Paul Stanley Kern, 62, of Joplin, MO cracked his last sarcastic joke on January 10, 2016 in St. Louis, MO after a lifetime of abundant love and joy, which finally wore his great heart out.
Born April 22, 1953 to Stanley W. and Loretta M. (Lowe) Kern in Detroit, MI, Paul was a “nerdy” child according to his sister, but she added he “tried new things, and he was game for just about anything.” He was the first boy, but he had two loving older sisters, Cynthia (Kern) Lorah and Denise (Kern) Lintner to keep him in line at least until he was joined by his baby brother Jack Kern, and then the boys gave them all a run for their money.
In 1981 he married Carol Moses, both bringing a child to the union. Paul brought Jennifer (Kern) Burns and Carol brought Brady Moses. They added to their blended family in 1983 when Kimberly (Kern) Wenger was born, and again in 1987 when Amanda Kern completed the family.
Paul attended Missouri Southern State University for his undergraduate and received his Master’s from William Woods University. He worked for Oak Hill Hospital, St. John’s/Mercy, and most recently University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. Those under his employ said he was a great boss, these comments were more frequent near evaluation time.
Paul spent most of his adult life living in and being involved in Joplin, MO. He moved to Galveston, TX for work in 2011, but still called Joplin home, and returned in November of 2015.
To list everything that Paul was a part of during his lifetime would require a full page ad, so forgive us if we miss your organization. He was a member of First Christian Church of Joplin, MO where he loved singing in the choir, he was band parent for the JHS Marching Eagles, in PTO for Kelsey Norman, a youth sports coach, a member of the Jaycees, often claimed to be the inventor of the DQ Blizzard flip.
On hearing of his passing facebook comments came pouring in like, “Paul was a very dear friend,” “a wonderful man,” “I have enjoyed his wit and wisdom for many years,” “so thankful for the times I spent working for him and with him and learning from him,” “he had a heart of gold,” “A wonderful brother in the Lord, who happened to be my boss and mentor,” “He taught me so much,” “A very dear friend and mentor to me,” “one of the funniest people I knew,” “always made me smile,” “a magnificent soul,” “Wonderful Person,” and “such a neat guy.”
Paul is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 35 years, Carol, his son Brady and wife Kathy of Lampe, MO, and three daughters and the men that will care for them in his absence, Jennifer and Edwin of Grove, OK, Kimberly and Nick of Sarcoxie, MO, and Amanda and Jack of Joplin, MO. These children blessed him with nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is also survived by his siblings and their loved ones, Denise and Mike of Joplin, MO and Jack and Sonja of Miami, OK. He had more friends than we could ever begin to list and he loved every one of them dearly.
Paul was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister Cynthia.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 6 p.m. at Parker Mortuary in Joplin, MO. Services will be held at First Christian Church at 4th and Pearl in Joplin, MO at 10:00 a.m. on January 15, 2016. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Cemetery with David Wunderlin, Randy Steele, Keith Zorn, Tim Nappier, Kent Pratt, and Buck Shewmake serving as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, he requested that donations may be made to First Christian Church, 4th and Pearl in Joplin- Paul Kern Memorial Fund.
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