Iva Fiero

Iva (Countryman) Fiero, age 101, of Walla Walla, Washington, died Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Walla Walla.

Graveside services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas with the Rev. Richard Fairbanks officiating.

Iva E. Fiero, 1417 Valley Chapel Rd., Walla Walla, Washington passed away October 11, 2008 at her home at the age of 101 years. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 4:00 P.M. at the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home in Milton-Freewater, Oregon with Pastor John Nichols of the Athena Baptist Church in Athena, Oregon officiating. Graveside services will be held in Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Integrity Rebekah Lodge #175 or the Royal Neighbors through the funeral home.

Mrs. Fiero was born May 1, 1907 in Ionia, Kansas the daughter of George and Josie Bollinger Countryman. She was raised in Kansas. On March 31, 1926 she married Glen Fiero in Columbus, Kansas. In 1932 they were blessed with an adopted daughter Arvilla Mae. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Halltown, Missouri where they ran a family cafe'. The family then moved to Akron, Ohio to work in the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, manufacturing tires during World War II. They then moved to Cabool, Missouri where they lived on a family farm. In 1947 they moved to Milton-Freewater where she worked as a waitress and at various canneries in the area. Mr. Fiero was a police officer for the City of Milton-Freewater until his retirement in 1962. The couple enjoyed fishing and camping. Mr. Fiero preceded her in death on November 14, 1972. After his death, Mrs. Fiero moved to Warsaw, Missouri to help her sister Peggy take care of their mother. They lived in a retirement community called Sportsman Paradise on the Lake of the Ozarks, where they enjoyed fishing. In 1990, Mrs. Fiero moved back to the area to live near her daughter and grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She is fondly remembered by her grandchildren for making matching outfits for all seven grandchildren at Easter. She loved bringing her grandchildren presents at Christmas, she would spend the night Christmas Eve so she could enjoy Christmas morning with the family. She also enjoyed making dolls and jewelry. Her family enjoyed listening to her reminisce about her life. Mrs. Fiero was a very strong and independent woman. She was an avid gardener, she very much enjoyed doing her own yard work and gardening well past her 100th birthday. She insisted on doing her own housework, cooking and laundry up until a few months before her death. She was a member of the Integrity Rebekah Lodge #175, Milton-Freewater Garden Club and the Royal Neighbors of America.

She is survived by her daughter Arvilla Richardson of Walla Walla, Washington, seven grandchildren, Rosetta Brito of Athena, Oregon, Patricia Conklin of Richland, Washington, Connie Fletcher of Edmonds, Washington, Glenda Bates, Lynette Phillips and Clifford Richardson all of Walla Walla, Washington and Barbara Chadek of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, 21 great-grandchildren, and 32 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, an infant brother and an infant daughter.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, NE 68970

402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com