Kermeth Wynn Northwick, 86, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin.

Kermeth was born Dec. 3, 1931, to Arthur and Maisel (Babcock) Northwick in Madison, Wisconsin. His mother died in childbirth and he and his twin brother were brought to the Bricelyn, Minnesota, area and raised by his paternal grandparents, Andrew and Bertha Northwick.

He graduated from high school in 1950 and entered St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 1952, he joined the Marine Corps officer program and served in Puerto Rico and Korea after graduation. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1977.

In 1956, Kermeth married Alice Jean Olberg. They moved to Austin in 1959, where he taught at Austin High School for 34 years. He loved teaching and learned a great amount of wisdom from his students. Kermeth strongly believed in education and earned his masters degree at the University of Minnesota, Mankato in 1972. He continued his education throughout his career, attending San Jose State in 1973, Pepperdine University in 1982 and Tufts University in 1984.

Kermeth also loved the precious time spent with his family and, despite devastating loss, remained diligent in building a broad and loving network of friends and extended family, which he took great joy in, both locally and across many parts of the world. He enjoyed traveling and visited Norway, England, France, Italy, Greece, Scotland, the Caribbean and Mexico as well as many places in the United States.

Kermeth was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; daughters, Brenda and Karrin; and twin brother, Kenneth.  He is survived by his son-in-law, Michael Boehm, West Des Moines, Iowa; sister, Audrey Rear, Verona, Wisconsin; many nieces and nephews, cousins; and many great friends.

Family and friends of Kermeth would like to thank Kim Klingfus and the nursing staff of Sacred Heart Care Center for their beautiful care of Kermeth in his final days.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at St. Edward Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., and at the for one hour before the service on Wednesday at the church. Interment with military honors will be at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2018, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, assembly area 5.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project in Kermeth’s memory would be appreciated.