Memorial for Dan Kernell
Danny F. Kernell
1937-2026
Danny F. Kernell, 89, of Andover, Massachusetts, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026 at Bridges by EPOCH Andover Memory Care Facility. Dan was born February 4, 1937 in Elyria, Ohio, the son of Bernice (Holmes) and Floyd Kernell. He was one of 9 children – 6 boys and 3 girls.
Dan served in the Marine Corps from 1956-1958. Following that he became interested in metallurgy and worked for several heat treat furnace companies, first in service and then in sales. He lived in Brighton, Michigan and Vermilion, Ohio for many years, and moved to Massachusetts in 2024.
Dan was interested in many things – his extended family, friends, church, flying his small Cessna airplane, boating (both power and sail), riding his Harley, golfing (he had a hole in one once), music, dancing, his pets, and owning a C8 Corvette (one of his last adventures was driving the Tail of the Dragon through the Great Smoky Mountains with his son-in-law, Pete). Following retirement, he and his wife, Judy, took their power catamaran to Florida from Ohio several times and completed America’s Great Loop, a circumnavigation of the eastern third of the U.S. After boating, they bought an RV and traveled extensively throughout the country. He lived a very full life and enjoyed being able to cross things off his bucket list.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Floyd Kernell, step-father, GA Watson, first wife, Patricia Kernell, brothers Claude “Dick”, William, Lynn Roy, Johnnie, and sisters Violet Toth and Jean Nelson. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Judy Kernell, sister Lorena (John) Hunter, brother Norman (Belinda) Kernell, and a blended family — son Chad (Jessica) Kernell, daughter Diane Bible, foster-daughter Kathy (Bert) Basnight, step-son Michael (Susan) Kontz, step-daughters Kathy (Tom) LaVoy, Kristin (Rob) Cooney, Sara Kontz, Suzanne (Pete) Wiseman, grandchildren Tom LaVoy, Erik (Jalynn) LaVoy, Jackson Cooney, Katherine Cooney, Joscelyn Kernell, Landon Kernell, Ashley (JP) Donaher, and great-grandchildren, Tehya LaVoy, Tessa LaVoy, and Sophia Donaher.
A memorial service for Dan will be held Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Chilson Hills Church, 4440 Brighton Road, Howell, MI, with Rev. Angela Miller officiating. Coffee and visitation will be at 10:00 AM, service and internment at 11:00 AM, and a luncheon following at 12:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to Chilson Hills Church, 4440 Brighton Road, Howell, MI 48843 or to MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844 (Online https://www.mspca.org/tribute-memorial-giving).