Marquette Today

Campus News and Events

Please note that campus gatherings are currently limited due to COVID-19. See respective capacities for indoor, outdoor, religious and political events. Submit events for approval at marquette.edu/event-services.

For more coronavirus information and regular updates, visit marquette.edu/coronavirus.

Menu

  • Campus News
    • Top News for Students
    • Top News for Faculty & Staff
    • Magazines at Marquette
    • Campus Alerts
  • Archives
  • Submit news
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Contacts
  • @MarquetteToday
  • University Calendar
  • Topics
    • Community Engagement
    • Diversity
    • Innovation
    • Master Planning
    • Marquette Momentum
    • Research
    • Strategic Planning
  • January 26, 2021

Marquette mourns the loss of a close friend and generous benefactor, Patricia Kern

September 5, 2017

The Marquette University community mourns the loss of a close friend and generous benefactor, Patricia Kern. She passed away on August 24, 2017 at the age of 88.

“We will miss Patricia greatly, yet her generosity will live on through the remarkable support the Kern family has provided to the university and our students,” said Marquette President Michael R. Lovell.  “We are inspired by the Kerns’ passion for educating the next generation of engineering students. That will be their lasting legacy at Marquette and across our community. On behalf of everyone at Marquette, we offer prayers for Patricia’s husband, Robert, and all of their family and friends.”

In 2007, Patricia and Robert Kern gave a personal gift of $15 million to Marquette University’s Opus College of Engineering to help transform engineering education. This was one of the foundational gifts that led to the construction of Marquette’s Engineering Hall, which opened in 2011.

“We join the Milwaukee community in mourning Patricia’s passing,” said Dr. Kristina M. Ropella, Opus Dean of the Opus College of Engineering. “She and Robert have shown so much passion for engaging students in engineering and technology at an early age, getting them to think about engineering’s place in the world. They expressed that passion through their generosity, giving back to their community in many ways and through many different institutions. At Marquette, many of the engineering programs our students experience today can be directly traced back to their generosity. We send our deepest condolences to Robert and the entire Kern family, and commit ourselves to carrying on their legacy.”

In 1959, Robert and Patricia Kern founded Generac Power Systems, Inc. Originally run out of their garage with a single employee, it eventually became a 2,000‑person international company. When the company was sold in 2006, they established the Kern Family Foundation, chaired by Patricia.

Patricia served on the boards of several other organizations, including Northern Baptist Seminary, Green Lake Baptist Assembly, the Ten Chimneys Foundation and Old World Wisconsin. She played a lead role in establishing a scholarship program for aspiring pastoral ministry students that has assisted more than 700 students since 2002. Her obituary can be read here.

The Kern family and friends honored Patricia’s life at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home on Thursday August 31, 2017.

 

Filed Under: For Faculty/Staff, For Students, Home - Featured Stories, News

More news

University announces organizational changes to align related teams

January 25, 2021

Register to watch the annual Presidential Address on Feb. 4

January 25, 2021

Virtual Winter O-Fest rescheduled to Feb. 16

January 25, 2021

Version 4 of Step 4 Recovery Plan now available

January 25, 2021

Newly updated COVID-19 dashboard launched

January 25, 2021

A welcome back message from Dr. Xavier Cole

January 25, 2021

University mourns the loss of Rev. Robert Doran, S.J.

January 25, 2021

Changes to Marquette’s COVID-19 alert level

January 22, 2021

Institute for Women’s Leadership to host three-part series on pay equity

January 22, 2021

Humanities Research Colloquium presents ‘Advocacy Within Violence and Vulnerability,’ Feb. 8

January 22, 2021

Celebrate Black History Month this February; registration now open for events

January 22, 2021

Deadline to apply for graduation is Feb. 3

January 22, 2021

Employee Resource Groups accepting new members

January 22, 2021

December Academic Experience Survey results now available

January 22, 2021

Center for Real Estate’s Andy Hunt named to Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list

January 21, 2021

More news

Quick Links

  • Faculty/Staff News
  • Student News
  • Magazines at Marquette

Featured Stories

Remains of the Day

Remains of the Day

Artifacts from a historically relevant African American neighborhood are discovered amid an unrelated Civil War excavation. The unearthed treasures led to a cultural case study for a Marquette anthropology professor and her students.

Starting the new year off right

Starting the new year off right

Counseling psychology research assistant shares how to approach the new year with optimism, growth and positivity after a year like 2020

What we can learn from TikTok

What we can learn from TikTok

Marquette professor innovates with new digital learning

Read more featured stories.

Human Resources News

Registration for January GROW classes now open 

Reminders for 2021-22 health plan ID cards

Marquette’s 403(b) plan updates

Research

Faculty and staff grants: November 2020

Research team receives $745,000 Mellon Foundation grant for Education Preparedness Program

Faculty and staff grants: October 2020

Awards & Accomplishments

Center for Real Estate’s Andy Hunt named to Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list

AMU student employee wins regional award

The Commons recognized for innovative design by U.S. Green Building Council

Marquette UniversityCopyright 2019 by Marquette University
MARQUETTE.EDU // CONTACTS // A TO Z