FERN D. NELSON

Fern D. Nelson, age 89, of 534 S. Pleasantview Road, Plymouth, Wis., passed away early Tuesday evening, August 4, 2009.

She was born on May 13, 1920, in Plymouth, a daughter of the late Friederich and Frieda Oberreich Koehler.

She attended Plymouth area schools and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1938.

On Oct. 28, 1939, she married her sweetheart, Charles “Red” Nelson in Plymouth and they were married 67 years when he preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 2006. The couple lived in Plymouth since their marriage.

Fern enjoyed being and was a dedicated crossing guard for 11 years at Parkview School in Plymouth.

She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ in Plymouth and the Willing Workers of the church.

Fern was a charter member of the Plymouth VFW World Cheese Center Post 5612 Auxiliary where she served two terms as president in 1948 and 1979 and was named President of the Year for the 6th District in 1979. She also was a color bearer in District 6 for many years.

She was a charter member of the Rocky Knoll Auxiliary. Fern was a Bluebird Leader several years, member of the County Knitting Club for 40 years, a member of Borden’s Kraft Chorus and a dedicated volunteer for Rocky Knoll and Sheboygan Memorial Hospital, knitting caps for babies as well as working for the American Red Cross for 42 years.

She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon (Ron) Schoenfeld of Plymouth and Barbra Englebretson of Mauston; one daughter-in-law, Nancy Nelson of Plymouth; grandchildren, Amy (Jeffrey) Buechel, Anne Hernandez, Natalie (David) Richart, all of Plymouth, Nancy Schoenfeld of Kuwait, Krista (Scott) Ottinger of Colfax, Craig (Sherry) Olig of Menasha, Adam Englebretson of Plymouth, Sara (Jason) Van Pee of Mount Horeb; 14 great-grandchildren, one sister, Pearl Hetherington of Appleton, one sister-inlaw, Edna Zinkgraf of Plymouth (dear friend, Woody).

Also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by one son, Thomas; two sisters, Joann Koehler and Delores (Fred) Meyer; one brother, Leroy (Margret) Koehler; one son-in-law, Kurt Englebretson; three brothers-in-law, Carl, Don and Otto “Toby.”

Funeral services will be held at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, at Salem United Church of Christ in Plymouth. The Rev. James Hoppert, pastor of the church will officiate. Burial will be in the Plymouth Woodlawn Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Sunday from 4 p.m. until the time of services. The Plymouth VFW World Cheese Center Post 5612 Auxiliary will conduct a memorial service at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Fern’s name.

The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Plymouth is serving her family. For online condolences, visit www.suchonfh.com.

The family would like to thank the Rev. James Hoppert, and Dale Miller for their pastoral care and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, the staff at Aurora Sheboygan Medical Center and Dr. Mark Sharon for all their care and compassion shown to Fern during her last days with us.