Iona C. ‘Kay’ Walkner
CORNELL — Iona C. “Kay” Walkner, 75, of Cornell, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at OSF St. Francis Hospital.
Kay was born on October 19, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wis., daughter to Charles and Otella (Bergman) Kearns. She graduated from Escanaba High School.
On April 8, 1967, Kay married Charles “Chuck” Walkner at St. Joseph Church in Escanaba. He preceded her in death on June 5, 2019.
Kay and Chuck ran their small family farm for several years, raising beef cows and several other animals.
She loved nature and enjoyed bird watching, gardening and flowers. Kay was a member of Holy Family Church in Flat Rock.
Among survivors are two children, Chuck (Janet) Walkner of Gladstone and Diane (Tom) Jones of St. Peters, MO; stepchildren, Michelle and Miguel; siblings, Mary Ellen Francis, Pat Brantmier, and Jim (Ruth) Kearns; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Tom and Charlie Kearns.
Visitation will be on Thursday, October 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Holy Family Church in Flat Rock. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. with Rev. Sebastian Chacko officiating.
She will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Chuck, in the Bark River Cemetery.
A message of condolence may be directed to her family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net.
The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Walkner family.