William Fey

FEY LUCKEL THOMPSON KAMREN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 23:06:17

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

William Fey
By Donald Fey

William ‘Bill’ Fey was born, the fourth child to Henry and Elizabeth Luckel Fey, March 14, 1887, at a farm near Wheatland, Iowa. His parents were of German descent. His father, Henry was born at Wunderthausen, Germany, May 21, 1856. Henry’s brothers and sister were Phillip, Fred, George and Elizabeth. Henry came with his mother, brother and sister to the United States in 1868 at the age of twelve. Henry’s wife Elizabeth Anne Luckel was born at Agirkhausen, Germany, March 31, 1863. Her brothers and sisters were Carl, George, Amelia, Anna and Lena.

William’s brothers and sisters in order of their birth were Henry, Louie, George, who died in infancy, William, Phillip, Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’, Lena, Albert, Frank, Amelia, Florentine, Johnny and Alma, thirteen in all.

William and his brothers, Henry, Phillip and Louie as well as sister, Lizzie, moved as young adults, where they spent most of their remaining years, to the Woodbury County. Phillip soon moved on to Nebraska, near Chadron. Others of the family came to Woodbury County, but spent little of their lifetime here.

William, Henry and Louie farmed as well as doing various kinds of construction work. William was employed at the John Deere Plant in Omaha at the time of his marriage to Ethel Thompson, March 23, 1910. After their marriage he operated a dirt-dredging machine for several summers in northern Iowa near the towns of Ellendale and Dolliver. He later went to eastern Iowa near Stanwood where he continued the operation of the dredge-machine, returning to Woodbury County about 1917.

William’s wife, Ethel Thompson Fey, was born to J S ‘Dick’ Thompson and Josephine Kamren Thompson, September 23, 1889, at Kingsley, Iowa. Her brothers and sisters were Earl, Merle, Edith (Davis) and E Mona (Fox).

Ethel was reared in the Kingsley and Correctionville communities and taught school at Stanwood, Iowa, and later in Woodbury County rural areas.

William and Ethel became the parents of two children: Donald, born June 14, 1910, at Omaha, Nebraska; and Dorothy, born September 18, 1911, at Pierson, Iowa. Donald married Bernice Ashley May 30, 1936, at Anthon, Iowa; and Dorothy married J H Petersen, June 30, 1932, at Anthon, Iowa.

In 1936, William and Ethel returend to the original Fey home, near Wheatland, Iowa, which they purchased and farmed until 1942 when they returned to Anthon, Iowa, where they purchased a home.

William worked for several years at the Standar Service Station in Anthon until his death, September 3, 1957.

William was an avid sports fan, enjoying both school and community activities.

After William’s death Ethel worked at the Coast to Coast Store in Anthon until her health forced her to retire.

William and Ethel were both members of the Methodist Church. She contributed much to the Ladies Society of the church and was in regular attendance and contributed much to the adult Sunday School Class. Ethel passed away June 27, 1973, at the Nursing Home in Correctionville, Iowa.