Donald E. Kerns 1928 - 1940

KERNS, DANELS, RECKNER, HOPKINS

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 4/7/2011 at 09:45:22

Donald E. Kerns, 78, of Burlington, died at Great River Medical Center, December 24, 2006.

Born in Oskaloosa, April 15, 1928, he was the son of Hugh Elliot and Garnett Juanita Danels Kerns. On July 4, 1948, he married Donna Lee Reckner in Burlington.

He attended Burlington schools and was a Navy veteran from 1946 until 1948 as seaman first class. While living in California, he was a honeycomb bonder for Northrup Aircraft. He retired after 25 years with the Iowa Correctional facilities in Fort Madison and Mount Pleasant, where he helped write policy for the Medium Security Unit in Mount Pleasant when it opened in the mid 1970s. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 10102 and a 50–year member of Beach Cities Masonic Lodge AF&AM in Hawthorne, California. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, collecting coins, going to auctions, mushroom hunting at the farm and caring for horses.

Survivors include his wife of Burlington; two daughters, Gail Kerns and Laura Hopkins, both of Burlington; four grandchildren; and one brother, Danny Kerns of Liberty, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one great–granddaughter.

The funeral was held in Lunning Chapel, with the Rev. Carl Engstrom officiating. The Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard conducted military rites.