Ferne Rowen's Obituary
Ferne Gummere Rowen, 94, of Oregon, Illinois and formerly Clinton, died Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Oregon Health Care Center. Memorial services will be held at 2:30pm Sunday, September 20, 2009 at First Baptist Church, Clinton. Private burial will take place prior to the service. The Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ferne Gummere Rowen was born September 12, 1915, to Charles and Bertha McWilliams Gummere in Nichols, Nebraska. After graduation from Nichols High School in 1932, she worked in the operating room of Memorial Hospital in North Platte, Nebraska. She married George Rowen, August 8, 1935 in North Platte, Nebraska.
During the war years the family resettled in Cheyenne, Wyoming, then moved to Clinton in 1947. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clinton, where she served on several boards. She was a member of the Women?s Club, Christian Women?s Club and was a volunteer at Samaritan Hospital. For many years she bowled on an all left-handed bowling team. She enjoyed reading and playing cards.
Ferne Rowen is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Don (Myrle) Fuller of Oregon, Illinois, and a son, Robert (Sally) Rowen, of Western Springs, Illinois. There are four grandchildren, Mrs. Jeff (Susan) Head of Germantown, Wisconsin; Mrs. David (Laura) Mills, of Aurora, Illinois; Mrs. Steven (Lynn) Ballagh of Western Springs, Illinois; Jeff (Lisa) Rowen of Chicago, Illinois; and nine great grand children, Andrew and Ashley Mills, Brooke, Paige and Olivia Ballagh, Lauren, Taylor and Jennifer Head and Madaline Rowen. She was preceded in death by her husband, George, in 1988 and 4 sisters, Mrs. Bill (Grace) Waugh, Mrs. Bud (Garnet) Biehl, and Mrs. Elmer (Blanche) Doebke, all of North Platte, Nebraska, and Mrs. Bill (Cora) West of Salem, Oregon.
Memorials may be made to Ogle County Hospice Association Social Service Team, or to First Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.snellzornig.com
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