Donald Joseph Kern

Don Kern, who helped organize Community Mental Health Boards in six Southeastern Michigan counties, directed the Wayne County and Macomb County Mental Health Boards before he retired died Saturday, March 29. He was 86. Mr. Kern was born in Detroit, MI on February 12, 1928 to Eula and Oswald Kern. The family later moved to Centerline where Mr. Kern and his 10 siblings attended Catholic schools. He enlisted in the Navy during World War II on his 17th birthday, the same day he learned of his older brother Richard’s death in service battle at Okinawa, Japan. He later earned his Bachelor’s Degree in teaching from Northern Michigan University and his Master’s Degree from Wayne State University before entering the mental health field. In his retirement Mr. Kern volunteered at Bay Cliff Health Camp north of Marquette, MI and was a longtime member of the Ann Arbor Kiwanis. He impressed members and friends with his talents as a storyteller and knowledgeable historian of Michigan’s politics, geography and people. He was also the co-founder of the Father Clement Kern Foundation in honor of the work of Detroit’s renowned priest from Holy Trinity in Corktown to whom he is related. He spent much time working with Father Kern to assist in helping Detroit’s less fortunate people better their lives and was awarded the Kern Foundation’s highest honor. ‘’As a pioneer in community mental health, an eloquent spokesperson for inclusivity and an advocate for the vulnerable and voiceless, Don’s work was about doing the right thing. Nothing would honor or please him more than for others to carry this legacy forward,’’ said his colleague and son-in-law Marc Strauss. Mr. Kern is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sally, brother Bob Kern, sisters Helen Meduvsky, Irene Diotte and Dorothy Kern McMahan and Ilene Matt, Jo Woods and as well as his children, Colette Rivard Kern (Marc Strauss), Andrea Lee North (Jim North), Vince Kern (Sheila Kern) and Kevin Kern. Mr. Kern has three grand-children, Simone Rivard Strauss, Eliza Lee and Roseanna Lee. He is preceded in death by his brothers Richard, Vince and Fred and Sister Sharon Marie. Mr. Kern’s public viewing will be at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 2 at Our Lady Of Good Counsel, 47650 North Territorial Road, Plymouth MI. A Funeral Mass will be held there at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. Mr. Kern and his family ask that in lieu of flowers; please consider a donation to his favorite charity: Bay Cliff Health Camp http://www.baycliff.org/site/donate-today.html PO Box 310 Big Bay, MI 49808 To leave a message of condolence, please use the condolences link on this page.

Donald Joseph Kern

February 12, 1928 - March 29, 2014