Don Kern passed away July 16, 2015 in Springfield, MO. He battled cancer for five years but finally succumbed to the side effects of the disease and its treatments. He was born May 20, 1927 in Chicago, IL to William and Marie Kern.

Don attended Kelly High School in Chicago and joined the United States Navy in 1944. He served in the South Pacific on the L-S-T 1047. Don loved playing golf, fishing, anything related to electronics, automobiles and the Chicago White Sox. He worked for the Cities Service Oil Co. and Occidental Petroleum where he retired after 35 years of service.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. He is survived by his wife, Helen; brother, Jerry; three children, daughters, Regina Morgan and husband Darell, Karen Spradlin and son, Don C. Kern and wife Diane; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Dear to his heart was his sister-in-law, Billye Craig; nephew, Mike Craig and wife Kathy; nieces, Cindy Craig and Dana Rookstool and husband Scott.

Services are private under the direction of Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Don may be made to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) at www.dav.org.