Cheryl Ann Kern-Simiren ko, Town of Worden, died on July 24, 2022, at home, aged 76. The daughter of James and Margaret (Mayer) Kern, she was born September 19, 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where her father was stationed (WWII).
She grew up in Stanley, WI, attending St. Ann’s and St. Mary’s Schools, and was the Class of ’63 valedictorian at McDonell Memorial High School in Chippewa Falls, WI. Later she earned degrees in Russian, Russian History, and Library Science from the University of Minnesota (BA), the University of Wisconsin (BA), the Pennsylvania State University (MA), and the University of Pittsburgh (MLS). While at Penn State, she met her soulmate, Dr. Alex Simirenko. They were married on June 4, 1972, at St. Mary’s Orthodox Catholic Church in Osceola Mills, PA. Her career as an academic librarian and administrator took her to Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, the University of Oregon, Eugene OR, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, and the University of Akron, Akron OH.
She was named Professor Emerita of Library Science at Purdue in 2005, and retired as Dean of University Libraries at the University of Akron in 2012.
In 2013, she returned to the Stanley area, realizing her long-held dream of building a retirement home on land in the Town of Worden that her beloved uncle, John Kern, had farmed. She contributed her time and expertise to the Stanley Area Historical Society, where she coordinated the digitization euort, and to the Stanley Public Library as a board member. She like to point out that SPL was where her career in libraries began, in 7th grade, when Director Edith Knilans asked her to work at the library and introduced her to the thrill of connecting people with information. She took pride in having helped the next director, Mabel McFarlane, create the first-ever summer reading program for Stanley’s children.
She was passionate about “paying it forward” and established an endowed fund with the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, in memory of her parents, that provides scholarships for college- bound McDonell gradu- ates. The first $2,000 James and Margaret Kern Scholar ship was awarded in 2020 and continues annually.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband in 1979. Survivors include her devoted and much-beloved stepdaughters, Tania Simirenko and Lisa Simirenko, both of Oakland, CA; two beloved grand- daughters, Dr. Kaitlin Trex berg (James) (Rockledge, FL) and Emma Fronberg, Davis CA, who called her Nana or #BossNana. The Cremation Society of Wisconsin is assisting. As per Cheryl’s wishes, no services will be held.
Memorial donations may be made to the Stanley Area Historical Society or the D.
R. Moon Memorial Library (Stanley Public Library).
A celebration of life will be held at the Historical Society at a later date.
