Fern Irene (McHone) Fincham (1919-2016)
FINCHAM, MCHONE, ROE, SCHROEDER, VOS, HOFER, NEUBAUER, PASSAGE, ELROD
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 9/3/2016 at 18:28:27
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Fern Irene Fincham was born January 13, 1919 to Fred and Irene (Roe) McHone in Boone County, Iowa, in a farmhouse just northwest of Napier. Fern had two brothers, James Fred, who was born in 1917 but lived only one month, and Floyd Arthur, who was born in 1921. Fern's family moved to a farm near Kelley in 1923 and she started school in Kelley. The family moved again in 1933 to a farm between Jordan and Gilbert. Fern and her brother attended Lonetree Country School. Fern had to go to the courthouse in Boone County to take her exams in order to attend high school and she graduated from Jordan Consolidated School in 1938. After high school, Fern worked for various families doing housework and as a mother's helper. She came to the Jay Mathews family near Gilbert in 1939 to take care of Jay and his young daughter, Katherine, when Jay's wife fell seriously ill and died. She worked for the Mathews family until 1950.
Fern had her first date with her future husband, Waldo Ward Fincham in July of 1950. Waldo was a neighbor of the Mathews family for many years. She and Waldo were engaged soon after and were married on November 12, 1950 at the Zenorsville Church west of Gilbert. They honeymooned in California, visiting members of Waldo's family. Fern and Waldo returned to the Fincham farm near Gilbert and farmed for five years, then added custodial jobs at Iowa State College to their busy lives. They sold the farm in 1966 and moved to Ames, living in a house on South Maple for many years. Fern became a proficient cake baker and prepared many wedding and birthday cakes for family and friends. Fern and Waldo also enjoyed fishing and took many trips all over the country “rock hunting” together, then Waldo sliced and polished the rocks, crafting many items, including beautiful jewelry, wind chimes and even small tables.
After a particularly snowy winter in 1981, Fern and Waldo retired from Iowa State University and in 1982 moved to Rogers, Ark. They enjoyed retirement and living in the "south" (and away from snowy winters!) for ten years, until Waldo died in 1992. After his death, Fern moved back to Ames to be close to family and friends. She was very active and enjoyed many social activities in her retirement years and lived in her own apartment until July of this year. Fern was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Ames.
Fern passed away at 97 years of age on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the Households of Bethany in Story City, after a brief illness.
Fern is survived by her sister-in-law, Shirley Schroeder of Portland, Ore.; her nephew, Jeffrey (Tera) Schroeder also of Portland; her cousins, Leland (Judy) Roe of Ames, Jerry Roe of Ames, Brenda (David) Vos of Johnston, Linda Hofer of Ames, Steve (Diane) Neubauer of Madrid, Larry (Connie) Neubauer of Alto, N. M., Jan (Larry) Passage of Sunrise Beach, Mo., Marge (Dana) Elrod also of Sunrise Beach, David Roe of North Platte, Neb. and numerous other cousins; and special friends, Vicki Johnson and Sheryl Phipps of Story City (daughters of Katherine (Mathews) Johnson, whom Fern cared for as a child).
Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother, James Fred in 1917; her brother, Floyd Arthur in a tragic death in 1940; and her husband, Waldo, in 1992.
Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Women, First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Avenue, Ames, IA 50010.
Burial will be in the Gilbert Cemetery.
Memorial Service
AUG 26. 01:30 PM
First United Methodist Church
516 Kellogg Avenue
Ames, IA, US
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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