Edward Kernan Jr

Ed Kernan a�" Former Two Harbors Agate and Minnesota Gopher Star

Ed Kernan (Two Harbors HS Class of 1944), a charter member of the Two Harbors High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and one of the city's greatest athletes, passed away peacefully in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on September 29 from complications of Parkinson's Disease. His 3 children and wife, Aleen (also THHS class of 1944) were with him.

While at Two Harbors High School, Kernan (nicknamed "Punky") won 10 varsity letters, 3 each in football, basketball and track, and also won the school's first varsity tennis letter. He was the captain of the 1944 Agate basketball team, and the Big 6 conference scoring champion in 1943 and 1944, establishing new conference scoring records each year. He won all-conference and all-district honors in basketball in 1943 and 1944. In track, he won 4 first place medals at the 1944 district meet, and was the quarterback and leading scorer for the Agate football team. He also played American Legion baseball, and was named the Legion scholar-athlete. Kernan was inducted into the Two Harbors Athletic Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1997.

Kernan enlisted in the Army Air Corps following Pearl Harbor, and began Cadet training upon graduation from THHS in the Spring of 1944. World War II ended before he saw combat duty, and he enrolled at the University of Minnesota in December of 1945, following his Honorable Discharge.

As a freshman at Minnesota, Kernan quickly won a starting guard position, and Gopher coach Dave McMillan once called him "the greatest freshman basketball player ever" at Minnesota. From 1946 a�" 1948, he won three letters in basketball at Minnesota. During those years, he was the only Gopher player to score over 100 points in all three years, was the highest scoring guard in the Big 10 and won honorable mention all-Big 10 honors all three years. He averaged over 10 ppg in Big 10 games for his career., and was the Gopher's second leading scorer all three years. On New Year's Eve, 1945, Kernan outscored George Mikan (17 to 11), as the Gophers defeated # 1-ranked defending national champion DePaul at Williams Arena by a final score of 45-36. This feat was noted in the January 31, 2003 Minneapolis Tribune as one of the most significant events in the history of Williams Arena, and on New Year's Eve, 2005, Kernan was honored as honorary captain for the Gopher game against Oral Roberts a�" 60 years after the victory over DePaul. While at Minnesota, he won the Silver Spur award, and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Following his graduation in 1948, he married Barbara (Bobbie) Iverson, of Bayfield, Wisconsin, a former Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. Kernan was awarded the 50 year diamond "M" pin in 1996, and was named to the University of Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Following his athletic career at Two Harbors High School and Minnesota, Kernan taught and coached at Robbinsdale, MN High School from 1948 a�" 1953. His 1950 Robins basketball team finished second in the state (to Duluth Central). At the time, Kernan was the youngest (23 years) coach in Minnesota state basketball tournament history.

After Robbinsdale, Kernan taught and coached briefly at Bayfield, Wisconsin High School, and then moved to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where he served as Athletic Director, head basketball and baseball coach and assistant football coach until 1965. His Northland Lumberjack basketball teams won the Badger-Gopher conference title 4 times, and never finished lower than third place. The Lumberjacks also made 3 NAIA tournament appearances under Coach Kernan. He was named to the Northland College Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, and the school's fitness center is named for him. While in Ashland, he also co-founded the Ashland Little League, and was the league's first president in 1960.

In 1965, Kernan left coaching and education and began a successful 24 year business career that included 10 years as the Administrative Director for the Cleveland, Ohio office of Price Waterhouse, and 14 years as the Administrative Director for the Sidley & Austin law firm. He retired in 1989.

Kernan was preceded in death by his parents, Edward James and Edith (Scott) Kernan of Two Harbors, Minnesota, his wife of 49 years, Barbara (Iverson) of Bayfield, Wisconsin, and his Brother-in-law, Granville Zimmer of Houston , Texas.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Aleen (Welch) of Two Harbors, Minnesota, 3 children, Edward James Kernan III and his wife Laureen of Orono, Minnesota, Barbara Lee Kernan of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, James Erick Kernan and his wife Jo Bartholomew of Menomonie, Wisconsin, 10 grandchildren, Jessica Lee Kernan of Venice, California, Amanda Louise Roberson and her husband Cory of Knightstown, Indiana, Edward James Kernan IV of New York, New York, Jess Angus McCullough and his wife Harmony of Duluth, Minnesota, Graham Scott McCullough of Eau Claire, Wisconsin James Erick Kernan, Jr and Caitlin McDermott Kernan of Palatine, Illinois, Megan Kathleen Kernan, John Patrick Kernan and Catherine Marie Kernan of Orono, Minnesota, and 3 great grandchildren, Michael and Anna Roberson and Cora Evelyn McCullough. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Evelyn Betsy Zimmer, a nephew, Robert Neal Zimmer, a niece, Betsy Presler and numerous cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 8 at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Two Harbors, Minnesota, followed by burial at Lakeview Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am at the church, and a light lunch will follow the service.

Memorials may be made in Ed's name to the Two Harbors, Minnesota Historical Society or to The Iron River, Wisconsin Lakes Association.