Obituary of Fern Kingery

Fern Kingery Newton Funeral services for Fern Kingery, 94, of Newton, Iowa, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home of Newton, who have been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation will be held Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home, with the family present 5:00 p.m. until 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Fern Kingery, the daughter of John Jefferson and Anna Mary (Slykhois) Kingery, was born April 25, 1913 in Dunreath, Iowa. She attended rural Percy Schools in Marion County. Fern was united in marriage to James F. Kingery on October 31, 1931 in Knoxville, Iowa. She and Jim were longtime residents of Newton, Iowa. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and had devoted her life to her family. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, word puzzles and bowling. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid, in Newton and the 55 Bowling League for 26 years, starting in 1971. Fern had lived with her daughter Leola, the last six years. Helen went to be with her Lord on Saturday morning, March 15, 2008 in the Monarch Wing of Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter in infancy; her husband, Jim on November 15, 1979; her son-in-law, Vincent Benac on November 26, 2003; a brother Floyd Kingery; and five sisters: Della Hughes, Florence Kennedy, Myrtle Schrader, Ora Clark and Opal Snook. Those left to honor Fern's memory include her son, Carroll (Janet) Kingery of Newton; her daughter Leola Kingery Benac of Newton; her six grandchildren: Wayne (Linda) Benac, Anna (Chuck) Braaksma, Carolyn (Don) Little, Teresa (Les) Morgan, Larry (Cindy) Kingery and Dustin Kingery; her twelve great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and her many good neighbors and friends. Memorials in Fern's name are being designated to the Grace Lutheran Church or Hospice of Jasper County. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.