Fedders, Ernest Gene 1939-2023

FEDDERS, PENNINGS, KLEIN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 10/5/2023 at 14:33:51

Mr. Ernest Fedders, age 84, of Orange City, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City

A visitation with the family present will be held on Monday, October 2, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. There will be a funeral service on Tuesday, October 3, at 1:30pm, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City with the Rev. Mark Haverdink officiating. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Ernest Gene was born on August 7, 1939, in rural Boyden, one of five children born to John G. and Edna J. (Pennings) Fedders. He was raised on a farm near Orange City, and attended the Orange City Christian School before graduating from the Northwestern Classical Academy in 1957.

On November 14, 1958, he was united in marriage to JoAnn Darlene Klein at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They started farming by Carnes, and later moved to a farm south of Orange City, where they were crop farmers and raised livestock. He loved being a farmer and started most conversations with “How are the crops looking?”. He was also recognized numerous times for his successful farming practices. In 2006, Ernie and JoAnn moved off the farm and to a home in Orange City. They continued farming until their retirement in 2022, when he became a resident of the Prairie Ridge Care Center.

Mr. Fedders was a longtime member of the First Reformed Church in Orange City. He enjoyed spending time with his friends playing cards, shooting pool, and bowling. He took great pride in his family and never wanted to miss a family gathering.

Survivors include his wife of almost 65 years, JoAnn, of Orange City; a daughter and her husband, Deborah and Robert Vander Plas, of Ireton; two sons, Jeff Fedders, and his friend, Carol Lepthein, of Broomfield, Colorado; and Brent Fedders, of Hospers; eight grandchildren, Alecia Vander Plas; Stacia, and her husband, Brad Van Berkel; Ryan Vander Plas, and his wife, Susan; Joshua Fedders; Amy Fedders, and her friend, Forrest Garcia; Akeyma Fedders; Korver Fedders; and Tytan Fedders; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gladie Eason, of Orange City; and Joyce, and her husband, Ron Bradley, of Kearney, Missouri; a brother and his wife, Larry and Eileen Fedders, of Sheldon; a sister-in-law, Galena Klein, of Muscatine; and a brother-in-law, Ron Klein, of Hull; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister and her husband, Terri and Henry Vermilyea; two sisters-in-law, Lila, and her husband, Henry Kiers; and Lois Klein; and two brothers-in-law, Leo Eason and Clyde Klein.

Memorials will be given to the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice and the Prairie Ridge Care Center.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.