Funeral services for Philip H. Kermes, age 78, of Hayward, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church of St. Theodore. The Rev. James Berning and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery, Myrtle, with military honors accorded by area servicemen’s organizations. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Philip died on Friday, May 22, 2009, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.
Philip Harry Kermes was born on Feb. 20, 1931, in Freeborn County, the son of Harry and Henrietta (Renchin) Kermes.  He grew up on the family farm and went to grade school in Hayward. Philip graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1949. He served in the U. S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. On June 29, 1954, Philip was united in marriage to Patricia M O’Connor at St. Columbanus Church in Blooming Prairie.
Philip was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church, the American Legion Post 56, and was a board member of the Hayward Co-op for 24 years and had served the co-op as a past president. He was the president of the Bohemian National Cemetery Board. Philip enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling with his sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons, bird watching, and arrowhead hunting. He also loved gardening, coffee with friends, watching TV — especially sports, reading, visiting with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Patricia of Hayward; children Sharon (Mark) Dempewolf, JoAnne (Gary) Johnson, Susan (Mark) Runden, Matthew (Connie) Kermes, Rita Kermes, Mark (Anne) Kermes, Jacqueline (Mark) Trapp, Neil Kermes; son-in-law Randy Farris; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, Harold (Loretta) Kermes, Charles (Mary) Kermes; sisters Georgia Nyenhuis and Harriet (Howard) Brechtel; brother-in-law, Thomas (Barbara) O’Connor; sisters-in-law, Francis Njos (Dennis) Bramstedt and Eileen Ptacek; and many nieces and nephews.
Philip was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen Farris; his parents and grandparents; sisters, Charlet and Louise; and brothers-in-law, Gene Ptacek and Henry Nyenhuis.