Esther M. Kerner

Esther M. Kerner, 93, of Newton passed away at 3:18 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Effingham.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Newton, with the Rev. Al Kemme officiating. Burial will be in New St. Peter Cemetery, rural Newton. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home, Newton. Memorials may be made to St. Thomas School or St. Thomas New Church building fund.

Esther was born Oct. 1, 1916, in Jasper County, the daughter of Charles V. and Josephine M. (Lobmeir) Dhom. She married Andrew Kerner March 8, 1946, and he preceded her in death March 9, 1990.

Esther helped her country during World War II as a “Rosie the Riveter”. After marrying Andrew, she was a homemaker and a loving mother. She was a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and enjoyed fishing, playing cards, cooking and gardening.

Esther is survived by children, Andy (wife, Connie) Kerner of Teutopolis, George (wife, Ruth) Kerner of Newton, Betty (husband, John) Grunloh of Teutopolis, Pat (husband, Jeff) Bergbower of Newton and Sharon Rose (husband, Mike) Brand of Stayton, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Florence Mason of Terre Haute, Ind.; and brothers, Larry (wife, Shirley) Dhom of Woodstock and Charles (wife, Evelyn) Dhom of Newton.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, Jeff Kerner; brother, Vince Dhom; and sisters, Chris Stewart and Sally Sherwood.