The subject decedent, Kenneth L. Kerns, was born, or perhaps stork delivered, on the 29th day of December, 1943, at the Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital located in El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas.
He was the son, and first child, of Clarence H. Kerns and Vivian R. (Hursh) Kerns, husband and wife.
The father, Clarence H. Kerns, was personally present at the conception of the subject decedent, but was not personally present at the time of the birth of his son. At the time of such birth, or stork delivery, Clarence H. Kerns was on active duty in the Army Air Corps, and stationed at Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was involved in a B-29 project relating to the development of a bomb of some type, and he always considered Grand Forks, North Dakota, to be a wonderful, tropical retreat.
Kenneth L. Kerns grew up at El Dorado, Kansas, a community noted at the time for two active oil refineries, and in conjunction therewith, noted for pure, clean air. However, he is indebted to Skelly Oil Co. for providing refinery employment for Clarence H. Kerns.
Kenneth strongly believed that having an opportunity to grow up in a small, midwestern community during the 1950’s was a definite blessing. He was convinced that there has never been a better time to encounter the joys and hardships of youth and puberty. He strongly believed that we need to return to a political administration under the direction of one Dwight David Eisenhower, with all citizens being blessed with a 1957 Chevrolet.
Ken attended and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1961 and then attended and graduated from El Dorado Junior College, now known as Butler County Community College, in 1963. He then attended and graduated from Kansas State College at Pittsburg in 1965. He acquired a Bachelor’s Degree, the primary focus being social or political science. At such time, he intended to become a secondary level school teacher. However, he was persuaded by a very good friend to submit himself to the law school admission test, and, thereafter, decided to attend law school.
Ken attended and graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1968, with a Juris Doctorate being granted.
He commenced the practice of law at Great Bend, Kansas during August, 1968. He continued with the practice of law from 1968 to the time of his death.
In view of the duration of his practice of law, one must certainly conclude that he was older than dirt at the time of his demise.
He married Connie M. Bell during March, 1990. This marriage has thankfully survived. He frequently expressed the belief that he had finally located a “good” woman.
Kenneth L. Kerns is survived by his wife, Connie, his son, Brian L. Kerns, and wife, Tamra, of Austin, Texas, his step-daughter, Rhonda Weingrad and her husband Mark (the food mooch), of Great Bend, his grandson, Landen Kerns, his granddaughter, McKenna Kerns, his step-granddaughter, Ashley McGinnis, and her husband, Sam and Baby Mac, his step-granddaughter, Autumn Weingrad, and his good friend and companion, Sherman the Cat. He is also survived by a brother, Maynard L. Kerns, of El Dorado, Kansas and a sister, Mary Gayle Spoon and husband Dean, of Leon, Kansas. He was also predeceased by his great friend, Stonewall the Cat, his fuzzy companion, Buggzer the Rabbit, and the great animal, Miss Kitty the Cat.
During his presence in Great Bend, Kansas, the subject decedent was a member and held various offices with the Great Bend Jaycees, and a member and officer of the state Jaycee organization. He was also a member of Elks Lodge No. 1127 for a substantial number of years, and an auxiliary member of the V.F.W. For several years, he served as the advisor to an explorer post, legal related, under the Boy Scout organization. He was also involved in instrumental and initiating Hope, Incorporated, a predecessor to organizations now existing to assist the mentally challenged. He has been a member of the Barton County Bar Association since 1968, and has served as both the president and the secretary of such organization. He has also been a member of the Kansas Bar Association since 1968.
During his presence in Great Bend, Kansas, he has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is presently a member of the First Christian Church.
Individuals who have been associated and acquainted with Mr. Kerns will certainly attest that he always expounded progressive ideas. He honored a lifetime mandate, this being as follows: “Change is Bad”. He undoubtedly considers his present state of lifelessness to fit within the same category, that being that this “change” is bad.
Ken did encounter some difficulty with electronic devices as well as anything mechanical. Had he been the king of the world, he would have undoubtedly destroyed all computers, cell phones and related items. He held an extreme dislike for the electronic filing approach adopted by the court system in the State of Kansas, such feeling being amplified by the destructive force of the same, in the opinion of Mr. Kerns, to the legal profession.
At the time of his death, the subject decedent was extremely discouraged as to the state of the legal profession. In the opinion of Mr. Kerns, the permissive use of advertising for the legal profession basically eliminated professionalism. He strongly believed that, with all due respect, the electronic filing system now mandated was undoubtedly the most incredibly stupid change ever forced upon the practicing attorneys and basically inserted the “Final Nail” into the coffin of professionalism.
At the commencement of his legal career, he was extremely proud of the legal profession, and his involvement in the same. At the time of death, he was extremely discouraged as to the state of the legal profession, it being his belief that advertising, a lack of ethics, a lack of honesty, and the adoption of greedy concepts have been extremely destructive to the legal profession.
Kenneth L. Kerns elected to check it in on the 22nd day of May, 2021.
Should a monument of some type be required to commemorate the life of the subject decedent, he would suggest the following inscription: “Your Honor, I object”.
Friends may come to Bryant Funeral Home to sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 11, 2021, and the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Josh Leu presiding. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be designated to the Mennonite Relief Fund, Salvation Army or Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
Written and Demanded it be submitted by the Decedent.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 6, 2021
