Bertha Finn

BERTHA FINN

Anamosa

Bertha Finn, 82, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2015, at the Anamosa Care Center, surrounded by her family, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.

Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, is assisting the family.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are her seven children, Michael (Nurit), Anamosa, Kelly, Iowa City, Marcia, Anamosa, Denise Allamand, Marion, Anne (Gordon) Siebels, Anamosa, Elizabeth (Phillip) Smith, Cedar Rapids, and Tim, Marion; all her "Precious Lambs," five grandchildren, Eric, Danielle, RaeLynn, Daniel and Gabriel; seven great--grandchildren, Karianna, Kiy'talya, L.J., Ayanna, Patrick, Logan and Zachary; her brother, Max (Irene) Arthur, Marion; her sister, Gloria McCord, Cedar Rapids; and a sister-in-law, Donna Arthur, Ashville, N.C.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, in 2014; a son, Patrick; an infant son, Danny; a son-in-law, Ev Allamand; five brothers and four sisters.

Bertha Blanche Arthur was born Sept. 15, 1932, in Anamosa, Iowa, the youngest of 12 children born to Charles G. and Sophia Anderson Arthur. Bertha received her education in the Anamosa Community Schools. Bertha married Raymond Finn on Feb. 22, 1951, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Anamosa. For 18 plus years, Bertha was a correspondent for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and wrote many articles for various newspapers on historic events and places in the Anamosa area. Her love of history, and particularly the history of Anamosa, drove Bertha to spend most of her leisure life researching the people and places of the Anamosa area. As editor, her talent for writing and research was invaluable in preparation for publication of a local history book. "Anamosa 1838-1988... A Reminiscence" is the result of that talent, labor and a wry sense of humor. It is not a dry history book, but a lively re-living of the early years of Anamosa, a fitting testimonial to Bertha and her hometown.

Bertha was elected as Clerk of District Court for Jones County in 1980 and proudly served several terms before retiring in 1995. She was president of the Anamosa Historical Society, a member of St. Patrick's Church and an active member of the Democratic Party.

In her younger years she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, St. Patrick's school board and the Women's Bowling League.

She was an avid reader and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of her daily crossword puzzles.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her biggest joy in life was spending time with her family. She will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.