Fern H Mead

Fern H. Mead, moved to her eternal home in Heaven on Saturday, March 25, 2016 at at the age of 93. Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Fairview United Methodist Church near Central City with Pastor Janet Burgel officiating. Visitation will Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be in the Central City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Donor’s Choice and condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Fern was born on December 20, 1922 in Paton, Iowa to Lewis and Lena (Shafer) Fatka. She was born and raised on her parent’s farm south of Paton, Iowa. She was baptized and had 2 years of Catechism in the Evangelical Church, where she became a member. She graduated from the Paton consolidated school in May of 1940. She was raised in the Evangelical Faith and attended Western Union Collge (now Westmar College) in LeMars, Iowa. She registered in a two year training course and graduated in May of 1943. She taught school in Iowa and Naperville, Illinois while her husband attended the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Napersville, Illinois. Fern was married to J. Russell Mead of Imperial, Nebraska in her parents home at Jefferson, Iowa. She and Russell met at Westmar College where the decided to be partners for life. To this union, was born two daughters, Linda (Chuck) Ryan of Central City, NE and Jolene (Ed) Bantam of Shenandoah, Iowa. After Russell graduated from seminary, they moved back to Nebraska where Russell attended the University of Nebraska in graduate study for two years. Fern worked in the catalog department of the University Library. The District superintendent in the Nebraska conference encouraged Russell to take a church. The Bishop assigned Russell and Fern to West Point, Nebraska in 1949. It was a six year pastorate. They continuously served pastorates in the conference to 37 years. They retired together in 1986 and made their home in Central City, Nebraska. In retirement, Fern made quilts for her daughters and grandchildren. By request, she made a quilt for her sister Nada. She made throw pillows to accompany each quilt using a quilt block design. Fern is survived by her two daughters, 5 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren; one sister – Ruth Harrison of Jefferson, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters- Rachel Klockseim and Nada Estes; three brothers- Howard, Wilbur, and Paul Fatka.

Fern H Mead

December 20, 1922 - March 26, 2016