Barbara Jean Steinberg Kernes
March 9, 1947
November 11, 2011
Barbara Kernes was born March 9, 1947, in Port Townsend to Marianne (Holbrook) Steinberg and Irving 'Bud' Steinberg. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, 2009, and put on a long and courageous battle with the disease.
She married Joe Kenney in 1963, in Port Townsend. They have two daughters, Laura and Lisa. She and Steve Kernes were married in 1991, and enjoyed a blended family of five children.
She is noted for her knowledge and expertise in raising small birds - finches and canaries were her passion. Bird lovers from coast to coast sought her opinion about bird diseases and the nuances of raising them. She expanded her love of birds and raised chickens and pheasants after returning to the Port Angeles area.
Her moments of joy were most notable when she had dirty hands from working in her flower gardens. She knew all about raising daylilies and saturated her gardens with them. She often walked visitors around her property while explaining when she planted various types of plants and identified them all.
Cats were her favorite pet - and she had many. She rescued all she could and pampered them as well. She never had more than she could care for and spoiled each of them. They all loved her and would spend countless hours and her bedside. She was proud of the cat rescues and would tell all who would listen about how each cat was found and their unique story.
Barbara had a 36-year background in sales, business administration, and research and development. For three years, she managed the automated updating of policies and procedures for the Clallam County Sheriff's Department, Washington. From 1985 through 1989, she participated in the development of the first historical book on Washington law enforcement, Washington State Law Enforcement; The First Hundred Years - 1889-1989.
Over the past 25 years, she conducted extensive research regarding managing information within law enforcement agencies, laws, and legal issues unique to various states and authored contracted publications. She co-authored 18 books on management and law for the states of Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Florida, Georgia and the United States Government.
She is survived by her husband, Steven T. Kernes of Port Angeles; parents, Marianne Stites of Shelton, Wash. and Bud Steinberg of Clifton, Colo.; daughters, Laura A. Bowen and Lisa R. Kenney of Port Angeles; son-in-law Tim Wright of Sequim; and former husband Joe Kenney; stepsons Trevor B. Kernes and wife Rachel of Orting, Wash., Brenton A. Kernes and wife Athena of Edmond, Okla.; and stepdaughter Stephanie L. Doenges and her husband Jess of Sequim; brothers and sister Riley Stites and wife Connie of Sequim, Beverly Love of Bremerton, Jim Steinberg and wife Kathleen of Clifton, Colo., Dan Steinberg of Grand Junction, Colo., and Charles Steinberg of Grand Junction, Colo. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Timmy Wright, Brett Wright, Ben Bowen, Catherine Bowen, and Elizabeth Bowen; eight step-grandchildren: Jordan Kernes, Brandon Kernes, Austin Kernes, Ethan Kernes, Brogen Kernes, Dylan Alejo, Taylor Goodson, and Landon Goodson; nieces and nephews, Jeff Lyle, Leah Brown, Sam Stites, Michael Kennedy, Rob Steinberg, Jennifer Campbell; uncle Raymond Steinberg of Port Townsend and aunt Florence Steinberg of Spokane, Wash. And last but not least, Conni Lee of Port Angeles, her best friend and confidant of more than 50 years.
Preceding her in death were brothers Richard L. Steinberg in 1996, Raymond G. Steinberg in 2002; stepmother Eileen Steinberg in 2002, and stepfather James Stites in January, 2011.
Even though she moved away from Port Townsend and lived in California for eight years and Georgia for 12 before returning to Port Angeles, she and her brothers always dreamed of going back home to the Olympic Peninsula. So, burial will be in the Port Angeles area with her brothers, Richard and Raymond's cremains at her side
Arrangements under the direction of Harper Ridgeview Funeral Chapel, Port Angeles, WA.