Fern B. Kieffer

A woman of love, fortitude, and generosity, Fern Kieffer touched, moved and inspired many during her long resilient life. Fern devoted her life to her family and cherished nothing more than watching her loved ones grow and capture their own dreams. Fern was loved abundantly and cherished in the hearts of many. Though she will be sadly missed, Fern's legacy will continue to live in the hearts of all who knew her.
The 1920s were an age of dramatic social and political change. Post-war peace, a booming economy, rising wages for most Americans and falling consumer prices, resulted in a higher standard of living for most. Tremendous confidence, prosperity, and previously unknown comforts marked this roaring decade when a person's success was largely determined by a person's ability to identify their desires and their willingness to do the work to make them a reality. This vibrant decade grew even brighter when Paul Reps, Sr. and Barb (Denzer) Reps, of Minnesota City, welcomed their daughter Fern on January 4, 1921.
Fern grew up the second oldest child of the Reps eight children. At the age of five, her family moved to Fremont where she attended Enterprise School before graduating from Lewiston High School. As the only daughter, Fern spent much of her childhood helping raise her younger siblings. Growing up in a house full of boys helped Fern grow the tenacity and fortitude that served as a firm foundation for the rest of her life.
From a very early age, Fern loved to dance. While attending a dance at Wyatville Dance Hall, Fern had the good fortune of meeting Leon Kieffer. The pair made a smooth turn or two on the dance floor and soon learned that they were natural partners. The fluidity of their dance led to courtship, and soon they were planning a life together. The happy couple married on married August 19, 1947, and began their marriage near Elba on the Kieffer family farm.
After enduring several floods, Fern and Leon moved to a farm south of Utica, where they raised their family. It was here that they raised their family which grew to include five sons and three daughters. Fern relished in motherhood and took great pride in providing for her family. Not only did she run the household, she helped with the dairy herd and chickens while also tending to the garden. Though Fern held her children to high expectations and was known to be strict, she was also gentle and loving.
A naturally gifted and proud homemaker, Fern loved gardening as well as cooking and baking. Halloween always included her traditional popcorn balls which she lovingly made and gave away. Her German sour potato salad, apple bars, fresh bread, Saturday morning sweet rolls were unrivaled. As a matter of fact, her baking often took first prize at the Winona County Fair baking contests.
For many years, Fern worked for Camera Art of Lewiston. She also invested her talents in the Utica Victory 4-H Club, Utica Homemaker Group, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, as well as St. Francis Unit. She also volunteered at the fair as a judge-assistant in the open class, and she helped make many beautiful quilts with her church ladies for missions. Fern was especially proud of having her talents and contributions acknowledged and honored by the Winona County Fair Fern Kieffer Day in 1998.
Though the responsibilities that came with farm life made it difficult to travel, Fern was able to make two trips to Colorado with her kids to visit family. In addition to dancing, Fern enjoyed a good card game, especially 500. On Saturday nights she and Leon often took the kids to other families' homes where the adults played cards while the kids played outside.
In 1978, after more than 30 years of farming, Fern and Leon moved to St. Charles where they enjoyed a slower pace and the gift of becoming grandparents. As their family grew to include 17 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, so did Fern's delight. In each of her grandchildren's eyes, it was easy for Fern to see the spark of her legacy and her greatest hopes for the future.
The depth of Fern's feisty spirit was never more apparent than in the face of Life's challenges. Regardless of any difficulty, such as Leon's death in 2009 or the frustrations that came with Dementia, Fern always poised herself with dignity and perseverance. With her signature smile, Fern continued to embrace each day as a gift. She enjoyed living in the fellowship community at both St. Charles Assisted Living and Sugar Loaf Senior Living in Winona. Fern moved this past January to Golden Living Center.

In the face of the loss of Fern's steadfast presence, may it afford deep comfort to know that with each sweet roll we indulge, County Fair we take in, and card game we play, we are living the best of Fern's legacy in our own lives. In this way, her fiery spirit will continue to warm our hearts and inspire a smile for many years to come.
Fern B. Kieffer, 96 of St. Charles died Saturday, October 28th at Whitewater Health Care in St. Charles. Fern was born January 4, 1921, in Minnesota City to Paul Reps, Jr. and Barb (Denzer) Reps. Fern was married to Leon Kieffer for 62 years before he died in 2009.
Survivors include five sons, Ronald (Sue) Kieffer of Lewiston; David (Gay) Kieffer of St. Charles; Kenneth Kieffer of Altura; Gary (Linda) Kieffer of Utica; and Dale (Nancy) Kieffer of Dover, three daughters; Darlene Kieffer of Winona; Cheryl (Tom) Nelson of Aurora, CO; and Barb (Mike) Nelson of Oshkosh, WI, 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren, a brother Dick (Bev) Reps of St. Charles and sisters-in-law, Betty Reps, Lillian Reps, Fran Goodrich and Lorraine Doehling. In addition to Leon, she was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter-in-law, Debra Kieffer, a granddaughter Bridget and six brothers, Jim, Elmer, Robert, Edwin, Paul Jr, and Doug Reps.
A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, in St. Charles, with the Reverend Tim Biren officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles. Friends may call at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and one hour before services on Wednesday.Pallbearers will be; T.J. Nelson, Mark Kieffer, Matt Kieffer, Mike Kieffer, Chad Kieffer, Rod Kieffer, Brian Kieffer and Andy Nelson. Honorary pallbearers will be; Alica Olschewski, Amber Castle, Amanda Gust, Cortney Duncanson, Jennifer Mitchell, Peggy Kahn, Jessica Brees and Samantha Sanchez. Please share a memory of Fern at her online guestbook and view her video tribute, when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com. Hoff Funeral Service of St. Charles is assisting the family with arrangements.
Fern's family would like to thank Sugar Loaf Senior Living, Whitewater Health Care, and St. Charles Assisted Living for their loving care.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.