Earl Kern

Earl Dean Kern 87, passed away Sunday, April 15, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 14, 1924 in Preston, ID to Alfred and Amy Kern. After high school he worked as a surveyor and briefly for the IRS, then earned an accounting degree from Brigham Young University. He was employed by US Steel for over 30 years. Earl married Edith Bodily in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in 1947. Together they raised four children in the San Francisco, CA and Pittsburgh, PA areas. At retirement they returned to Idaho, where Edith passed away in 2002. Earl was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many capacities, including as a member of the Pittsburgh, PA stake presidency. For years he made weekly food deliveries to needy families in southern Arizona. He was an avid fly fisherman and horseman, and shared his enjoyment of the outdoors with all. Earl married Irma Cooke of Tucson in 2004 and moved to Arizona. Despite his illness, he continued to ride his horse, "Caballo," with Irma and friends until just months before his death. A loving husband, doting father and grandfather, and a loyal friend, he will be greatly missed. Earl is survived by his wife, Irma; his three children, Sharon (Michael) Taylor, Preston, ID, Karl B. (Martha) Kern, Tucson, AZ and Traci (Jeffrey) Cline, Maple Valley, WA; 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; also by Irma's four children, Kimberly (Gary) Harding, Escalante, UT, Bradly (Ann) Cooke, Los Alamos, NM, Derek (Laura) Cooke, Oro Valley, AZ and Bryce (Debbie) Cooke, Bradley, IL; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott B. Kern. Services will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the LDS Rincon Chapel, 1655 S. Melpomene Way, Tucson, AZ. Burial will be in the Fairview, Idaho Cemetery. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.