Howard "Smokey" Kern
Howard LaVern “Smokey” Kern age 85 of Durand, died Thursday January 3, 2013 at the Oakview Care Center in Durand.
Smokey was born May 16, 1927 in Pepin Co. rural Durand. He was the son of Jacob and Olga (Arndt) Kern. He grew up in the Arkansaw area and attended the Plummer School in Arkansaw. Smokey began his working career at Fisher Well Drilling in Durand. Smokey later began working for Matt Berry (Sp.?) Garage, which later became McMahon Motors where he became “Mr. Goodwrench” for over 60 years. He was a member of the Chippewa Valley Hospital Board and served as an Alderman on the Durand City Council.
Smokey is survived by his wife Carol of 61 years; his three daughters, Sue (Kurt) Richardson of Arkansaw; Mary Jo (John) Gilles of Eaton, CO; Jill (Tim) Herbst of Arkansaw; his grandchildren, Renee (Rick) Heintz, Jamie (Trevor) McBeth, Amber (Brian) Ritchey, Luke Herbst, Kayla and Lynsay Richardson, Lacey (Mike) Raiche; five (and the sixth on the way) great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Bernice Kern and Myrna Buchholtz; two brothers-in-law, Charlie and Ralph (Velma) Buchholtz.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two granddaughters, Julie Richardson and Brianna Gilles; his twelve siblings; father and mother-in-law, Otto & Eunice Buchholtz, brothers-in-law, Jack and Bob Buchholtz.