Walther, Fern Anna (Stiehl) 1914-2001

WALTHER, PAHLAS, STIEHL

Posted By: Ann Marie Rock (email)
Date: 9/10/2007 at 21:38:43

Funeral Services for Fern Anna Walther, 86, of Mason City, formerly of Elkader, were held Tuesday, March 20, 2001 at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader. Pastor Rusty Phillips officiated with burial at East Side Cemetery, Elkader. Pallbearers were Bud Hyde, Gerald Frye, Lloyd Matt, Jim Hosch, Gerald Severson and Art Lantz. Leonard Funeral Home, Elkader, was in charge of arrangements.

She was born September 21, 1914, daughter of K. J. (Charlie) and Iona Pahlas Stiehl, on their farm west of Garnavillo. She attended Hope School where she later taught for three years after attending Iowa State Teachers College. She was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo and graduated from Garnavillo High School in 1931. She was active in 4-H as a young girl and later served on the Clayton County 4-H Committee. She served as 4-H leader of the Garnavillo Farmerettes and worked at the Clayton County Extension office as a Program Aide from 1971 to 1979.

On May 31, 1936, she married Leo Boyer Walther and together they operated the grocery store in Garnavillo until 1944. In 1948, they built the Garnavillo Motel, which they sold in 1970 when they moved to Elkader to 100 High Street, the former home of Fern’s parents. They lived in this house until 1991, when they sold the home and moved to the Keystone Mobile Home Court.

In retirement, Leo and Fern traveled throughout the Midwest and South and wintered in Brownsville, Texas for nine years. Leo Walther died in April 1996. In addition to her involvement in helping run two businesses, as a homemaker and mother and grandmother, Fern has been active in 4-H, Eastern Star and Coterie and in 1998 was a recipient of an award for outstanding volunteer services to the staff of Iowa by the Iowa Department of Elder affairs and Northland Agency on Aging. In August of 1998, Fern moved to Mason City, residing at Willow Pointe, an assisted living community. She died Friday morning, March 16, 2001, at Mercy Health Center, Mason City, following a brief illness.

Survivors include two daughters, Lynne Ann (Eldon) Meyers of Mason City, and Lee Ellen (Benedict) Kordus of Bayside, Wis.; a granddaughter, Carmen Meyers of Mason City; two step granddaughters, Angela Brindowski of Milwaukee, Wis., and Marie Kordus of Los Angeles; a sister, Ilo Mae (Carroll) Ehrhardt, West Union; a nephew, Dennis Ehrhardt of LaFayette, La., and a niece Deborah Hanson of Mason City.

Originally published in The Clayton County Register, Wednesday, March 21, 2001 on page 10. Photo is also published.

My mom had this, as Fern's husband Leo was my Grandpa's (Clyde Smith's) cousin.