James Kern Obituary

A memorial service is being planned with the date and time to be announced shortly. Memorial contributions may be made to True Vine Equestrian Center, in c/o the funeral home.

Age 95 of Kalamazoo went to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday afternoon, April 20, 2025. Gordon was born in Three Rivers, MI, on October 23, 1929, the son of Preston and Marjorie (Beadle) Kern. On January 29, 1951, he married Beverly Jean Allen who survives him. Many will remember Gordon as the former owner of Kern Optical in Kalamazoo. Gordon was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and camping with his family. On these camping trips he is remembered for taking his kids for ice cream at Jones' in Baldwin. He enjoyed sporting events and was a huge fan of the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University teams. Gordon had a great sense of humor. His interest in young people was evidenced in his work with the Boy Scouts Troop 255 for fifteen plus years. He also drove the church bus for Lake Center Bible Church to pick kids up for Sunday School and Daily Vacation Bible School. In his spare time, he liked working on cars and always took care of his own vehicles. Knowing that his daughter had a love for horses he moved his family to a new home where there was five acres and where he built a barn and put up fencing to keep horses. He will be remembered as a great provider, and a loving husband and father. Besides his wife, Gordon is survived by his children, Vickie (Bob) Nakamura, Allan (Mari) Kern; grandchildren, Justin Van Ferrari, Bryan VanAntwerp, Casey Kern, Desire' Kern-Parker, Mary Nakamura-Schmidt, Kevin Suwarsky and Kara Suwarsky; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; daughters in law, Pam Kern and Tammy Suwarsky; many friends. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Arthur Lucas; sons, Kenneth Lee Kern, Gary Kern, Rick Suwarsky; brother, Douglas Kern.