Fern Herren

Little Rock, IA Fern Heeren age 84 of Little Rock, IA died Wednesday June 16, 2010, at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, June 19th at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA, with Rev. Brian Hellenga officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock. Visitation will be Friday, June 18th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. Fern Jennie Broesder Heeren was born March 10, 1926 to John and Margaret (Alfke) Broesder on the family farm north of Little Rock. She attended country school, graduated from the 8th grade and from the Little Rock High School in 1943. After graduation she helped her parents on the farm until February 16, 1950 when she married Benjamin Heeren. They lived in Little Rock. In 1952 when her husband was drafted into the Korean war she worked as a doctors assistant for Dr. James McKeever for two years and later as a wool presser for Bryans Dry Cleaners in Rock Rapids. After their daughters started school she worked as a certified nurses assistant for 5 years in nursing homes and for many years in the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital until she retired. She was a member of the Salem Reformed Church, taught Jr. R.C.Y.F., Bible School and Catechism. She was a former member of Willing Workers, Salem Bible Study and Elgin Homemakers. At the time of her death she was a 46 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and of a small interdenominational Bible Study Group. Fern is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ben Heeren, daughters, Florene (Jeff) Theis of Carver, MN and Luann Heeren of Worthington, MN; two grandsons, Brian Theis and Kyle Theis and one granddaughter, Jenna Theis; brother, Alvin Broesder; sisters-in-law, Ann (Gordon) Larson of Mission, TX and Myrna Heeren of Spencer, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Margaret Broesder; brother, Leroy Broesder; nephew, Verlyn Broesder; sister-in-law, Dolores Broesder; and brother-in-law, Elmer Heeren.