Elmer “Cotton” Kern, son of the late Al and Rose (Westrich) Kern, was born on February 25, 1937 in New Hamburg, Missouri and passed away on March 12, 2026 at his home in New Hamburg at the age of 89.
A former truck driver for Halter Gas Company in Oran for thirty years, Cotton was a longtime member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg. He belonged to St. Joseph Sodality and the Knights of Columbus Council #4311, where he served as past Grand Knight. He played on the Schindler’s 1967 state champion fast-pitch softball team and remained a devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan throughout his life. He cherished riding tractors with his family and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and lively games of Euchre.
On September 15, 1962, he married Patricia Landewee, who survives him at their home in New Hamburg.
In addition to his wife, Pat, he is survived by four sons, Michael (Laura) Kern, Dale Kern, Dennis (Kelly) Kern, and Neal Kern, all of New Hamburg; five grandchildren, Lindsay (Eric) Essner, Alicia Kern (Luke Wilhite), Thomas (Kristen) Kern, Anna (Jake) Wagner, and Alex Kern; four great-granddaughters; two brothers, Donald (Cheryl) Kern of Chaffee and Al “Otto” (Bernice) Kern of New Hamburg; and two sisters, Georgianna Bennett of New Hamburg and Carol (Floyd) Klipfel of Oran. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Robert Kern, three sisters, Charlene Steger, Barbara Kern, and Joan Kern, and two brothers-in-law, Richard Bennett and Shelby Steger.
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