Cynthia "Cindy" Kern

Cynthia “Cindy” Kern, 63, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Thursday, November 25, 2021, at her home.

Cynthia Kay was born on April 27, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of John “Jack” Valentine and Betty Ann (Dischner) Placzek. At the age of nine, the family moved to Atlantic; something she wasn’t really happy about because she had to leave the garden she worked so hard on behind. Cindy graduated with the Atlantic High School Class of 1976. Following graduation, she started working at Walnut Grove, later transferring to their credit union, which later became Nishna Valley Credit Union where she was Chief Loan Officer. Cindy also worked as the office manager at the Atlantic Community Schools EOC building before beginning her career at the Cass County Clerk of Court office as a Judicial Specialist. She loved this job and was grateful for the friendships she made with her coworkers. Cindy worked there for 22 years before retiring in September of 2020.

On June 29, 1990, she was united in marriage to Randy Kern in the living room of the couple's home. Together they enjoyed going to auctions looking for a prized piece of Fenton glass or other various treasures. Randy and Cindy were avid NASCAR fans and attended races at the Kansas Speedway and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including the inaugural race. These races were a little sweeter to her if Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag.

Cindy was a TV nut and watched numerous series, countless Hallmark movies, and recorded her soap operas to watch in the evening after work. She enjoyed tending her flower beds and made it clear that it was depressing when things were brown in the winter and looked forward to spring.

She looked forward to spending time with family at holidays and for summer cookouts; anything she made was delicious but her BBQ chicken legs and potatoes were always a big hit. A yearly tradition with her daughter, Christina was attending the October craft fair in Clarinda. Cindy kept a close eye on her kids and an even closer one on her grandkids. She could be intimidating and if you were getting “the look” from her you had better be ready for a discussion and to tell the truth because she wasn’t backing down. In all this seriousness, her laugh was contagious.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Randy; children, Jacob Kern, Christina Baxter, Amy Jo (Tony) Cameron, Brittney (Chris) Baxter Dameron, Nicholes (Mikayla Dorscher) Kern and Mathew (Tatum) Kern; grandchildren, Alexya, Brynna, Kael, Dasia, Camyla, Drayden, Emma and Jorja; mother, Betty Placzek; sisters, Nancy (Don) Nevins, Linda (Brian) Wilson, Julie (Dan) Lovell and Karen (Darrell) Madsen; brother, David Placzek; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Placzek.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 2nd at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 3rd at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Burial will be in the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Cindy’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.