A funeral will be held Friday, March 14, 2025 for 93-year-old Raymond Edwin Kern of Farmington, Mo., who passed away Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Cedarhurst of Farmington, Mo.
He was born October 8, 1931 in St. Louis, Mo. the second child of Ella Emma (Summann) Kern and Allen Otto Kern.
He married Margie Ann (Bodine) Kern on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951. She survives in Farmington.
He is also survived two daughters: Marcia DeMarco of Sainte Genevieve, Mo. and Elizabeth “Libby” (Duane) Luffy of Sainte Genevieve, Mo.; grandchildren: Wind (Michelle) Fuller, River Fuller, Lee (Derrick) Kern, Emily Cinciripini, and Abigail Kern; great-grandchildren: Katelyn Fuller, Logan Fuller, Dylan (Mallori) Schadegg, Celia Cinciripini, Silas Cinciripini, Amadea Zielinski, and Robin Zielinski; a sister: Mildred Freeman; and many nieces and nephews,
He was also preceded in death by his father Allen Otto Kern and mother Ella Emma Kern; two sons: Raymond Edwin Kern, Jr., and Jonathan Richard Kern; a brother: Norman (Vernie) Kern; three sisters: Fern (Harold) Thiemann, Marie (Lee) Beck, and Laura (Gary) Reimann, and a brother-in-law: David Freeman.
Raymond graduated from Normandy High School in St. Louis, MO in 1949. After that, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO taking mechanical engineering courses.
Ray worked as a carpenter from 1949 to 1956. He designed and built two homes for his family, one in Ellisville and one in Bloomsdale.
Ray began his engineering career with CJR McClure & Associates in St. Louis County, where he served for more than 20 years. He continued with mechanical design for B.W. Birk in Cape Girardeau and Bridges-Gallagher in Fenton until 1988.
At that point, he and his son Raymond Kern, Jr. founded K2 Consultants in Bloomsdale, MO. They worked in concert with architects from Missouri and surrounding states, where they worked on commercial HVAC, plumbing, and electrical design.
After the untimely death of Ray Jr., Ray sold the business and retired from engineering.
They lived many years in Ellisville, Mo., before moving to the farm in Ste. Genevieve County near Bloomsdale, Mo., where they raised Shorthorn cattle. They also spent many happy days riding horses on their farm.
In later years, they enjoyed traveling and taking cruises, often with Ray’s brother Norm and his wife Vernie.
Ray and Margie moved to Saxony Village in Cape Girardeau, Mo., later moving to Cedarhurst in Farmington, Mo.
Ray enjoyed sharing his hobbies and interests on the farm with his family and his many friends. He raised organic vegetables with his son Jonathan and always enjoyed gardening. He also shared his love of fishing and hunting with everyone, especially deer hunting.
He was a member of ASHRAE Society, Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Ste. Genevieve, Trinity Lutheran Church of Cape Girardeau, and St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ellisville.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the Basler Funeral Home in Sainte Genevieve, Mo. and 11 a,m.-Noon Friday, March 14, 2025 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
A funeral for 93-year-old Raymond Edwin Kern of Farmington will be held at noon Friday, March 14, 2025 at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Burial will follow at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Sainte Genevieve, MO
Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran Church
Online condolences can be left at www.baslerfuneralhome.com