Carolyn Jean (Kirkum) Cernius

Carolyn Jean Cernius was born July 22, 1949 to James and Otha (Huffman) Kirkum of Reading, Michigan. She grew up with her younger sister Claudine (Boerner) and brother Alan Kirkum living next to Hemlock Lake. At the age of ten, she had surgery to remove a non-operative kidney at Muskegon's Hackley Hospital where her aunt Esther Kitchen, worked in the Laboratory. After a successful surgery, she lived with her aunt Esther, uncle Bernie and her cousin Rodney until she recovered. It was this experience, that prompted her to study to become a Medical Technologist in college.

Also, in this time period she attended Camp Selah, a Bible day camp, where she heard the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her personal Savior.

She attended Western Michigan University and earned her BS degree in Medical Technology. It was in a chemistry class that she met her future husband John. They dated through college and became husband and wife on September 4, 1971.

She was offered a position, at Leila Hospital in Battle Creek, as a Laboratory Technician which she accepted and then went on to become an ASCP certified Medical Technologist. During her employment at Leila, she advanced to the position of Department Head of Hematology. In the middle 1980's the two hospitals in Battle Creek were going through changes so she decided to answer a newspaper ad for a Medical Technologist job at the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo.

After prayerful consideration she accepted that position. During that time, from the late 1980's to the late 1990's, her work changed from a Laboratory Bench position to clinical FDA validation in animal research. She remained in the validation department during the change from the Upjohn Company to Pharmacia. As part of the transition, Carolyn was offered an early buy-out that she accepted. Her working career was not over though. After "retirement" she became involved in the Climax Library as she had always loved books and liked to read. She was promoted to Volunteer Coordinator where she remained until a serious bout with pneumonia dictated her resignation.

During her working years, she found time to be involved in her church. Her first assignment, record keeping in AWANA club Southside Bible Church along with singing in the choir. Carolyn and her husband John joined the Climax Baptist Church when they moved from Battle Creek in 1973. When Climax Baptist grew to become Prairie Baptist in Scotts, she continued singing in the choir and took on the role of record keeper for church offerings. In 2001, they moved with the youth Pastor Ron Kenney to his new ministry as the Pastor of Fundamental Baptist Church in Urbandale. At the Urbandale Church, she maintained a quiet ministry of sending out birthday cards and cards of encouragement to the congregation. She helped in church potlucks and other activities. In her free time she collected fossils, did fine needlepoint and was an avid reader.

Carolyn is survived by her husband John; her sister, Claudine; brother, Alan and cousin, Rodney Kitchen.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 11:00 am at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services 205 East Maple St. Climax, MI 49034. The family will greet friends from 10:00 am to 11:00 am prior to the service. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to Fellowship Baptist Church Missions, in memory of Carolyn. To view her personalized webpage, please visit https://www.langelands.com