Vonda (Genda) Kern

Vonda Genda Kern, 90, died at Mulberry Health, Mulberry, IN on July 26th, 2022. She was born in Anderson, IN, on June 25th, 1932, to Francis H. (Pete) and Olive Simmons Genda.

Vonda was a graduate of Frankfort Senior High School in 1950. She received her degree in Speech and Pathology from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI in 1954 which was the start of a teaching career that impacted so many people. After teaching in the Long Beach, CA school system for the next three years, she returned to Frankfort and was united in marriage with John W. Kern by Rev. James Y. Brown, at The First Christian Church, Frankfort on July 28th, 1957. Their marriage had both a special bond and commitment which would last 65 years.

In 1957, she began teaching kindergarten in Frankfort at Kyger Elementary and special education at Lincoln Elementary. Taking time out from teaching, John and Vonda were blessed with three children, Deirdre Anne, John Gregory and Kathy Eileen. She enjoyed being a stay-at-home, loving mom, while also teaching 4th grade Sunday School, facilitating leadership training, and serving as Membership Chairman at First Christian Church. Vonda also enjoyed greeting and meeting customers at J.A. Kern & Son Home Furnishings – she could not go the grocery without seeing someone she knew.

Receiving her Master’s in education from IU Kokomo, she returned to teaching in Frankfort Community Schools in 1982, teaching 3rd grade at Riley Elementary until retiring in 2000. She enjoyed working in the yard and loved caring for her many beautiful flower gardens each season. Her devotion and love for family was endless and unmatched. Each day started with a greeting, “Good Morning…have we heard from the kids?” She enjoyed sharing life with her children and grandchildren by taking trips to the Children’s Museum, walking to the park, reading books, looking at endless photos, and listening to her children fill the house with music.

She is survived by her husband John, daughter Kathy of Brownsburg, IN, son Greg, daughter-in-law Amy, their three children Meghan, Matthew and Andrew, Woodstock, GA, grandson Sam Abbott, Toledo, OH, and brother Neal Genda, San Marino, CA.

Preceding her in death are her daughter Deirdre Abbott, brother Ned Genda, her parents and grandparents, and a special aunt and uncle, Don and Thelma Genda.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. at Genda Funeral Home in Frankfort. Private family burial will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Frankfort.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.