Clement Kern

Clement Joseph Kern, age 90, of Bluegrass, MN, died March 20, 2009 at his home. Clem was born the eldest of 8 children to Adam and Emily (Botzet) Kern on March 11, 1919. He spent his early years working with his father and uncles in the logging and threshing businesses. He was united in marriage to Margaret Dougherty on July 16, 1946, at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Bluegrass. He and Margaret raised seven children on their farm east of Bluegrass. To supplement the farm income Clem worked for the Mesabi Iron Mining Company in northern Minnesota, and for the Northern Co-op in Wadena. Clem loved fishing with friends and family, enjoyed watching Twins baseball games, had a nostalgic fondness for old tractors and steam engines, and a great affinity for machines of any kind. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church. His family was very important to him and he loved visits from his 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He could always manage a smile and a twinkle came to his eyes as he found the humor in their antics. He had a great memory and loved to reminisce and tell tales of bygone days. Clem was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Emily; brothers, Ray, Ed, and Bob; and sister, Hilde Uselman. He will be sadly missed by Margaret, his wife of 62 years; sons, Gary, Gene (Jan), and Jack (Ronda), all of Sebeka; daughters, Barbara (John) Runck of Iowa City, IA, Trudy (Murlyn) Kreklau of Sebeka, Laurie (Jim) Wolf of Eagle River, AK, and Mitzi (Mike) Blanchard of Muskego, WI; 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; brother, Bill Kern of Bluegrass; sisters, Mary Kern of Bluegrass, and Dorie Stoltman of Minnetonka; and many nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 11:00 AM at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church in Bluegrass with Father Michael Kellogg as celebrant. Honorary pallbearers were his granddaughters, Cindi Lillquist, Mandy Bouwman, Gianna Swift, Julie Stevens, Laura Haman, Sara Erickson, Cydney Wolf, Molly Wolf, Tori Kern, Haylea Kern, Addie Blanchard, Hannah Blanchard, and Martha Blanchard. Active pallbearers were his grandsons, Ted Kern, Jeff Kern, Christopher Runck, Joe Kreklau, Zack Kreklau, Adam Kern, Alex Wolf, and Isaac Wolf. Interment was in St. Hubert’s Catholic Cemetery, east of Bluegrass.

Clement Kern

March 11, 1919 - March 20, 2009