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L. Kern Sosey

Posted 2019-12-17 by mhenderson
Published in The Herald-Palladium -
St. Joseph, Michigan -

ST. JOSEPH -- L. Kern Sosey, 89, passed away Dec. 23, 1999, at his
winter home in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Kern was born Oct. 20, 1910, in Columbus, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor
of Ceramic Engineering from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and
began working for the Seeger Refrigerator Company in St. Paul, Minn.
There Kern met and married Dorothy Hasslen. They celebrated their 60th
wedding anniversary Nov. 4, 1999.

Kern worked for the Seeger Refrigeration Company in various managerial
positions until the company merged with Whirlpool Corporation. In the
early '60s Kern spent three years in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as managing
director of Multibras, a Brazilian subsidiary of Whirlpool
Corporation. He continued in executive positions at Whirlpool
Corporation in the International Division and the Corporate Planning
Division until he retired in 1975. Kern spent the first ten years of
his retirement as the Executive Director of the Blossomland Area
Safety Council.

As many area men remember, Kern loved his years as a Little League and
Babe Ruth coach. Every team member played on Kern's teams, improved as
players, and his Babe Ruth teams of '67 and '68 earned championship
honors. Kern loved all sports and spent many hours hunting and
fishing. Wherever he lived, Kern added his skills to an area bowling
team or two with championship results. His competitive nature was
never more evident than in the golf tournaments he played at Berrien
Hills Country Club. His enthusiastic support of Ohio State football
teams was unwavering.

In 1951 Kern built a cabin on Bay Lake in northern Minnesota. Many of
his happiest times were spent with family and friends at this summer
retreat.

Kern was a member of the Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar and a life
member of the Osman Shrine Temple in St. Paul, Minn. He was also a
past member of the St. Paul Athletic Club and Kiwanis in St. Paul and
St. Joseph, Mich. He was a member of the American Chamber of Commerce
in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Kern Sosey is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Hasslen); his sons --
Walter Kern, M.D. (Hilary) of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; John Robert of
Milwaukee, Wis., and his daughter, Deedee (J.D.) Mackin of Mount
Pleasant, Mich.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Helen Martin; and
his grandson, Timothy Kern Sosey.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Kerley &
Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Funeral services will be private.
Internment will be at a later date in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Memorials may be made to Ohio State University Athletic Department,
Columbus, Ohio, or to the St. Joseph Youth Baseball Association.

See Also: Find A Grave




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