Robert Kerns

Robert Zink Kerns 77 of Lancaster, Ohio passed this world at 3:40 p.m. on March 31, 2016 at Lan-fair Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lilyan Martha Zink-Kerns, his wife, Wanda Lee Laughlin-Kerns and brother, Doid Kerns.

Robert is survived by his sons, John Kerns of St. Petersburg, FL and Lynn Kerns of Hermitage, TN, Brett (Mandy) Kerns; grandchildren, John Parker Kerns of Hermitage, TN, Quintin, Kalvin, and Emi Johns Creek, GA; sister, Barbara (Jim) Karr of Lancaster, OH.

He was a 1956 graduate of Lancaster High School, a 1972 graduate of Tampa University, retired from the US Army signal corps. as a major in 1981 with his service including two tours of duty in Vietnam and a GS-13 federal civil servant in 2000. He lived in Hermitage (Nashville), TN, for ten years after retirement. Upon the death of his wife in June 2011, he moved back to Lancaster.

He was a volunteer at the VA Hospital, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Barbershop Harmony Society headquarters and Music City Barbershop Chorus in Nashville and Fairfield Medical Center, Lutheran Social Services food bank and tutor at East Elementary School in Lancaster.

He had been a cub master, scoutmaster, little league baseball and basketball coach, chess club coach and elementary tutor during the period 1970 through 1999.

A Memorial service will be held Friday, April 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. Emil H. Klatt III officiating. Caring Cremation® has taken place by the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, LANCASTER, OHIO. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery, Lancaster, Ohio with the Lancaster Veterans Burial detail conducting military rites at the cemetery. Friends may visit 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations to be given to the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Organ Restoration Fund, 105 E. Mulberry St., Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

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