Aloysius (Al) Paul Kerschen slipped away peacefully Friday April 14, 2017 surrounded by his family. Al was born the 3rd of 11 children on June 29, 1918 to Joseph Kerschen and Frances Gunzelman in Aleppo, KS. He served in WWII as a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corp with the 460th Bombardment Group (H) from 1943 to 1946. He was a nose gunner on a B24 bomber and flew 50 combat missions over southern Europe. In 1950 he married Maxine McCrea and they raised four children. Al had a strong faith and was a devout Catholic all his life. He worked for the Cessna Aircraft Company and the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, KS before joining the United States Air Force as a civilian inspector. He worked with the Strategic Air Command in eastern Kansas, on the Gemini and Apollo space flights while in Mississippi and with McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft near St. Louis, MO. Al retired in 1981 and spent the rest of his life enjoying his children, grandchildren, and most of all, his wife. He is survived by his w;fe of 67 years, Maxine; his children, Kay Johnston, Michele Bowen, Bob Kerschen, and Joel Kerschen; two brothers, Joe Kerschen, and Bill Kerschen, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a future time. Donations can be made to KC Hospice House at: https://www. kchospice. org/donate-now/