Rita R. Brcka Kern

Rita R. Brcka Kern, 89, of Garner, passed away Friday, December 20, 2019 at MercyOne North Iowa Hospice in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 28, 2019 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Garner with Rev. Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial will be at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M., Friday, December 27th at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner with a Scriptural wake service at 3:30 P.M. followed by a Rosary Society rosary. Visitation will resume one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to St. Boniface Catholic Church or MercyOne North Iowa Hospice. .

Rita Rose Brcka Kern, the daughter of John and Margaret (Senger) Kirchgesler, was born October 24, 1930 at Aberdeen, South Dakota. She received her education in the schools of Aberdeen. On October 30, 1950 she was married to Richard Brcka at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen. They made their home on a farm west of Garner where they raised their three children. After Richard passed away in 1968, she continued to live on the farm. On January 10, 1970 she was married to George Kern at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan. They farmed near Garner until moving into town in 1976. Rita was employed at Bill’s Family of Foods until her retirement. She enjoyed reading, walking, traveling, crocheting and her grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church where she served on the church council and was past president of the St. Boniface Rosary Society.

Rita is survived by her three children, Kathryn Fank of Mason City, Robert (Sandi) Brcka of Clear Lake and Richard (Kyung-Ae) Brcka of Minneapolis, MN; George’s children, Mary Kay Janusik, Patricia Kern, Bob Kern and Bonnie Kern; five grandchildren, Sarah (Jon) Hruby, Leah (Brian) Lukes, Allison (Ben) BrckaLorenz, Adam Brcka and Richard Brcka; five step grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a sister, Veronica Bender of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Richard Brcka and George Kern; a son-in-law, Ray Fank; six brothers; and three sisters.