George Werner Fonken 1911-2003

WERNER, FONKEN, POTTER

Posted By: Lori Clark
Date: 7/28/2003 at 08:06:09

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service
Iowa City – 319-338-1132

Iowa City Press Citizen – Paid
The Gazette – Paid

Iowa City Dateline:

George W. Fonken, age 92, long-time resident of Iowa City died Sunday, July 27, 2003, at Atrium Village in Hills, Iowa following a brief illness.

Private family memorial services will be held at a later date with inurnment at the Memory Gardens Mausoleum conducted by the Reverend Peter Sanderson of Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in George’s memory to the American Diabetes Association @ 1073Rockford Road, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404. Online condolences can be sent for George’s family through the Website of the funeral home @www.gayandciha.com.

George Werner Fonken was born June 28, 1911, in Englewood, New Jersey, the son of George H. and Anna (Werner) Fonken. He grew up in Washington D.C., after graduating from high school he attended Gettysburg College, and later graduated from Purdue University with a degree in civil engineering in 1933. On July 23, 1937, he married Norma Leone Potter in Caledonia, Minnesota. During World War II he served in the United States Army. Lieutenant Colonel Fonken seved in the Pacific Theatre where he received the Purple Heart and was awarded the Bronze Star. Following the war the couple moved to Iowa City in 1946 where George had been a civil engineer with the United States Department of Agriculture in the Soil Conservation Service.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City, the Masonic Lodge, Elks Club and a number of professional organizations during his career. He was an avid golfer, and a talented artist.

His family includes his daughter, Georgia Welch of Iowa City; son and his wife, John and Elaine Fonken of Adel, Iowa; two granddaughters and their husbands, Jennifer and Jason Hall of Ames, and Angela and Ryan Foster of Cedar Falls.

George was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Norma, and son-in-law, Roderick T. Welch.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for George’s family and his services.