Erna Z. Kampert, a mother, a sister, a teacher, a friend, a smile giver to so many, died in Kindred-Hospital Mansfield on January 13, 2010. She was a young 69 years old. Erna had been battling through the difficult stages of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Erna was the daughter of Louis and Myrtle (Johnson) Zutavern from Great Bend, Kansas. After moving to Abilene, Texas, in 1969 Erna became an elementary school teacher and got her first teaching job at Butterfield School, 10 miles southwest of Abilene. Erna eventually moved on from Butterfield and taught in the Wylie Independent School District for over 30 years. Teaching was her passion and would be her only career. In 1999 she was awarded Teacher of the Year recognition for the Wylie ISD. This was a proud moment for her and her family as her long hours and hard work to better the lives of children were acknowledged. Erna was a member of the St. James United Methodist Church of Abilene, Texas, and is survived by daughter, Kim Klempnauer and her husband Todd of Arlington, Texas, and their children, Travis and Kathryn; David Kampert and his wife Aimee of Noblesville, Ind., and their children Sam and Joe; Devin Kampert of Oklahoma City, Okla. and Lori Romberg and his children Madison and Owen; two brothers, John Zutavern and his wife Martha of Abilene, Kan., and Jerry Zutavern and his wife Sheila of Ojai, Calif.; two nieces, Ann Zutavern and Vicki Zutavern; one nephew, Louis Zutavern; and a host of friends. Mom always had a smile on her face that warmed the hearts of everyone she came in contact with. It was the little things that Mom did in peoples lives that made a difference. A simple Please or Thank You always brightened the day of whomever she was speaking to. Mom will be dearly remembered for her sacrificial love for her children. The continual sacrifice of her own needs to provide for the needs of her family will never be forgotten. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 18, 2010 at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, Kan. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, Kan. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m., Sunday, January 17, 2010, the family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. all at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the donors favorite childrens charity, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Road, Great Bend, Kan. 67530.