RODGER "ROD" J. KERNAN, 77, 2039 No. Town Hall Rd., Town of Union, died Saturday, December 18, 1999 at Sacred Heart Hospital after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and liver cancer. Rod was born December 29, 1921 in Eau Claire to John and Maria (DuCette) Kernan and raised in the town of Union. He served with the U. S. Army from 1942 to 1945, stationed in England, Germany and France with the Third Army under General George Patton. He was at that time involved in the Battle of the Bulge with the 95th Division as Automatic Rifleman 746. He was recipient of the Purple Heart and several other service awards. \r\nUpon returning from service he married his longtime friend and sweetheart Elaine Snyder on July 21, 1945 in Eau Claire.\r\nRod was employed at National Presto for 11 years, Sherman School as custodian for 11 years and the Eau Claire School District in maintenance for over 23 years, retiring as the result of a work related injury.\r\nEveryone loved Rod, he was always there to lend a hand whenever needed. He was an outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping and growing tomatoes and roses. Rod was a member of Westgate Sportsman Club, Town of Union Fire Department and Sherman School Boy Scout Troop #39 with his sons.\r\nHe was a loving husband and father, deeply devoted to his family and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. God saw he was getting tiredAnd a cure was not to be,So He put His arms around him And whispered, "Come with Me."\r\n With tearful eyes we watched him suffer And saw him fade away,Although we loved him dearly We could not make him stay.\r\n A golden heart stopped beating Hard working hands to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.\r\nHe is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elaine; three sons, Rodean "Dean", Dewey (Carolyn) both of Eau Claire and Dale (DeLoris) of Holcombe; two special granddaughters, Karen (Bill) Hall of Chippewa Falls and Julie (Jeffrey) Sandberg of Mondovi; six precious great-grandsons, Sean, Brenden and Devin Hall, Justin, Joshua and Jeremy Sandberg who loved to come to "Grandpa Rod's" and "Grandma K's" house for the cookie parties; three brothers, Thomas and Richard of Eau Claire and John P. Kernan of New Lisbon; several nieces and nephews.\r\nRod was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Earl "Curly" and Robert "Bud"; his mother and father-in-law, Nora and Dewey Snyder and the family's special friend, "Buttons" the Black Lab.\r\nPrivate family services were held today for Rod at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home with Pastor Chris W. Myers of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery. It was his wish that he be remembered in life.

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