. Kearns were held at 2 p.m. today at the Lester Jay funeral home. Honorary pallbearers were Merrill C. Gilmore, Frank P. Pollard, T.H. Foster, W.H. Ferguson, C.B. Searle, Frank von Schrader and C.C. Coupland. Active pallbearers were Albert M. Efner, Ralph Vernon, Leonard Major, Jack Raney, A.B. Carlson and Earl A. Wimmer.