Rodney J. Kern

Rodney J. Kern, age 63 of Faribault, MN died Saturday May 13, 2023 at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, MN following an extended illness.

Rodney James, the son of Engelbert and Priscilla (Condon) Kern was born on March 5, 1960 in Faribault.  Rodney attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s and later transferred to Northfield High School graduating with the class of 1979.  Later he would attend Riverland Technical College and study machine tool and die, graduating in 1992.  Rodney worked for 23 years at Crown Cork & Seal in Faribault as a Maintenance Machinist, retiring in 2021.  On August 7, 1998 he was united in marriage to Juleen Hamilton in Dundas, MN.  Rodney enjoyed living on his farm where he would grow several types of fruit and enjoyed canning his harvest.  He also enjoyed spending time with his family, ice fishing, shooting guns and flying drones.

He is survived by his wife, Juleen Kern, by his children, Travis Kern and Meghan (Orrin) Wendt; by his stepchildren, Daniel Schneider (Lynsey), Amy-beth (Jebadiah) Smith and Charles (Tawna) Schneider; by eight grandchildren, Connor, Carlie, Gavinn, MiaRae, Savannah, Kye, Allyson and Ransom; by his brother, David (Enga) Kern and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Engelbert and Priscilla Kern, by two brothers, Bertram and Charles Kern and by his stepson Joshua Hamilton.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.  A time of sharing will be held at 3:00 p.m.

Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers that memorials be directed to the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna or the Allina Faribault Cancer Center in memory of Rodney.