Zachary Christopher Garcia-Kerns

Zachary Christopher Garcia-Kerns, 28, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on April 3, 2026, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Zachary was born on June 13, 1997, in Wichita, Kansas, to Diana Kerns. He grew up surrounded by a large and loving family and was known for his kind heart, sense of humor, and ability to bring people together. He will be remembered for his warmth, his loyalty to those he loved, and the lasting impression he made on everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his parents, William and Diana, and his father, John; his siblings, Ariel, Mackenzie, Randy (Elizabeth), Nicholas; his niece, Aria; and a nephew, Zachary, who is expected in June 2026. He is also survived by his paternal grandmother, Carol; many aunts and uncles, including Marino (Kathy), Ana (Mark), Kent (Sherry), Kurt (Nicole), MaryAnn, Amy (Tony), Johnny (Candy), Kim, and Aronda; and numerous cousins, including Tiana, Ava, Coby, Adam, Seth, Brian, Autumn, Aaron, Ariel, Anna, Noah, Ben, Blake, Townsend, Novella, Taylor, Joey, Shelby, and Sabrina.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Marino and Rosa Garcia, and paternal grandfather, Tom Kerns.

A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, with visitation from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the church, followed by entombment at Memorial Park Mausoleum in Lawrence.

Zachary’s life, though far too short, was filled with love, laughter, and meaningful connections. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Zachary's name may be made to:

The official Venmo QR code for the FOP Lodge (a 501(c) organization) is available for those who wish to make an online donation to the family.

Checks may be made payable to Lawrence FOP #2, with Garcia-Kerns noted in the memo line. The FOP will collect all donations and present them to the family in a single consolidated check 

or

The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, honoring Zachary’s deep appreciation for history.