Gerald Arthur Kerns

Gerry was born on December 2, 1929, the youngest of six children, to Levi and Mae Louise Kerns in Little Rock, Kendall County, Illinois. In 1930, Gerry’s family moved to a farm near Serena, Illinois, and in 1943 the family retired from farming and relocated to Somonauk, Illinois.

Gerry loved his early life on the farm, and after the country boy moved to town, he enjoyed high school sports, including playing guard on the Somonauk basketball team.

Gerry graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1951. He sang with the ND Glee Club and remained a proud ND Alum throughout his life, observing the tradition of attending the Notre Dame Alumni football games every year in South Bend with his college buddies.

Gerry served in the United States Coast Guard, enlisting in the officer’s training school at the USCG Academy in London, Connecticut in 1951. He served as commanding officer of a CG patrol boat in Port Townsend, Washington, performing search and rescue, port security and logistics duties, until his honorable discharge in December 1953.

Gerry fell in love with, and chose to make his home in, the Pacific Northwest.

After his discharge, he worked for Crown Zellerbach throughout the 1950s. His outgoing and open, friendly personality led him to a long career in the financial sector. After learning the insurance business, he joined Equitable Savings & Loan, and then in 1966 was hired by Marketing One Inc. where he founded and managed the securities division. He joined the Claremont Group in 1985, only retiring after working there for more than 30 years, at the age of 88!

On September 26, 1959, Gerry wed Aloysia (Patty) Ryan (“Miss Patty” of Portland’s KGW-TV’s “Romper Room") at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. Gerry and Patty settled in Vancouver, Washington to raise their four children: Tracy, Carolyn (Carey), Connor, and Chandler (Mo). Gerry brought to Vancouver his Midwest farm-bred green thumb to annually cultivate a full garden of vegetables and berries.

Gerry, Patty and their children were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic parish in Vancouver, Washington, where Gerry was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and PTA president.

As their children grew up and left home, Gerry and Patty began to travel extensively throughout Europe, with Ireland and Spain favorite destinations.

After retiring, Gerry moved to Senior Sellwood Living Center where he, social to the core, participated in as many group activities as were offered, including daily exercises, Gentlemen’s Happy Hour and BINGO!

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents and his five siblings Rita, Larry, Eliza, Joe, and Howard. He is survived by his wife, Aloysia (Patty); his four children, Tracy (Martin Smith), Carey (Tom Ranieri), Connor (Debbie Hunter Kerns) and Chandler; and his three grandchildren, Shayne Smith, Antonio Ranieri and Alessandro Ranieri.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Avenue in Portland. Services will be Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 5239 SE Woodstock Blvd., in Portland. The Rosary will be recited at 11:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Notre Dame Glee Club.