Irene Fick

Emily Irene, daughter of Charles Nathan and Emily Jane (Maynard) Arrowsmith, was born March 9, 1914 in Orange Township south of Coon Rapids, Iowa. Her mother died shortly after Irene's birth and her siblings were raised by the nicest paternal grandmother anyone could want. Irene attended rural schools south of Bagley and Bayard and then Bayard High School. After completing the ninth grade she stayed home to help her father and stepmother care for her ten half-brothers and sisters. On July 1, 1931, Irene was united in marriage with Lloyd Pierce at the Methodist Parsonage in Guthrie Center. The family lived on a farm south of Bayard and four children were born to this union. Later Irene was married to Howard Fick and she had three more children. Irene was a homemaker but always worked outside the home. She worked at the D & D Café for twenty years, Northside Café for many years, Hope Traux's Nursing Home for six years after she earned her Nurses' Aide Certification and cared for Jay Scott's parents in their home. She was head custodian at Coon Rapids Elementary School for nine years before her retirement due to health issues. In addition, she detassled corn, sorted corn and worked in the fields. Irene was treated to many trips around the United States by her children. She enjoyed hearing from her family and especially enjoyed her grandchildren's visits. Irene lived around Bayard and Coon Rapids all her life and kept in touch with many of her friends and family by phone when she was no longer able to get out on her own. Irene joined the Greene County Medical Center Long Term Care family in May of 2015 where she died on Sunday, August 2, 2015 at the age of 101 years, 4 months, and 24 days Preceding Irene in death are her parents; daughter Juanita Fitzsenry; sons Douglas Fick and Dale Fick; grandson Martin Dale Smith; granddaughter Vicki Sanford; and siblings Opal Visner, Charlie Arrowsmith, Frank Arrowsmith, Howard Arrowsmith, Harold Arrowsmith, Gerald Arrowsmith, Norman Arrowsmith, Audrey Caniglia and Joe Arrowsmith. She is survived by her children Jane (Leonard) Erb of Springfield, MO; Violet Goodwin of Jefferson; Dennis Pierce (Meredith) of Adel and DeLane Fick (Cindy) of Fordland, MO; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; brothers Donald (Mary) Arrowsmith of Orient, IA, John (Deedee) Arrowsmith of Glidden and Lee (Ramona) Arrowsmith of Florida; sister Gloria Burns of California; many other relatives and friends. Visitation WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015 4:00-7:00 PM Ohde Funeral Home, COON RAPIDS, IOWA Funeral Service THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015 10:30 AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COON RAPIDS, IOWA Officiating REVEREND JOYCE WEBB, CELEBRANT Casket Bearers STEPHEN ERB MIKE GOODWIN FRANCIS FITZSENERY BRADLEY FICK BRIAN FICK JODI FICK DOUG FICK Honorary Casket Bearers ERNIE MERIT DALE MIKSCH LYLE KNIGHT NORM DENTLINGER ERNIE HENRY PETE EBERSOL Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) or the American Association for Cancer Research (www.aacr.org).