Arlis Kern

Arlis Jean Zentner was born on February 8, 1946 on the family farm, south of Menahga, Minnesota.  Her parents were the late Lester Sr. and Evelena “Hemmie” (Blanchard) Zentner. 

Arlis graduated from the Menahga High School with the class of 1964. On November 28, 1964 Arlis was united in marriage to David William Kern at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Bluegrass, rural Sebeka, Minnesota. Their marriage was blessed with five children: Melissa, Brian, Rebecca, Jodi and Stephany. Together Arlis and David raised their family and farmed in Wing River Township. Arlis was a stay-at-home mom and housewife as well as being employed during the summer months with Badora State Forest Nursery in rural, Akeley, Minnesota. After her children were older, Arlis was employed as a cook with the Wadena-Deer Creek Public School and also served as head cook until her retirement in 2015.

She was a member of St. Hubert Catholic Church, served with the Christian Mothers, volunteered to launder and iron the linens at the church and she coordinated the luncheon at the Harvest Festival for many years. Arlis also managed the 4-H food building for the Wadena County Fair and was a member of a local Homemakers group. She enjoyed Huntersville Horseflies baseball games in the summer and playing Bingo in the winter. Arlis also enjoyed cooking, baking, canning and gardening.  She loved to go on drives with Dave and especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. On September 12, 2019 David passed away.

On April 12, 2020 Arlis passed away at The Meadows in Wadena at 74 years of age.  She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Preceding Arlis in death were her parents, Lester and Hemmie; mother- and father-in-law, George and Ella Kern; granddaughter, Baby Angel Becker; grandson, Daniel Duncombe; sisters, Donna Harsha and Toby Pulju; sister-in-law Kathy Zentner and her loving husband, David Kern.

Arlis is survived by her children: Melissa (Dan) Lawson of Wadena; Brian (Janine) Kern of Wadena; Rebecca (Troy) Wangsness of Wadena; Jodi (Randy) Becker of Wadena; and Stephany (Dan) Duncombe of Becker; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Lester Zentner of Menahga; sister, Connie (Carl) Johnson of St. Michael; brother-in-law, George (Irene) Kern of Sebeka; sisters-in-law: Doris (Dave) Budig of Yankton, South Dakota and Sharon (Tom) Schwartz of Hutchinson; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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