Cheerleader Makenzi Kern Honored at Memorial After Bachelorette Party Death
The life of former Iowa State cheerleader Makenzi Kern was celebrated by a group of friends over the weekend, weeks after her sudden death during a bachelorette party for Jade Jones, NBA star Tyrese Haliburton's fiancée.
"This past weekend was about celebrating Kenz and the amazing person she was," Kern's friend, Heath Methlie, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, June 30. "Getting to meet and be around the people who meant the most in her life and seeing how much they loved her was a breath of fresh air. Everyone coming together from all over the country to be there for each other and mourn the loss of such a beautiful soul is something I'll never forget."
A large group of Kern's friends, including Jones, set off fireworks and shared photos of Kern during the memorial. Members of the group also visited Glory Days, a bar in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Kern and Jones met as cheerleaders at Iowa State University, where Haliburton, 26, also played basketball.
"Kenz was selfless, always showing up for others, always bringing warmth, laughter, and the best energy wherever she went," Methlie wrote. "The kind of person everyone knew was special. One of a kind. Now we live bigger and love deeper for her 🤍."
Jones, 28, commented on the post, "So beautiful Heath! Love you so much ❤️."
Kern died on June 8 after suffering unexpected "health complications" while in St. Barts on Jones' bachelorette party trip. She was 26. A cause of death has not yet been publicly released at the time of publication..
Her family does not expect foul play, drugs or alcohol played a role in her death, according to TMZ.
Jones broke her silence about Kern's death with a poignant social media post on June 17.
"Kenzi was the funniest, goofiest person I've ever met," Jones wrote via Instagram. "She was always making me belly laugh. She had such a gift of bringing happiness to every room she was in. Some of my favorite memories with Kenzi are the simple ones - spending a summer living in her city, leaving our mark on the capital district, running around our cars at stop lights, cheering on the bandshell together, obsessing over The Office, dancing on countertops to Hannah Montana, and watching her light up anytime she got to be on a boat."
She continued, "She loved and supported Tyrese and me through every chapter. She was our biggest cheerleader and showed up for me in every big moment in my life. I can't even imagine our wedding day without her there celebrating with us. The day will not be the same without her, but I know she will show us she is there somehow. She has been there for all of our moments since the day I met Tyrese. But Kenz will forever live on in my memories, my laughter, my stories, and in the person I am because of her. I will never stop laughing about all our memories together."
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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 2:31 PM.