Fausta (Wycoff) AHRENS

AHRENS, WYCKOFF, MACBAIN, WASEM, KNUTZON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/18/2012 at 14:49:19

April 10, 1910 --- August 14, 2012

Fausta Wycoff Ahrens was born at Greenfield, Iowa on April 10th, 1910 to Burkett and Grace MacBain Wycoff. Fausta's elementary education was in the Greenfield schools. The family moved to Clarinda Iowa in 1922 where she graduated from high school in 1928 and from Clarinda Junior College in 1930. She was class valedictorian of both her high school and Junior College classes. She attended Northwest Missouri University in Maryville Missouri where she affiliated with the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. She took additional college training at the University of Washington in Seattle, Iowa State University, Drake and National College of Education at Evanston, Illinois. She was a teacher of elementary grades for eighteen years, teaching in Farnhamville and Ames, Iowa.

On June 8th, 1947, she was united in marriage with Arthur H. Ahrens at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa. To this union was born one son, Douglas Arthur. In 1949, they moved to Eagle Grove, where Mr. Ahrens established the Ahrens Paint and Gift Store. Following the sale of the store in December of 1969, Mrs. Ahrens began working in the Eagle Grove Memorial Library where she continued to work until 1987. Mrs. Ahrens was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, TTT, Eastern Star, Woman's Club, Equality Club, American Legion Auxiliary, and Phi Theta Kappa. She belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA and was a member of Lutheran Church Women.

Fausta passed away on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at Rotary Ann Nursing Home in Eagle Grove, at the age 102 years. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband and sisters. Her survivors include her son, Douglas and his wife, Ute, of Kansas City, Missouri and three grandchildren, Nam, Katharine and Anna.

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, August 21, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove with Pastor Jason Cooper officiating. Memorials may be directed to the Eagle Grove Memorial Library.

Foust Funeral Home - Eagle Grove, Iowa
http://hosting-24983.tributes.com/show/fausta-wycoff-ahrens-94286794

************************************
Eagle Grove Eagle - Eagle Grove, Iowa
August 16, 2012

"The Story Lady"
Fausta Ahrens, 102 years old; A life well-lived
by Kim Demory

If there’s one thing Fausta Ahrens has done during her 102 years on Earth, it’s live life to the fullest. Born April 10, 1910, in Greenfield, Iowa, Fausta grew up to be a woman of adventure;
independent in what she did and how she thought. "For a woman of that day, she way very progressive,” said her son, Doug, proud of all his mother has seen and done over the course of the last century. In 1922, Fausta moved with her mother and father and siblings to Clarinda, Iowa. There, she graduated Valedictorian of her class. From there, she attended teacher’s college in Miracle, Wisconsin. In 1931, Fausta accepted her first teaching job in Farnhamville. Later, she studied at the University of Washington in Seattle and Drake University. (From 1940 - 1942, she taught in Ames). In 1934, Fausta and three friends set out on a road trip, traveling to New York City to visit friends. In 1938, she hopped aboard a train to Seattle. From there, she took an Alaskan cruise. The adventures just kept coming for Fausta as in 1939, she attended the World’s Fair in San Francisco. In 1944, she and two friends drove to Mexico City.

In 1946, she met the love of her life, Art Ahrens, who had just returned from the service. They married and made their home in Ames until moving to Eagle Grove in 1947. Their plan was to open a furniture store, but instead bought Wasem Paint Store from Homer Wasem and reopened as Ahrens Paint and Wallpaper store. In 1973/1974, they sold the store and it is still known today as Knutzon’s. In 1969, Fausta was ready for another adventure and started a new job as the librarian at the Eagle Grove Carnegie Library. She was paid $1.75 per hour for day shift and $2.00 per hour for evening shift. Her love of reading childrens’ stories quickly earned her the affectionate nickname of “The Story Lady.” She held that position until 1987.

Throughout her years, Fausta has always lived life to the fullest, traveling three times to Germany (in her 70s and 80s) to visit her son, Doug, and his family. She was active in the Lutheran Church, PEO, The Eastern Star, and active in Rotary Club - serving as the historian until 1997. Fausta gave presentations on antiques, worked with Hospice (in her 80s), was a member of the ELCA Women’s Association, and wrote poetry. “She never accepted being old…there was always a tomorrow, and for that reason, she kept on going,” Doug said of his mother’s adventure-filled life.