Lillian (Fern) Kumpula 1920-2011

KUMPULA HENDRICKS COUNTRYMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 6/24/2011 at 14:33:07

Sioux City Journal
25 April 2011

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa -- L. Fern Kumpula, 90, of Correctionville passed away on Friday, April 22, 2011, at her residence in Correctionville.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Grace United Methodist Church of Correctionville, with the Rev Sheryl K. Ashley officiating. Burial will be in Correctionville Cemetery of Correctionville. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of The Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Correctionville.

Lillian (Fern) Kumpula, daughter of Delbert and Millie Jane (Hendricks) Countryman, was born Nov. 13, 1920, at the farm home east of Moville, Iowa. She attended rural school through eighth grade and graduated from Moville High School in 1939. Fern then attended Wayne State College in Nebraska. She taught rural school for two years, one in Rutland Township and one in Arlington Township.

In the summer of 1941, Fern went to Sebeka, Minn., to visit relatives. It was there that she met Melvin Kumpula, a friend of her cousin's. They were married Aug. 22, 1942, in Sebeka. They lived in a small house on Melvin's mother's farm until moving to a large dairy farm by Sebeka. Both daughters were born in Minnesota.

In the fall of 1947 they moved to Moville, Iowa, where they rented several farms in the Moville area. In 1958 they moved to a farm east of Correctionville, Iowa, purchasing a farm in that area in 1967. Melvin died in 1982, and Fern continued to lived on the farm until she sold it to her grandson and moved into the town of Correctionville. She lived there until her death.

In addition to teaching school, Fern was active in 4-H, both as a member and leader. She served on the Woodbury County Extension Council for several years. Fern was also an active member of the Federated Church in Moville and Grace United Methodist Church in Correctionville, Chapter CP P.E.O., and Women's Club. She and Melvin enjoyed square dancing and ballroom dancing. They were also active members of the Correctionville Golf Club. Fern was "caretaker" to several generations, siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to garden and cooked many memorable meals for threshers and family.

Fern is survived by her two daughters, Mildred (Terry) Flemming of Prescott, Ariz., and Melvina (David) Volkert of Correctionville; grandchildren, Tristan Frey and Travis Frey of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Tamara (Jim) Dimitri of Colchester, Conn., Troy Frey of Anchorage, Alaska, Brenda (Larry) Brewer of Sioux City, Brian (Trudie) Volkert of Correctionville, and Christy (Mark) Blackburn of Sioux City; great-grandchildren, Logan and Jason Dimitri, Dustin, Aaron and Anna Wesselmann, Jesse, Jilyssa and Melody Brewer; Anthony and Andrew Volkert and Ally and Nick Blackburn; great-great-grandsons, Jonathan and Timothy Wesselmann; sisters, Delores Harrison of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Marilyn Breffle of Ankeny, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Lois Countryman of Moville; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin; brothers, Lawrence, Willard, Donald and Lloyd; brother-in-law, Morris Harrison; and sisters-in-law, Edna Countryman and Winnie Countryman.