"To Deb and family, to Charlie and Joan and family, you all have love and sympathy forever from Kate and Willie. I had planned to have many more days with a best of best friends to talk about our brotherhood, baseball, mountains, the beach, and the mystery of life, well into our times as old and wise men. I shall miss our consversations and laughs about living in these (and our past) times. He was a good man, brother, and conspiritor of fun for these many, many years to many, many people. We were like a couple of old cowboys that rode the same trail for years and then decided to part ways at the fork in the road to pursue our seperate ways, but knowing that the other cowboy always wished the other all the good fortune in their life. My friend, may you rest well and in the peace that all good persons have earned by simply walking the earth in a manner that was honorable, respectful, fair and decent to those he met along the way. He shall remain in our hearts and in our thoughts. Via con Dios, Dickie. Willie and Kate LaPlante"
In loving memory of
Richard Warren Kerndt
June 22, 1949 - June 24, 2022
Richard (Dick) Kerndt, 73, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully at home. His wife, family and friends were by his side his final days.
Dick was born to Warren and Lucy Kerndt on June 22, 1949 in Caledonia, MN. He graduated from Ralston High School in Nebraska. He received two degrees from the University of Omaha. He was a Med Tech until retiring from Mayo Clinic. He served on the board of Ability Building Community. He owned and operated his business, Kerndt Livestock Product for 30 years until his passing.
Dick married Deb Erwin on August 24, 2013 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He was a best friend and loving husband. He was a loving and proud step-dad and grandpa. We will miss him, his smile and blue eyes dearly.
Dick was a kind and caring man. He touched more hearts and lives imaginable. He loved God, family and friends. He enjoyed gatherings, travel, trade shows, donuts, baseball, grilling, farming, wrestling, the Gulf and R&C.
He is survived by his wife, Deb; step-children, Ashley (Toni) Erwin, Maria Ziegler, Athena Ziegler, Sophia (Joe) Ruelle and Dylan Ziegler; grandchildren, Ethan, Cash, Aurora, Lilliana, Landon, Maverick, Evalina, Aubriella and Juliet; brother, Charles (Suzy) Kerndt; sister, Joan (Joe) Becker; Brother's in-laws Brad(Elaine)Erwin, Steve (Margie)Erwin, Eric(Rhonda)Erwin,
Sister in-laws Ann(Scott)Dessner, Suzanne Erwin
nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 5455 50th Ave. NW, Rochester, MN with Father Tom Loomis presiding. Visitation will be 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Monday, July 4, 2022 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Othello Cemetery in New Haven Township, MN.
A special thank you to St. Croix Hospice for making it possible to bring Dick home.
Memorials to Ability Building Community 1911 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Kerndt family; to share a special memory of condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com
Tributes
"Dear Family, I am so sorry to just learn of the passing of this Dear Gentleman. I was able to work with Dick and all his colleagues at the Mayo Chem Lab late 80's/early 90's, college student working summers there, what a great group of people, under the leadership of Mary, Harold, and Liz. Sent out Christmas cards to Dick nearly every year since that time, although not sure how many of recent found him. Sounds like we moved to northern MN the same year he and Deb were married - so exceptionally happy for the both of you. So awesome. Every photo - what a full blessing of a life. Smiles everywhere. Such nice tributes below, as well as in every heart that knew this man, and that is for certain. Very kind man, and even though we only met up again in person a few times with he and Mike C. over lunch, he made enough of an impression to keep track of this great fellow as these years, isn't that something.......the impact of a life well-lived. Amazing. Sincere condolences, Tracy (Grethen) Bolster"
"Thanks so much for the photo show. It's such a nice way to remember our good friend. I didn't realize Dick's beard has gotten so long. Heck, he could've been Santa Claus. Maybe in Heaven. Tom"
