Charles Frederick “Fred” Hern, 87, of Lamar, Mo., formerly of Mindemines, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at his residence in Lamar.

Fred was born June 17, 2008, in Jasper, Mo., to the late Charles Walter and Laura Belle Thacker Hern. Fred was a 1938 graduate of the Jasper High School. He entered the Army Air Corp on Sept. 30, 1941, and separated as corporal on Nov. 24, 1945.

While serving his country in France during WWII, he married Stanis Lawa Zaremba on Sept. 1, 1945. Together they shared 44 years of marriage and five children before her death on July 5, 1990. He later married Grace Burnside on Feb. 15, 1993.

He worked for the United States Postal Service in Jasper as postmaster and remained there for 23 years before retiring in 1978.

Survivors include his wife, Grace, of the home; one son, John Hern and wife, Dana of Jasper, Mo.; three daughters, Kaerida Gist and husband Rex of Kansas City, Mo., Teresa VanGilder and husband Randy of Lamar, Mo., and Angela Blackwell and Terry Masterson of Lamar; one stepdaughter, Lois Hisenga of Nashville, Mo.; 11 grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, James Richard, six siblings and his hunting and fishing buddy, Fred Krusekopf.

Visitation will be today, April 25, with the Rosary being said at 6 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lamar with visitation to follow at the Konantz-Warden Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery near Jasper.