Fay G. (Roelfsema) CALLIES

ROELFSEMA, CALLIES, MILLER, ENGEL, BURCHETT, LUST, AMESBURY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/1/2009 at 10:52:22

9 September 1906 --- 8 June 2006

Fay G. Callies, 99, of Titonka died June 8, 2006 at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona following surgery. She was born September 9, 1906, in Kanawha, IA, the only child of John and Kate Miller Roelfsema. At an early age, her parents moved to Carroll, and Fay attended school there before her family moved to Harlan, where Fay graduated from Harlan High School in 1925. She attended Rockford College, Rockford, IL, for two years and then transferred to Simpson College in Indianola, where she graduated with honors and a BA degree in Romance Languages, English and Drama. She taught in Delphonos High School, in southern Iowa, and came to Titonka in 1930. Here she met Carl F. Callies, who owned a Standard Oil business. She taught one more year before becoming a full-fledged homemaker. Twin daughters were born in 1934 followed by two more in 1936 and 1939. These were the depression days and Carl sold out and moved the family to a farm NW of Titonka. Fay was very active in community, school, and the Methodist Church where she was the organist for many years, taught Sunday School and was the president of UMW for several years. During WW II, Fay returned to teaching in Ledyard, Titonka, and Woden. She was president of the local PTA several years, and was honored in 1951 as Kossuth County Mother of the Year, and subsequently Honorary Iowa Mother. She was a 4-H leader for 14 years, and a charter member of Titonka Federated Club. In 1957 she was named Kossuth Clubwoman of the Year, and several years later was honored as Titonka Club Star. Fay was an avid reader, and besides music, she enjoyed crafts, photography, embroidery, cooking and traveling with her beloved husband of 75 years. They traveled extensively in the US, Alaska, Canada and Mexico, and visited many countries in Europe and a few in Africa. When Carl retired, they spent 10 years delivering Winnebagos, as well as enjoying their summer lake home in Minnesota and their winter home in Texas.

She leaves to mourn her husband, Carl and three daughters; Sharon and Jim Engel, Carol and Ray Burchett, Darlene and Dean Lust and son-in-law Bill and Wendy Amesbury; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many cousins and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Shirley Amesbury.

A memorial service will be held on July 8th, at 10:00 a.m., at the Titonka Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to the charity of your choice.

Source unknown, ca. June 1006