WILLIAM ALFRED "BILL" KERN

WILLIAM ALFRED "BILL" KERN, 86, died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018 at home. Born in Newcastle, Ind., Bill was the son of the late Edward J. and Etta I. Kern, and moved to Indianapolis at a young age. He was a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. He married Joan Perkins in 1955 and spent the next 63 years in loving companionship. Bill served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and flight instructor from 1954 to 1958. After stints at the SEC and the IRS, he returned to Indiana with his family in 1965 to work as an attorney at Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. William had a keen intellect, a strong sense of justice and a soft spot for the underdog. He was, for many years, the president of the local chapter of the ACLU and took an active role in local Democratic politics. He was also very active in AA and, at the time of his death, had been sober for more than 30 years. William loved his family, his wife, his dogs (and all dogs) and his beloved Northwestern Wildcats. He was a devout Christian and a member of First Presbyterian Church. "His family misses him very much and hopes there is Chinese food, ESPN and the Big Ten Network in heaven." He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; his son, Edward; his daughter, Jennifer; his grandson, Sean; and nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Joel, and his beloved grandfather, Joseph Lyle. A service in Bill's memory is 2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church at McMillen Chapel in Fort Wayne, with visitation at 2 p.m. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the ACLU, Sierra Club or First Presbyterian Church.