Barbara Jean Kern, of Lafayette, passed away at Creasy Springs on October 15, 2018 at the age of 90.  Barbara was born on a small farm in Montgomery County on December 3, 1927 to Walter and Ocie Harshbarger. She graduated from Waynetown High School in 1946.
In September of 1946 Barbara married Tom Kern, a recently returned GI who also grew up in Montgomery Country. They remained happily married for over 71 years. The couple first lived in Crawfordsville, where they had two daughters and a son. In 1952, Tom accepted a job with the Journal & Courier and the family moved to Lafayette where they bought their first home. In 1959, Barb and Tom traded their Lafayette National Home for a small farm near Brookston, so that the children could experience and enjoy rural life.

During her children’s growing years, both in Lafayette and in Brookston, Barb was enthusiastically involved in their many activities.  She sewed costumes and did make-up for their appearances in the summer Columbian Park plays, and later she drove countless trips from the farm to Brookston for cheerleading, basketball, baton twirling, 4-H, drama practice, swim lessons and more.  When asked recently how she remembered these steadfast efforts, she smilingly replied, “I loved every single minute of it.”

With the children almost grown, Barb and Tom moved back to Lafayette and Barb took a job in the personnel department of State Farm. She enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills, the workplace friendships, and the satisfaction of doing a job well. She worked at State Farm for 20 years, retiring in 1987. Upon retirement, Barb and Tom enthusiastically took up the hobbies of golfing, traveling and grandparenting. They spent several winters in Bradenton, Florida.          

Barb is survived by her children and their spouses (Sharon Kern, Teri and Rudy Gardiner, Thomas Randy and Michelle Kern); her grandchildren (Jennifer Gardiner, Tim Gardiner & wife Candace, Staci DeBoer, T. J. Kern, Emily Hedrick & fiancé Josh Weimer); her great grandchildren (Lauren, Danny, Ryan and Sophia); several cousins and two sisters-in-law. Barb was predeceased in death by her husband Tom in February 2018 and by her sister Faye Shelton.

Barb felt fortunate to have found and married the love of her life, and she was genuinely fulfilled in her world of close family, friends, and neighbors.  She was dearly loved and will likewise be dearly missed. The family would especially like to thank the staff of Creasy Springs for the exceptional care and attention they gave Barb over the past nine months.

Visitation is Sunday, October 21, 2018, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, with service to follow at 2:30. Dr. Will Miller officiating. Burial at Liberty Chapel Cemetery, Montgomery County.