John Kern Jr.

John William "Jack" Kern, 78, of Crowley, Texas, a man who enriched the lives of all those he touched, passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Happily, he was surrounded by his immediate family at the time of his death.

Graveside services were held at Annetta Cemetery in Annetta, Texas.

Jack was born on September 9, 1941, in Ilion, New York, to John W. Kern and Ruby L. Stafford. He spent his early years in Richland, Washington, where his father was a nuclear reactor operator at the World War II Hanford Site. He attended local schools, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Carmichael Junior High, and Columbia High School. Jack excelled in sports, especially baseball and football, earning state-wide recognition. He served in the Army in the mid-Sixties, assigned to the Pentagon as a computer programmer. Immediately after his service, he graduated with a Mathematics degree from Central Washington State College and also obtained a Masters Degree. Throughout his career he was able to take advantage of his academic training, employed as a systems analyst by AAI in Maryland and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Texas.

Marjorie Jean Gibbo and Jack celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year. They were married on November 21, 1969 in Arlington, Virginia in an Episcopalian ceremony. He was a hard worker whose priority was always to support his family.

Jack loved sports, games and books. He won the accolades of coaches and parents as an outstanding hitter and catcher in both city and school leagues. As a result of his speed and agility as a football lineman, he earned scholarships to several universities and colleges. Throughout his life he would work-out and play racquetball and golf. He enjoyed playing cards with family, friends, and neighbors. Jack loved to play pinochle with family, poker with high school buddies, and bridge with neighbors, local and online.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital and the Vitas Hospice in Fort Worth.

Jack is survived by his loving wife, Marjorie Jean Kern; children, Christopher and his wife, Rebekah, Scott, and Kimberly; brother, Jerry and wife, Zona; and grandchildren, Caroline and Jonathan.

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