Godspeed Aunt Fern

My Great Aunt Fern passed away yesterday.

Here is the obituary from the local paper.

Fern Marie Kobes, 1010 Scott Park Drive, Iowa City, Iowa, died on July 7, 2008, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, after a short illness. Visitation will be Thursday, July 10, 2008 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 10:30 am. Pastor Doug Cue will officiate. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens, Iowa City. A luncheon will be served at American Legion Post #17, 3016 Muscatine Ave, Iowa City following burial. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Volunteer Service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center or Iowa City Hospice.



Fern was born May 8, 1921 to Cleve T. and Mary E. (Bales) Evans in Pittsburgh, Iowa, rural Iowa County. She attended country schools and lived in the Windham area, North Liberty and Iowa City with her parents.

Fern married Jacob H. Kobes Jr. on August 29, 1940 at St. Paul Lutheran Chapel, Iowa City. They spent their 67 years of marriage in Iowa City. Jake preceded her in death on February 25, 2008.

Fern was a homemaker, raised three children, did domestic work throughout the years and provided countless hours of service to the community. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #17 for 64 years and held several unit and county offices including president, and was honored to have been elected to the office of president of District #1. She was also a member of ALA Past Presidents. Fern was a member of the VFW and DAV Auxiliaries and an active member of Iowa City Women Club for many years. The ALA granted Fern the distinct of National Volunteer of the Week and in April, 2008 she was honored for having provided 17,500 hours of volunteer service to Veterans Administration Medical Center, an honor she graciously accepted and humbly appreciated.

Survivors include three children: Karen L. (Robert) Miller, Riverside; Gary D. (Susan) Kobes, Emery, S.D. and Joyce E. (William) Callen, Merrimack, NH; sisters Helen Griffin and Gertrude (Robert) Fuhrmeister of Iowa City; brother-in-law Donald Kobes, Florida; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many special friends within her service communities.

Fern was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; infant brother Charles and sister Edith Danke; great-grandson Raymond Elshoff; granddaughter-in-law Sarah Miller; brothers and sisters-in-law John and Lucille Margaret Neuzil; Kenneth and Kathryn Kobes; brother-in-law William Griffin and a very special niece and nephew.

Fern's family wishes to extend heartfelt appreciation to Iowa City Hospice and those staff members of Mercy Hospital who touched Fern's life the last several weeks. Gratitude is especially extended to the two nurses who provided exceptional insight, professionalism and guidance to Fern's family in the final days of her life. Fern was joined in passing by her loyal and dear friend, Ruth Switzer, also on July 7, 2008. They made their journey to Heaven together, to meet up with their fellas.

Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com.