Fern Cleo Marron

Fern Marron, age 94, of Storm Lake, Iowa, formerly of Fonda, Iowa, died Monday, November 9, 2015, at her home in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, November 13, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. Burial will follow in the Mt. Zion Catholic Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will take place Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 5-7:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Fern Cleo Mertz was born May 17, 1921, in Walnut, Iowa. She was the daughter of Sarah Belle (Smith) and Daniel Willard Mertz. At the age of seven, the family moved to Fonda, Iowa, and through the years they lived on several farms near the Fonda community. She attended country school and graduated from Fonda High School in 1940. On September 29, 1941, Fern was united in marriage to Omer “Duke” Marron at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda. To this union five sons were born: Charles Omer, Donald Joseph, Timothy Eugene, Francis Owen, and Daniel Raymond. Fern worked at Jack Keenan Café for two and a half years while her husband was serving in World War II. After raising her family, she worked with her husband as assistant janitor from 1975 to 1977 at Fonda High School. They moved to LeMars, Iowa, on June 1, 1977, and were janitors for Gehlen Catholic School until September, 1985, when they retired and moved to Storm Lake to be closer to family. During their retirement, Fern and Omer enjoyed fishing, traveling, and going on walks together. Fern was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed crocheting and shared her finished pieces with many family, friends, and neighbors. She was the proud grandmother of eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Donald Marron of El Paso, Texas; Timothy (Linda) Marron of Pocahontas, Iowa; Francis (Mary Jo) Marron of Storm Lake, Iowa; and Daniel (Lisa) Marron of Omaha, Nebraska. She is also survived by her sisters: Vivian “Buddy” (Eugene) Bunnelle, Loretta “Red” Boettcher, Shirley “Sis” (Myron) McClurg, and sister-in-law, Sheryl Mertz; grandchildren: Randy, Greg, Dianna, Amy, Brian, Jeremy, Kayla, Matthew, Michelle, Michael, and Megan and their families; great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Omer; infant son, Charles; parents, Dan and Sarah Mertz; sisters, Elane Miller and Viola McCullough; and brother, David Mertz. Fern will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Fern Cleo Marron

May 17, 1921 - November 9, 2015