Francis Richard Kern
MILLER CITY – Francis Richard Kern, 85, of Miller City died on September 4, 2012 at 9:53 a.m. at Putnam County Ambulatory Care Center, Glandorf. He was a retired teacher, having taught 41 years at high schools in East Liberty (Logan County), Glandorf, New Riegel (Seneca County) and retired from Ottoville High School in 1992. He was born in Miller City on May 11, 1927 to Frank and Mary Ann (Schmiedebusch) Kern. Both are deceased. He married Patricia Ann Miller in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Toledo and she survives in Miller City.
He is also survived by three daughters: Mary Beth (Joseph) Stein of Lima, Terrie (James) Drummelsmith of Miller City, Karen (Charles) Schroeder of Ottawa; a son: David (Tammy Verhoff) Kern of Miller City; twelve grandchildren: Nicholas (Jamie) Drummelsmith, Julie (T.J. Pendergast) Drummelsmith, Eric (Cara) Drummelsmith, Lee Drummelsmith, Adam Drummelsmith, Kendra (Steve) Baumgartner, Kaitlin Schroeder, Kirstie Schroeder, Kari Schroeder, Jared Kern, and twins, Alexander and Andrew Kern; a sister: Jane (John) Sullivan of Miller City; 3 great-grandchildren: Landon Drummelsmith, Ellison Pendergast, Henry Baumgartner; and one step great-grandchild: Kendra Craft.
He was also preceded in death by two sisters: Marie (Thomas) Ray and Pauline (Kenneth) Rice and five brothers: Raymond (Esther and Dorothy) Kern, Wilfred Kern (infant), Donald (Marcille) Kern, Robert (Nan) Kern, and Joseph "Ed" (Louise) Kern.
He enjoyed traveling and also camping with his wife, Pat. They did this throughout the contiguous 48 states, in addition to New Foundland, Nova Scotia, and other Canadian provinces. They also visited Mexico. They made three trips to Europe, visiting sixteen countries, including Russia, the Baltic States, Poland, countries of Northern and Southern Europe, always choosing interesting, historic places to visit. He especially liked exploring Moscow's Red Square, St. Petersburg, Rome, the Berlin Wall, Paris, London, Venice, and the city of Coventry World War II bombing site, along with the Normandy D-Day landing beaches of June, 1944. Meeting people throughout the United States and foreign countries was a highlight of his life.
Many of his leisure hours were spent in post-production video editing, centering his interests on recording video programs of their travels and family events. He and his wife, Pat, enjoyed flower gardening together.
In his professional life, he was a classroom teacher, Educational Media Specialist, and Audio-Visual Director. For many years, he was faculty advisor for student newspapers, some of which were state journalism award winners. He was also faculty advisor for production of school yearbooks. He became organizer for the first-ever school yearbook at both New Riegel and Ottoville High Schools.
In 1985, the Northwest Ohio Education Association honored him by awarding him the "Red Apple Award", recognizing his contributions and outstanding service to education and teachers.
He was a graduate of Miller City-New Cleveland District High School and Bowling Green State University. He also completed course work and post-graduate programs with Ohio University, Athens, Ohio; Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; Utah State University, Logan, Utah; University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1958, he completed requirements for a Master's Degree and graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. In the 1960's he was a Federal Government-sponsored participant in the National Defense Education Act program of studies at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
He had been a member of the National and also Ohio Education Associations, a member of the American Association of Audio-Visual Directors, the Ohio Media Education Association, Ohio and Putnam County Retired Teacher's Associations, Ohio Environmental Council, Putnam County Citizens For Clean Air and Water, the Sierra Club, and Lima YMCA.
He was a World War II Occupation Period army veteran, attached to the Engineers 9840 Technical Service Unit, 9th Service Command. He held the rank of Sergeant and was discharged in 1946. He was a member-holder of the Meritorious Unit Award, World War II Victory medal, and the American Campaign Medal. He was a charter member of the World War II Memorial Society of Washington, D.C., being instrumental in leadership in getting help to build the Veteran's Memorial at the north end of Miller City. He was a life member of the Miller City Diemer-Dobmeyer American Legion Post 172, and served as Post Commander for several years and also was a delegate to several Department of Ohio American Legion Conventions. He took a great deal of pride in honoring deceased veterans by playing taps at military funerals, starting as far back as his high school years. As a Legionnaire, he helped organize veterans' funeral rites, as well as annual Memorial Day programs. In his later years, he took on the responsibility of seeing to it that on every Memorial Day there was an American Flag flying on every veteran's grave in the six cemeteries in Palmer Township. He was also a life member of Bavaria AMVETS Post 599.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2012 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Miller City with Fr. Stephen Schroeder and Fr. Robert DeSloover officiating. There will be a military graveside service by Miller City American Legion and New Bavaria AMVETS following the mass at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at LOVE FUNERAL HOME, Ottawa where there will be a rosary at 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Miller City American Legion Post 172 "Gifts to Yanks Who Gave" Program.
Condolences may be expressed at: www.lovefuneralhome.com.

---