Mr. George Kern Jr.'s Obituary
George Kern Jr.
After 6 year battle with prostate cancer, George Kern Jr passed away peacefully in his sleep at his studio apartment at Atria of San Mateo on March 4th, 2023 at the age of 91. George was in hospice.
Born on July 14, 1931 in Eureka CA, George was blessed with an abundance of nature to explore. His grandparents lived on several acres in the small town of Weott CA, tucked in between the Historic Avenue of the Giants and the EEL River. Unfortunately Georges’ father, George Kern Sr. passed away in a logging accident at the young age of 36. Georges’ mother Esther Ross Kern was left to raise a son on her own. Georges’ grandparents Bill Kern and Margaret Kern became a refuge for George during the summer months and their Weott home was shared with his family every summer.
George graduated from Michigan State University and eventually met his future partner while bartending at a resort town in Wisconsin. Marilyn(Lynn) Piehl and George quickly got married and soon headed west to California. While living in San Francisco, Lynn was able to obtain her teaching credential and George landed a full-time job as an Industrial Arts instructor at Parkside Middle School in San Bruno. In 1966 the Kerns adopted a baby they named Greta, and in 1968 they adopted a 6 month old baby boy they named Grant. These new additions to the family motivated George to obtain his Masters in Industrial arts at the University of Texas A&M. George had an amazing work ethic that resonates in his children and grandson.
Along with work, George enjoyed fishing, scuba diving, free diving for abalone, gardening, camping, coaching his son’s youth soccer team, taking the family to his grandparents’ property and coaching football at San Mateo High school. In retirement, and with some pressure from Lynn, George and Lynn began traveling the globe from Russia to New Zealand and all in between. What an amazing finish to a long life of 91!
George was married to Lynn for 58 years and is survived by Stepbrother Mike Kern, daughter Greta, son Grant, daughter in-law Kristina, Grandson Garrett and son in-law Rob.
SERVICE
Service will be on March 17th, from 11:00a-1:00pm at Skylawn Memorial Park, HWY 92 at Skyline Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94402 (650)227-3142
What’s your fondest memory of George?
What’s a lesson you learned from George?
Share a story where George's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with George you’ll never forget.
How did George make you smile?
