Robert C. Fernald 1939-2017

FERNALD, RATHBUN, KERKHOVE

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:08

Jesup, Iowa – Robert C. “Bob” Fernald, 78 years old, of Jesup, died Monday, November 20, 2017, at the Buchanan County Health Center, Independence, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. – Friday, November 24, 2017, St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Jesup, with burial in the church cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by Pump-Scheer American Legion Post #342 of Jesup. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until services Friday at the church. Memorials will be directed to St. Athanasius Catholic Church.

Bob was born October 31, 1939, in Independence, Iowa, the son of Orville Dwight Fernald and Iona Lillian (Rathbun) Fernald. He graduated from high school in Winthrop, IA, with the class of 1957.

On April 19, 1960, he was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Kerkove at St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Jesup. Bob served six years in the US Air Force. He worked 30 years at John Deere in Waterloo, IA as a machine operator, retiring in 1993.

He was a member of St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Jesup and the UAW Local 838 in Waterloo. He was a Ham radio** operator, enjoyed the training of hunting dogs and hunting with them. In earlier years he and Barbara also enjoyed traveling.

Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Fernald of Jesup, IA; one daughter, Laurie (David) Houser of Mason City; two sons, Richard “Rick” Fernald of Independence, Russell (Ning) Fernald of Galveston, IN; two grandchildren, Ashley Houser and Adam (Jessica) Houser; 4 great grandchildren, Adrianna, Alia, Ian and Avery; also one brother, Dwight Fernald of Rockford, IL; and one sister Rose (Roger) Purdy of Texas.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, is in charge of the arrangements.

SOURCE: White Funeral Home

1315 Main Street

Jesup, Iowa 50648

**NOTE: Robert was amateur radio operator KB0JKX.