A beautiful soul, Fern Schneider Carie, 99, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 19, 2023, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4 - 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will occur at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Fern was born February 15, 1923, in Beebe, South Dakota, the daughter of George and Hazel (Gay) Schneider. She was united in marriage to Vernon Carie on October 26, 1940, at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Fern started at Square D and later went to work for Collins Radio for many years. She was always proud to share her Collins Radio clock number 3130 with her family. In her later years, Fern attended Calvary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids with her family and grew to adore her pastors at the church, who would give her hugs whenever they saw her.
Survivors include her adored daughter, Jacquelyn (John) Walker of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Michelle Horak, Stacie (Patrick) Shannon, Keri (Trevor) Cook, Breanna Walker, and Ryan Walker; great-grandchildren, Matthew Shannon, Andrew Shannon, Aliyah Walker, Kaylee Cook, Kianna Cook, Trace Cook, and Rylan Walker.
She was preceded in death by her treasured husband, Vernon Carie, parents, George and Hazel Schneider, siblings, Charles Schneider and Marilyn Davis, and many nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Vern, fondly referred to Fern as "Fernie Baby," which she loved. To say Fern was adored by her family would be an understatement. In her later years, Fern was warmly taken care of by her daughter in Jacque's home and was blessed to have spent her last days surrounded by her grandchildren and daughter. In recent years, Fern enjoyed birthday party celebrations in Galena, Illinois, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and even participated in a "dance party" for her 98th birthday celebration!
Vern and Fern loved celebrating life by dancing to old-time music and musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, Frank Sinatra, etc. They also hosted years and years of St. Patrick's Day parties at their winter home in Mesa, Arizona.
Fern was a member of the Malta Chapter No. 415 of the Eastern Star, Daughter of the Nile Shrine Auxiliary, V.F.W. Auxiliary, Past President of the Firefighters Auxiliary, Ladies Park Golf League, and served for many years as an election official.
Memorials may be directed to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa, in place of flowers. Her family is ever so grateful for Fern's fantastic care in the last days of her life by Dr. Maryanne Nelson and the hospice house.