Michael Cyril Kern

Mass of Christian Burial for Michael Cyril Kern, 77, of Dayton, MN, formerly of Taunton, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will follow the service at St. Edward Catholic Cemetery in Minneota and a funeral lunch will follow at St. Edward Fellowship Hall in Minneota.

Michael Cyril Kern was born on January 11, 1948 in Canby, MN, to Milo and Loretta (Schiller) Kern. He was baptized at the St. Leo Catholic Church and graduated from Minneota High School in 1966.

After high school Michael was drafted into the Army and served during the Vietnam War as a radio mechanic for two years between 1968 and 1970, and he was honorably discharged shortly thereafter. After service to his country, he worked at the Ford Plant in St. Paul and then returned in 1974 to the Porter/Taunton area when he purchased his farm. On April 5, 1975, at St. Eloi Church in Ghent, he and Jean DeVos were married, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage in April.

Michael then raised dairy/beef cattle, corn, soybeans and wheat for 30 + years. During this time, he served on the Farm Credit and Taunton Elevator Board of Directors and was a past commander of the Minneota American Legion. In late 2020 they moved to Dayton, MN, to be closer to their sons, and he lived there until his passing on July 2, 2025, after a brief illness.

While it was obvious early on that his children wanted nothing to do with milking cows (especially Tom), that twice daily chore did pass on a work ethic to his children that they bring each day to their chosen careers, which will be one of his lasting legacies.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents Milo and Loretta. He is survived by his wife, Jean, of Dayton; son Tom (and Katie) Kern and granddaughters Kaylee and Ella of Champlin, MN; daughter Jennifer (and Paul) Miller of Bowdle, SD, grandchildren Sara, Lisa and Lane of Texas; and son Jeff (and Jennifer) Kern, and granddaughters Julia and Janna of Andover, MN; siblings Barbara (and Ron) Stangeland of Brookings, SD, Dennis (and Sherry) of Porter, Lynell (and Steve) Sunderland of Clara City, and Lorraine (and Dennis) Meulebroeck of Balaton.