Cecil Ferrie

CRESCO - Cecil Ferrie died Friday (Feb. 16, 2007) at the Patty Elwood Center where he has lived since July of 2006. He was 80 years of age.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. today, Feb. 20, 2007, at the Notre Dame Parish at St. Joseph's Worship Center in Cresco, with the Rev. Richard J. Ament officiating. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Cresco.

Cecil Aloysius Ferrie was born on Feb. 24, 1926, near Cresco, the son of Irvin and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Ferrie. He attended the rural school through the eighth grade and stayed helping his father on the farm.

On Oct. 4, 1950, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth "Betty" Reicks at St. Joseph's Church in Cresco. They made their home on the farm southwest of Cresco where they raised their family of 12 children. Besides his family, farming was the love of his life. In 1989, Cecil and Betty moved into Cresco. They enjoyed walking and vacationing, which Cecil continued after Betty's death on June 3, 1999. Cecil began the hobby of volunteering and would go to each of the nursing homes, each one day a week.

He volunteered at church and took the groceries to the food pantry, delivered Meals on Wheels and picked up a carload of men to go to coffee, so they could keep their spirits high. As Cecil grew older, he had to give up his love for reading. Mostly, Cecil had a strong love for his family, and each of them had a strong love for him.

Cecil is survived by 11 children: Judy (Gary) Erdman and Diane (Leonard) Loebach, both of Whittemore, Janis (Larry) Spalla, of Ridgeway, Gerald (Kathy) of Cresco, Karen Ferrie, of Mason City, Shirley Schatz, of Lime Springs, Duane (Margaret), of Tavares, Fla., Kenneth (Jeanenne), of Hayward, Ill., Annette (Darryl) Koudelka, of Nevada, Daniel (Gwen), of Jacksonville, Fla. and Denis, of Cresco; 42 loving grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; two sisters: Agnes Arnburg, of Earlham, and Mary Gene Hyke, of Cresco; two brothers: Joseph (Marie), of Cresco, and Jerome (Joann), of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; a son, James; two granddaughters, Heather Schatz and Jami Loebach; two sisters: Anicetus Friedhoff and Sister M. Denise Ferrie; four brothers: Leland in infancy, Ron, Arthur and Cletus "Pete" Ferrie.

Arrangements are with Conway Funeral Home in Cresco. (563) 547-3501.