Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD. There will be prayer service on Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the church. Visitation will be one hour prior to both services at the church.

Kerry Lynn Horn was born on February 11, 1956 at the Burke Community Hospital to Elmer and Evelyn (Cressman) Horn.  Kerry was the youngest of four children growing up on the family farm that her grandfather homesteaded west of Burke.  Kerry attended the Rhoades District Holmes Country School through the eighth grade.   She then attended and graduated from Burke High School with the class of 1974.   Kerry went on to Mitchell Technical Institute to the nursing program.

Upon completion and certification as an LPN, she began her career in nursing at the Winner Hospital.  Her career then took her to the Gregory Community Hospital, followed by a move to Mitchell Avera Queen of Peace (formerly St. Joseph's Hospital) that lasted 20 years. There she began as a "float" nurse later being made a permanent  emergency room nurse on the night shift.



Kerry briefly worked at the Mitchell Urgent Care clinic until entering the Sanford System in Sioux Falls, SD.   Once again she began as a "float" nurse filling in wherever the need would be.  This "floating" made for many  acquaintances and being well known throughout the Sanford system.  Kerry commuted to Sioux Falls for three years until she became permanently employed in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department.    She was the primary support person for Dr. Susan Assam, and Dr. Peter Johnson.



Kerry truly enjoyed her position at Sanford and especially her interaction with patients and the physicians. Kerry was kind hearted, compassionate and very generous to both family and friends.   Her quick wit and outgoing personality made her a great nurse.  This trait also helped her to overcome a stroke in 2006 and a serious fall at home in 2012 both of which required subsequent hospitalization and medical care.

Kerry's family was the most important part of her life.  All nieces and nephews were her focal point but as the great nieces and nephews arrived they seemed to slide into the top of her interest.  She loved to shop for them (just because) and always said it was  because she  had "found a deal"!   Her well maintained and snazzy cars were the envy of a great niece who always wished to go for a ride.  As anyone may have guessed, Kerry was the center of entertainment in any and all family gatherings.

She will be greatly missed.

Those left to remember Kerry are her siblings:  sisters  Cindy (Bob ) Diekmann of Gregory, SD, Cathy (Bob) Harrison of Burke, VA; brother Clark (Mary) Horn of Burke, SD. One uncle, Charles Cressman of Butte, NE.

Nieces: Kristen (Bryan) Gill  Holden, Hudson and Gracen of Bismarck, ND; Angela (Kyle) Mediger   Wynnter and Daphne of Parker, CO; Jordynne Horn of Brookings, SD;  Beth (Dan)Beck & Kaden of Dallas, SD; Cassie (Brian) Lacey   Seamus, and Cora of Hopewell, Va; Holly (Arthur) Bond, Annelyse of San Diego,CA.

Nephews: Bryan Diekmann of Vail, Co; Craig (Jessica) Horn   Maddie, Bridget, Claire and Carver of Castlewood, SD; Bart (Jennifer) Diekmann  Emily and Lauryn of Gregory, SD; Lance Harrison of Burke, VA; Mark Horn of Rome and several cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; aunt Catherine Cressman; aunts and uncles Henry and Marian Horn and Henry and Martha Lehmann;  grandparents Henry and Anna Horn and Luther and Naomi Cressman ; cousins Daniel and Harold Lehmann and great nephew Matthew Gill.