Oehl, Fern Wichmann

Fern Wichmann Oehl, 77, of Amana, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Tuesday evening, July 28, 2009. Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Homestead with the Rev. Wayne Woolery officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Homestead. Memorials may be contributed to St. John's Lutheran Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

Fern M. Wichmann was born August 23, 1931, in Amana, the daughter of Adolph Sr. and Anna Koester Wichmann. She married Carl A. Oehl on September 12, 1953, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Homestead. Fern was a homemaker, and she and her husband owned and operated the Colony Market Place in South Amana for over 25 years, along with their Colony Kitchen Foods business. She loved her flowers and gardening and is well remembered for her family meals and angel food cakes.

Fern is survived by her husband of 54 years, Carl; a daughter, Carla; a son, Scott, and his special friend, Sue; a grandson, Travis, and wife, Laura Kay Sheely; and a great-grandson, Dylan Sheely, all of Amana; three brothers, Raymond and wife Eleanor of Williamsburg, Adolph Jr. and wife Regina, and Earl and wife Marilyn, all of Homestead; and two sisters, Dorothy Folkmann and husband Loren of Williamsburg and Ethel Wichmann of Osage. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Eleanor Wichmann; a brother-in-law, Raymond Oehl; and a sister-in-law, Emily Oehl, all of Amana, along with many nieces and nephews. Fern was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Clarence, and a sister, Roma, in infancy.

Online condolences may be extended to the family via the Website www.klosterfuneralhome.com.