Nicholas E. "Nick" Kern, Sr.

Nicholas Kern, Sr., age 79, of Shawano Lake, formerly of Appleton, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at The Cottages on Golden Pond in Shawano. He was born on November 16, 1934, in Appleton, the son of the late Nicholas J. and Margaret (Weiland) Kern. Nick married Donna Zephirin on September 17, 1955 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Appleton. They were blessed with four children, Susan (Kevin) Gerarden, Julie (Mike Saunders) Herb, Kathleen (David) Heger and Nicholas E. Kern, Jr.; eleven grandchildren: Paul (Melissa Cichantek) Gerarden, Charles (Meghan Helmle) Gerarden and John Gerarden, Jodi Kay (Ryan) Dorshorst; Natalie (Luke) Kohtala and Broderick Herb; Amy (Michael) Berghuis and Layla Heger; Karri, Nicholas Benjamin, and Tobias Kern; and four great grandchildren: Megan, Teddy, Dylan and Lincoln. Donna passed away on March 9, 2002 after 47 ½ years of marriage. Nick married Marilyn Gunther on October 16, 2004. He welcomed eight step-children, eleven step-grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren into his family.

Nick is further survived by his sisters: Lorraine Coopman, Joyce Frank, and Donna (Cornelius) Van Hout; brothers-in-law, Leonard Wyngaard and James (Vicki) Zephirin, along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother: Vincent Kern; sisters and brothers-in-law: Vernon Coopman, Dolores (Harley) Reinholz, JoAnn (Jerome) Jost, Rita Wyngaard, Bernice (Bob) Schmidt, and William Frank; nephews, Dennis Schmidt and Jay Wyngaard; and nieces, Kim Wyngaard and Christine Reinholz.

Nick attended St. Joseph Elementary School, St. Lawrence Seminary, and graduated from St. Mary High School in Menasha. He was a charter member and trustee at St. Bernadette Parish, and past president of St. Bernadette School Home School Association. Nick retired from Miller Electric after 41 years of employment and was past president at the Miller Electric Credit Union. He was also a vice president at NE Wisconsin World Trade Association. Nick has been a member of St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cecil for the past 10 years.

The funeral liturgy for Nicholas will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 23, 2014 at ST. BERNADETTE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2331 E. Lourdes Drive, Appleton. Fr. Donald Zuleger will be officiating. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Appleton. A visitation will take place on Sunday at Wichmann Funeral Home downtown chapel, 537 N. Superior Street in Appleton from 6:00 pm until a prayer service at 8:00 pm, and again at church on Monday at the church from 10:00 am until 10:45 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Bernadette Catholic Church or the Alzheimer's Association are appreciated. Online condolences can be offered at www.wichmannfargo.com.

A special thank you to the staff at The Cottages on Golden Pond, and Heartland Hospice, for the care and compassion shown to Nick and our family.