John (Jack) E. Kern, Jr.

John (Jack) E. Kern, Jr., age 82, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Heartland Hospice House. He was born on July 19, 1934 in Westfield, MA to the late John E. Kern, Sr. and Bertha (La Grave) Kern.

Jack was a proud and avid American. He was proud of his family and the legion of which he was a decedent from. In 1749 on the ship, St. Andrew, Jacob and Elizebeth Kern sailed to America from Rotterdam to set foot on American soil for the first time in Philadelphia, where their son, Michael Kern married Mary Boone. Michael became a patriot serving in the Revolutionary War. Jack was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution-Pennsylvania Society. He also enjoyed tracing his genealogy and was a member of the Berks County, Pennsylvania and National Genealogical Societies.

Jack proudly served in the U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict at N.S.A., where he met his beloved wife. He was a member of the Marine Corps League, the American Legion and the N. R. A. Then, in 1957, Jack began his 48 year career with DuPont until his retirement in 2005. He was also a member of APPL (Amateur Radio).

Jack was preceded in death by his loving wife, Darlene L. (Weimer) Kern, as well as his parents. He is survived by his three daughters, Deborah S. Kern-Dillon, Brenda K. DiVincenzo (John), and Katherine A. (Campbell) Hawthorne (Robert); his six grandchildren, Jeffery and Jordan Dillon; Claudia and Christopher DiVincenzo; and Ashley and Maygan Campbell; as well as two great grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit on Thursday, April 6 from 10 to 11 AM at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808, where a Celebration of Jack’s Life will begin at 11 AM. Interment will be held on Saturday, April 8 at 10:30 AM in Pine Hill Cemetery, 140 West Silver St., Westfield, MA 01085.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, 114 N. Main St., Doylestown, PA 18901 or the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, Suite #205, New Castle, DE 19720.

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