Fern Martha (Poeppe) Dobbins

Fern Martha Poeppe, daughter of A. J. and Julia (Nieland) Poeppe was born July 30, 1934 in Carroll County, Iowa. She was a graduate of St. Mary's Academy in Emmetsburg. She continued her education at St. Anthony's School of Nursing in Carroll, Iowa. On January 2, 1960, Fern was united in marriage to Kenneth Dobbins at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. To this union, ten children were born. Fern worked as an OB nurse at St. Anthony's Hospital in Carroll, Holy Family Hospital in Estherville and Dakota Hospital in Fargo, ND. Fern loved working with her hands. She was a master seamstress, and she enjoyed: crocheting, knitting, embroidering and cross-stitching. Having ten children, she was an excellent cook, baker and cake decorator. Fern liked to pass time playing solitaire, working crossword puzzles and playing Sudoku. Fern was very proud of all of her children and grandchildren, and she loved spending time with all of them. Fern was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg and a life-time member of Catholic Daughter's of the Americas, Moorhead, MN. On Thursday, July 14, 2016, Fern passed away at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emme...[more]

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urg. Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ken of Emmetsburg; ten children: Mary DeJong (Doug) of Asheville, NC, John Dobbins (Judy) of Quincy, IL, Robert Dobbins (Debbie) of Moorhead, MN, Paul Dobbins (Suzanne) of Fargo, ND, Dr. Brian Dobbins (Anne) of Green Bay, WI, Scot Dobbins (Janelle) of Mahomet, IL, David Dobbins (Tammy) of New Brighton, MN, Mark Dobbins (April) of Winnebago, NE, Anita Murnane (John) of Papillion, NE and Kevan Dobbins (Jen) of Fargo, ND; 32 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one on the way; two brothers: Wayne Poeppe (Alvina) of Eagleville, MO and Kenneth Poeppe (Ruth) of Emmetsburg; four sisters: Dolora Brincks of Carroll, IA, Phyllis Lindsey of Laurens, IA, Pat Metzger (Howard) of Estherville, Zeline Gappa (Joe) of Emmetsburg. She will also be missed by her many nieces and nephews who affectionately remember her as Taunta Fern. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sister Anita Poeppe FSPA; granddaughter, Paige Dobbins; and brother, Dale Poeppe.