Obituary of Edmund Robert Kern

Edmund R. Kern, age 86, is God's newest angel, deceased on 11/24/21. Ed was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on 2/25/35, son of Edmund and Gertrude Kern, and has succumbed to the ravages of Parkinson's. He enlisted in the Navy, after graduating from high school at the age of 17. After his service on the "Coral Sea" aircraft carrier during the Korean War, he attended the University of Maine, graduating as a mechanical engineer. He worked for Sylvania, Westinghouse, and lastly for Philips Elmet, a division of Philips Lighting, for 35 years. During his career as a coil designer, he developed eleven patents for increased efficiency and longer lasting coils in light bulbs. In 1983, he met Gisele Morin at a school re-union, and they married in 1985. Ed was pre-deceased by his parents, his sister, Doris, 2 stepsisters, Edith Baker and Cynthia Jones, and a stepson, Robert Wilbur, Jr. He leaves his wife of 36 years, Gisele, and a blended family: Joseph Kern, David Kern and his partner Kathy Tata, Daniel Kern and his partner Jackie, Carol Bostic and her husband Vince; grandchildren: Jackie and Chad Johnson, Zack and Haley Wilbur, Gisele Wilbur, Ben Kern, Alex Pierce, Samara and Sedge Kern, and 2 great-grandchildren; Anthony and Brody. Ed's strong faith in God, his love of country, and unconditional love of family, showed in all the ways that he served. His infectious smile, and sense of humor, will always be remembered. Arrangements entrusted to Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 5946 SE Robinson Road, Belleview, FL 34420 Condolences may be left at Hires-Baxley.com.