Fern Rohrberg

Fern Julia Rohrberg one of five children of Ferdinand Detlef Jurgens and Laura Johanna (Bichel) Jurgens, was born on July 17, 1917 on her parent's farm north of Glenwood, Iowa. Fern was baptized and later confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola. She attended Everham country school through the eighth grade and then worked as a housekeeper for her Grandpa Bichel. Fern and Elvin Henry Rohrberg were married on November 11, 1936 at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola. They made their first home on a farm near Pacific Junction, Iowa. They then moved to the Jurgen's home place until 1948 when they purchased what currently remains the Rohrberg family farm near Glenwood. Elvin and Fern's marriage was blessed with three children, Eloise Ann, Donald Dean, and Kathleen Sue. Fern enjoyed her role as mother and homemaker and was active in the PTA when her children were in school. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid and enjoyed quilting with the ladies at the church. Fern cross stitched quilts, baby quilts, and tablecloths for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She loved to play cards and belonging to many card clubs,...[more]

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e Eagle's Club, and the Blue Bird Club. Fern and Elvin traveled and enjoyed an active social life which included a host of friends. Elvin and Fern had been married 40 years when Elvin died at the age of 60 in April of 1976. Fern continued to live at the farm until 1980 when she sold the house and moved into Glenwood. She enjoyed being active and being with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In May of 2002, Fern moved to the Glen Haven Home where she died on December 16, 2005 at the age of 88 years, 4 months, and 29 days. Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elvin; son Donald Rohrberg in 2000; sister Lorraine Leick; brother Gerald Jurgens; and brother-in-law Chester Sperry. Fern is survived by her daughters, Eloise Modrell and her husband James of Algona, Iowa, and Kathy Wamberg and her husband Jim of Des Moines, Iowa; sisters Norma Sperry, Lois Benedict and her husband Duane, and daughter-in-law Jeanie Rohrberg all of Glenwood; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren: nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.