"Dear Brother As the Hollies sang " You Ain't Heavy your MY BROTHER". Your were a great brother to me growing up together. You were Ralstons FIRST all state wrestler, you got 3rd. Amazing! I was so proud of you. So fun to watch. I appreciate you training me to be a Champion. Thank you. You were on 2 state champion Ralston Nebraska State Championship teams. You and I played alot of catch as kids. You did a great catch in center field, over your head , at the deepest fence, an out, a win! You were the lead off hitter, and you my mentor in life. You had so many great friends in Ralston, Dan, Jerry, Lacys, many fun guys. You were so good to my friends , too. Good role model. Lots of prayers left ringing at St Geralds church. Mom and Dad were so proud of you too. You left Nebraska as Dick, and came back from California as Joe Cocker, big red fro. To backtrack to living on the Kerndt Family Farm, Waukon Iowa. What a wonderful time in the country, Grandparents, Herman and Clara, our Aunts and Uncles and cousins, the fun Caledonia Minnesota with Grandpa Mike, Our Aunts and Uncles and cousins at Houston County Fair. I called you my pathfinder, trail blazed the path, Thank you, Dickie. You let me hang out with your friends and that was so much fun. When you lived in Long Beach California. We had so much fun trying to surf, hang glide. Camp in San Bernadino Mountains. Fun trips to Yosemite and San Francisco, great food. Then the greatest adventures in Glenwood Springs. The posse of Willie, Mike, Chuck, Duke, Tommy, were amazing life long friends to the end. We did fun week long hikes in Grand Canyon, Flat Tops. Took Suzy and I on fun hikes near Rifle and a harrowing raft trip in Glenwood Canyon, on Colorado River. Crazy fun I think I saw a blue tank in Colorado River, inside joke for the Glenwooders. Suzy and I loved your Maine visits. Godparents to our boys, Austin Garrett and Connor. Fun motorcycle rides on your BMW, especially Suzy, hikes in Avalanche Creek I know our Sister Joannie, and Joe enjoyed you in there lives for so many years, and brought so much fun to their kids lives, and were so special to them. Lindsey, Mikki and Charlie.We all appreciate how much fun Deb and her kids and grandkids brought into Dicks life We especially appreciate how good of care Deb took of Dickie after his stroke Suzy and I and our boys miss you. You encouraged me to be a physician, and by a matter of circumstances Suzy and our kids followed the same path, that you led me down pathfinder. Live and love in joy in heaven until we meet again Love Always Charlie and Suzy"
"What a great tribute to our buddy Dick! Thanks to all who put that slide show together, it was wonderful. We will all miss him and I will always remember the great times we had together! RIP my friend!"
"Such a super person. Always had a smile and a laugh to cheer anyone up. He will be missed. Hugs and Prayers....Jill and Glenn Mueller"
"Dick We will miss u and your smile. You we?re always working hard in the lab and also after retirement. Memories will stay with us. Thanks Deb giving him great company. Ravinder Singh Dolly and kids Lots of Love."
"Deb and family, We are so sorry for your loss. We knew Dick back when he was a Twins season ticket holder. Dick was the organizer of splitting up the tickets. He was genuinely a sweet man. I heard of Dick?s passing through my sister Linda. We were reminiscing about the farm and of course the Erwin family came up. Again I want to extend my sincere condolences to you and your family. Mary (Sexton) Christy"
"My sincerest condolences Deb and family. Dick may be gone, but the kindness and friendship extended to all that he touched will live on forever. I am grateful to have known him and all of the good times we shared."
"Condolences to Dick's family. I worked with Dick in CCL as my first "real workplace" from 2004 until about 2009. Dick was a joyful soul who helped me transition into the lab family by creating a community workplace. I will never forget his songs, stories about cattle whackers/sales, discussions about Chair Surfing, and organizing carousel music dancing techs. I will never forget his wonderful spirit and the positivity he infused into the room. Dick left us too soon and I know he will be missed by many. - Katharine "Kate" Wroblewski "
"I?d like to offer my condolences to Dick?s family. I had the privilege of working with Dick for a few years in CCL, from 1998-2002. Dick did so much to make it fun. He cared about the people he worked with. He made people feel welcome, he made them happy and felt that he believed in them. I have so many enjoyable memories of Dick. He was definitely a one of a kind, just a great person. We could all use more people like him in our lives. I remember him with great admiration. -Mark Kjer"