Phyllis W. Kerns

Rural Fremont resident, Phyllis W. Kerns, 87 passed away Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Valley View Health Care Center in Fremont. Born in Pemberville, OH on Apr. 1, 1928, Phyllis was a daughter of Henry and Edith (Hacker) Fahle. As a 1946 graduate of Fremont Ross High School, she married Ervin Kerns on Nov. 9, 1947 at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hessville. Ervin passed on Mar. 17, 2007. Well known for her graciousness throughout the community, Phyllis was a homemaker and farm wife. She helped operate the former Kerns Poultry Farm and supplied eggs to area stores, dairies and restaurants. She also worked as a cook at Ole Zim's Wagon Shed and as a designer at the former Nitschke Flowers. Phyllis will be remembered for her love of family and devotion to her Church, Emmanuel Lutheran in Hessville where she taught Sunday School for 25 years and many years on the church's Altar Committee, Choir, Funeral Dinner Chairperson and the Women of the Church Ladies' Group. She was also a member of the Bide-A-Wee Farm Womens Club, Green Thumb Farm Council and the FFA Card Club. She collected donations for many charitable organizations for many years and was known as the "Soup Lady" to shut ins at church and in the neighborhood. Phyllis enjoyed gardening and making comforters for wedding and baby gifts. Surviving are her children Roger Kerns of Fremont and Sara (Steve) Siegenthaler of Tiffin; Scott Siegenthaler of Tiffin, Sheryl (Cat) Longworth of Columbus and Shanna (Nick) Slone of Tiffin; and great grandchildren Alexis, Loyal and Ollie. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ervin and siblings Mark, Don and LaVerne Fahle, Ruth Watt and Lois Ann Rearick. Funeral Services will be Wed., June 17, 10:30 a.m., at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Hessville where her body will lie in state beginning at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Dennis Wansitler will officiate. Family and friends will be welcomed at the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fremont on Tuesday, June 16, 2:30-8 p.m. Burial will be at Washington Chapel Cemetery. Contributions may be directed to the church or to the donor's choice.