Born - January 12, 1920 - Shelby County, Iowa
Died - September 1, 2003 - Omaha, Nebraska
PRAYER SERVICE Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 7:00 P.M. Pauley Jones Funeral Home - Harlan, Iowa
FUNERAL SERVICE Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 1:00 P.M. Pauley Jones Funeral Home - Harlan, Iowa
CLERGY Rev. Ed Frank
ACCOMPANIST Dorothy Norgaard
VOCALIST Lee Nelson
CASKET BEARERS: Neil Hansen, Michelle Leinen, Kris Melcher, Mark Schmitz, Tammy Lynam, Brent Hansen, Jeanne Hansen, Kevin Hansen, Becky Schmitz
INTERMENT Harlan Cemetery - Harlan, Iowa

An invitation is extended to the relatives and friends to meet with the family in the Fellowship Hall of the United Methodist Church at the close of the committal service.

Fern L. Thomsen
Fern Loraine Thomsen, the daughter of Glen and Mary (Jensen) Doonan, was born on January 12, 1920, in Shelby County, Iowa. She attended Jackson Township No. 9 School through the eighth grade.

Fern was united in marriage to Raymond Thomsen on September 20, 1942, at Monroe Methodist Church in rural Shelby County, Iowa. They were the parents of three children: Judy, Dennis and Beverly. After their marriage, they farmed in Monroe and Jackson Township. Fern's family was very important to her. She wanted nothing more than to take care of her family even though she was struggling with an illness that left her paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. With the help of her parents, her husband, and hired help, Fern was able to raise her children.

She enjoyed sewing for her children and baking and cooking for everyone. Fern was a very strong willed and independent woman. She loved flowers and plants; in her window she displayed her garden, with African Violets being her specialty. She enjoyed watching the sun set out her window and the geese flying in the fall. One of her favorite past times was the affection she held for all animals, especially her dogs and cats. She often cared for their babies when they needed special attention. As she grew older and became a grandmother and great-grandmother, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren became the focus of her attention. In 1993, Fern became a resident of the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa.

Fern died on Monday, September 1, 2003, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. She had attained the age of eighty-three years, seven months, and twenty days. Her parents preceded Fern in death.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Thomsen of Harlan, Iowa, her children: Judy and her husband, Gary Hansen, Dennis Thomsen and his wife, Janet and Bev and her husband, Tom Schmitz, all of Harlan, Iowa; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.