William "Mike" Kearns, 92, of Sandy Hook, a man recalled as having dignity, compassion, and sincerity, died December 2. He was born in Danbury, January 31, 1924.

Mr Kearns held a high standard in life and all that surrounded him radiated his values and good old Yankee ingenuity. He inspired his children with a passion to achieve and succeed in life, and for that he was so proud - for they all took the ball and ran with it.

As a young lad he worked the family dairy farm with his parents, brothers, and sisters, and he loved the beauty and ambiance provided.

Sports were a top priority, and he had a true passion for it all. He played with the softball league at the Newtown Country Club before it became a golf course. He was a member of the Newtown Country Club for 70 years, scoring several hole-in-ones. He loved his golf game and he loved the Newtown Country Club. He further played for the Newtown Hardball League and Basketball League, coached Little League, and many basketball games. And, oh, the Pootatuck! Those rainbow trout never stood a chance. He always brought home a big old granddaddy. The New York Yankees - he was a diehard fan.

Mr Kearns left high school in January 1943 to join the armed forces. He had such athletic abilities that before shipping out to the European Theater, he coached a group of WACs known as "Kearns' Cuties." He went into France and forged into Germany, achieving the rank of first sergeant and stayed on a year longer in Germany after the war had ended to administrate and get personnel back home to their families.

He met his wife, Katherine "Kate" Carmody, at a Sports Nighter event at Hawley High School, and from there they married in 1949 and shared a life together for 61 years, raising a family of eight children.

Mike worked at Dairy Specialties for 27 years, an old stone shop adjacent to Curtis Box Shop, making cleaning utensils for the dairy industry. It folded. From there he went to Lexington Gardens, working from its construction to its destruction - nearly 30 years. He had such a wealth of knowledge and the customers gravitated to him to tap that knowledge. He was heartbroken to see the facility come crumbling down. He loved his job, he loved people, loved Sandy Hook, and loved Newtown.

His eight children and their spouses, Michael and Carol Kearns, Patrick and Diane Kearns, Katherine Kearns Gaudreau and David, Joseph and Arlene Kearns, Rosemary Kearns Davis and Steve; Doretta Kearns Tarangioli and Neil, Daniel and Tammy Kearns, and Mary Kearns Clark, survive Mr Kearns. He is also survived by brother and sisters Ed Kearns and wife, Lucille; Ruth Kearns Hunt and companion, Lionel; Mary Kearns Petty and husband, John; and Martha Kearns Harshbarger and husband, Dick. He additionally leaves behind 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. His loving wife; his parents, Florence (Ruffles) and John Kearns; his brothers Tom and Jim Kearns; and his sister Dorothy Kearns Bresson, predeceased Mr Kearns.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St Rose of Lima Church December 6. Interment was in St Rose Cemetery, Sandy Hook.

Memorial donations may be made to Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810 or to St Rose of Lima School, 40 Churchill Road, Newtown CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee        December 9, 2016