Obit: Rowe, Fern Ruth (1942 - 2018)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rowe, Hillert, Vine, Bender, Carlisle, Ahlborn, Ludovic, Short

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/16/2018

Rowe, Fern Ruth (11 September 1942 – 10 May 2018)

Fern Rowe, 75, of Granton, passed away on May 10, 2018 at the House of Dove in Marshfield, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Fern Ruth Vine was born on September 11, 1942 in the Town of Fremont to Irving and Frieda (Hillert) Vine, the eldest of six children. She attended Wild Rose Country School and graduated from Granton High School. After graduation, she worked for a few years and graduated from beauty school in Eau Claire.

She worked for Addie Ludovic for a few years before purchasing the beauty shop in Neillsville. She was united in marriage to Donald Rowe on June 17, 1970 at the Neillsville United Methodist Church. She farmed with her husband and in-laws while still running the beauty shop until she sold the business to Randy and Fritz Short in 1972.

Fern enjoyed spending time with her family, serving her church and community, often filling the needs of others. After the tragic events of September 11th, she was inspired to serve a Community Christmas Dinner for anyone that didn't have a place to celebrate the holidays. The dinner has grown every year and something she looked forward to doing every year. She served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, a very active member of the York Center United Methodist Church, a project and general leader of the Romadka 4-H for more than 20 years, 4-H Foods Superintendent at the Clark County Fair for many years, Town of York Treasurer for 27 years, a life member of the Granton FFA Alumni, current member of the Chili Granton Senior Citizens Group, and past-president and seamstress of the Granton School Music Boosters. Fern loved flower and vegetable gardening, playing cards, bird watching, especially feeding her orioles and hummingbirds, was an all-around good cook, and an excellent pie maker.

Fern was survived by her husband, Donnie, their children: Lori of Tigerton, Brad (Debra) of Willard, and Steve (Erica Bender) of Granton; three granddaughters, Kellisa (Greg) Carlisle of Granton, and Jesse and Breanna Rowe of Willard; her brothers, Robert (Diane) Vine of Marshfield, Harold (Kathy) Vine of Granton, Kenny (Beverly) Vine of Granton, Ronald (Dianne) Vine of Granton; one sister-in-law Donna Vine of Granton; and many nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

She was preceded in death by her son, Billy, her parents, a brother Dale, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Gilbert and Shirley (Rowe) Ahlborn.

A Memorial Service for Fern will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the York Center United Methodist Church. Family and friends may call at the York Center United Methodist Church on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place after the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials in Fern's honor to the York Center United Methodist Church and the House of Dove in Marshfield.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Fern’s family with funeral arrangements.