Kenneth Kerndt

Kenneth L. Kerndt, 90, of Waukon, died Monday, August 10, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, August 14, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon, with Rev. Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Kenneth Leslie Kerndt was born January 24, 1925, in Waukon, the son of Leslie W. and Irene (Gruber) Kerndt. He attended Center #2 rural school and graduated from Waukon High School in 1943. September 11, 1946, he married Geraldine Evelyn Verthein at French Creek Methodist Church in rural Lansing. They started out farming in Center Township until 1960, when they bought and moved to a farm in Jefferson Township. They milked dairy cows and raised hogs and crops. Kenneth took great pride in soil conservation; he was one of the first farmers to build terraces to save the soil as much as he could. Kenneth also received several dairy awards.
Kenneth was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as treasurer, a trustee, and was involved with Bible study. He was also a member of the Allamakee County Farm Bureau, Allamakee County Soil Conservation, was a Jefferson Township trustee, and was involved with the Republican Central Committee. Kenneth and Geraldine enjoyed traveling through the Midwest, attending bluegrass music festivals, and hosting farming students from England and France. He enjoyed reading, especially about farming, taking pictures, and attending the Old Threshing Reunions in Mt. Pleasant. Kenneth always said it was very important for his children to belong to FFA and 4-H.
Survivors include his children: Gregory (Pam) Kerndt of Waukon, Karen (David) Hart of Anchorage, AK, and Patricia (Kirby) Walton of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren: Christine Kerndt, Benjamin (Misty) Kerndt, Sarah (Sean) Kolva, Lindsey Kerndt, Leah Hart, Anna Walton, and Isaac Walton; two great-grandchildren: Daysha and Isaiah Walton; a brother, Leslie (Ada Marie) Kerndt Jr. of Waukon; and two sisters-in-law: Arlene Kerndt and Wilma Verthein, both of Waukon. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Geraldine, who died March 6, 2015; and a brother, Willard Kerndt.
Casketbearers are Jeff Schon, Greg and Eric Palmer, Paul Promnitz, Clint Ludeking, and Dale Roney.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.