Debra Ellen Fincham (1956-2012)

FINCHAM, LAMBERT, WILTON, JOHNSTON, SMITH

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/19/2012 at 01:23:20

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

Debra Ellen Fincham, 55, died on January 1, 2012. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by loving family and friends. Deb lost a battle with lung cancer – a disease she had despite having never been a smoker.

Debra was born on December 10, 1956 and was the first child born to Dick and Anita Fincham of rural Ames and formerly of rural Story City. As an adult, Debra recognized the benefits of growing up on a genuine family farm and credits that experience with bestowing upon her all her best traits.

Debra graduated from Roland-Story High School in 1975 and Iowa State University in 1979. She had a passion for women's health care and spent 15 years working for Planned Parenthood. Debra decided in the early 1990's that she wanted to become a Physician Assistant (PA) and graduated from Des Moines University's rigorous PA Program in 1996.

She enjoyed her work as a PA, working primarily in Family Practice and Women's Health. She felt especially good about the care she provided to uninsured patients through nonprofit organizations and publicly funded programs. She especially enjoyed her work at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines as interactions with the patients there always made her grateful for the advantages she had.

Debra met Mark Lambert in 1988, and the two fell in love almost instantly. Not long after they met, they made a commitment to each other to be life partners, and then formally married in 1996. As Debra finished her studies, Mark finished his at the University of Iowa, College of Law. They were blessed with two bright and beautiful daughters, Sierra and Jasmine Lambert, both now age 11.

Deb was an active member of the Polk City Women (PCW), a public-service club, the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, and the Iowa Physician Assistant Society.

Deb is survived by her husband, Mark Lambert, and daughters Sierra and Jasmine Lambert of Polk City; her parents, Richard and Anita Fincham of Ames; and her sisters Janice Wilton (Tom) of Polk City, Leanne Johnston (Jay) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Linda Fincham of Columbia, Missouri. She is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.

Deb was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, LaVerne and Rena Smith, and paternal grandparents, Ray and Ruby Fincham.

A memorial service celebrating Deb's life was held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 1800 Bell Ave, Des Moines. A visitation with Deb's family was held on Friday, January 6, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., also at the First Unitarian Church.

Deb requested, in lieu of flowers, that memorial gifts be made payable to a college fund she established for her daughters, the "Fincham-Lambert Family Trust."