In Memory Of
Fern Blauw
(Age 88)

DIED
April 10, 2007
Pella, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICES
10:30 A.M. Friday, April 13, 2007
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION
After 2:00 P.M. Thursday, April 12, 2007
Family will be present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M., Thursday
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS
In Fern's name to
Bethel Missions

INTERMENT
2:30 P.M. Friday, April 13, 2007
Forest Cemetery
Oskaloosa, Iowa

Fern Blauw

Fern (Meinders) Blauw was born September 27, 1918 in Beacon, Iowa at the home of her parents, Henry and Cornelia (Hols) Meinders. She was one of seven children. Her brothers and sisters were: Tymen H. (Tim), married to Nellie Slaghter; Carrie (Dahlin); Jacob, married to Bessie Vande Wall; Everett H. (Eddie), married to Anna Mae Kuiken; Marjorie; and Henrietta, married to Don Van Ommen.

Fern worked at the Overall Factory in Oskaloosa through the WPA (Works Progress Administration.) The gals from her church wrote to the servicemen during World War II through a program sponsored by The Banner. She also worked as a housekeeper in Denver, Colorado where she met John Blauw who was a patient at the Bethesda Hospital.
John and Fern were united in marriage on February 7, 1946 at her parents' home in Oskaloosa. To this union three children were born: Martena, Coretha, and David. John and Fern lived on an acreage north of Oskaloosa and were members of the Oskaloosa First Christian Reformed Church until 1963, where she made profession of faith in 1940. At that time they moved to Pella and were custodians at the Pella Christian Grade School. They became members of the Pella Second Christian Reformed Church and Fern was active in the Golden Hour Society. John and Fern could often be found fishing at their favorite farm pond.

Fern worked at Pella Rolscreen, Vander Ploeg's Bakery, and in the kitchen at Hilltop South. She also volunteered at Work of Our Hands and COC.

She is survived by her children: Martena Blauw of Pella, Iowa; Coretha and Norm Rozendaal of Monroe, Iowa; and David and Lisa (Reihsen) Blauw of Pella, Iowa. She was blessed with eight grandsons: Tim and Jane (Dahm) Rozendaal and their children: Justin and Kendra; Calvin and Tanya (Icenbice) Rozendaal and their children: Zachary, Brandon, and Cameron; Andrew and Erin (Bos) Rozendaal; Joshua and Ashley (Orr) Blauw, Jed Blauw, Jesse Blauw, Johnny Blauw, and Joseph Blauw She was preceded in death by her parents, husband in August 1986, three brothers and three sisters.

Fern enjoyed going to auctions and garage sales and buy things for her children and grandchildren with her "mad money." She loved to work on quilts, made most of her own clothing, and did sewing for the Pella Christian Opportunity Center. She also participated in several mission trips to Cary, Mississippi. Her family considered her a master Scrabble player. Fern lived in her own home until she was eighty years old and walked most everywhere she went.