Obituary for Catalina Josefa Kern (Mercado)
Catalina J. Kern, a long-time resident of Warner Robins, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 6. She was 93 years of age.
Mrs. Kern, known as Nina was born as Catalina Josefa Rodriguez Mercado in Spain, the daughter of Jose Rodriguez Valcarcel and Maria Mercado Sanchez. It was in Spain that she met the love of her life, Lester P. Kern, an American stationed there with the United States Air Force. Nina and Les married, returned to the United States, and settled in Warner Robins. Les retired from active duty and went to work as a civil servant at Robins Air Force Base where he worked full time until an off-duty accident caused his hospitalization and death in 1999.
In later life, Nina and Charles "Luke" Lueckenhoff of Warner Robins became devoted companions and remained so until his illness and death in 2016.
Mrs. Kern was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years. She taught Spanish in the Bibb County School System, and is fondly remembered by former students and colleagues there. She loved traveling back and forth to Spain and visited her family there frequently until her recent illness. She is survived and will be dearly missed by her extended family in Spain, by Luke's extended family, and by a wide circle of friends and devoted caregivers.
A Funeral Mass will be conducted by Monsignor Fred Nijem at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday, June 25 at 11:30 am. Interment alongside her husband will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 300 S. Davis Dr., Warner Robins, GA 31088.
Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kern, known as Nina was born as Catalina Josefa Rodriguez Mercado in Spain, the daughter of Jose Rodriguez Valcarcel and Maria Mercado Sanchez. It was in Spain that she met the love of her life, Lester P. Kern, an American stationed there with the United States Air Force. Nina and Les married, returned to the United States, and settled in Warner Robins. Les retired from active duty and went to work as a civil servant at Robins Air Force Base where he worked full time until an off-duty accident caused his hospitalization and death in 1999.
In later life, Nina and Charles "Luke" Lueckenhoff of Warner Robins became devoted companions and remained so until his illness and death in 2016.
Mrs. Kern was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for many years. She taught Spanish in the Bibb County School System, and is fondly remembered by former students and colleagues there. She loved traveling back and forth to Spain and visited her family there frequently until her recent illness. She is survived and will be dearly missed by her extended family in Spain, by Luke's extended family, and by a wide circle of friends and devoted caregivers.
A Funeral Mass will be conducted by Monsignor Fred Nijem at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Friday, June 25 at 11:30 am. Interment alongside her husband will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 300 S. Davis Dr., Warner Robins, GA 31088.
Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel has charge of arrangements.