Frederick Terfehn

Frederick Harlan Terfehn, 73, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died Saturday, September 27, 2008, at University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa from complications of a stoke earlier in the week. Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley/Grundy County Hospice, Gideon's International or to the family. Frederick Terfehn was born on September 5, 1935 in Shiloh Township near Wellsburg, Iowa, the son of Anton and Grace (Lutterman) Terfehn. He was raised on a farm near Wellsburg and attended country school at Pleasant Valley #9, then attended Wellsburg schools and graduated from Wellsburg High school in 1954. Fred then attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. On March 18, 1955, Fred married Norma Jean Stahl at Colfax Center United Presbyterian Church in rural Holland. Fred worked briefly as a plumber for Brockway Plumbing and Heating in Grundy Center until he began farming with his father-in-law, John Stahl. He retired from farming in 1973, and continued in his welding and lawn mower repair business full time until he retired in 2000. In 2002 Fred and Norma moved to Grundy Center. Most recently Fred helped do some trucking for area people. After Norma's death in February 2003, Fred met and married Virginia Palmer on December 23, 2003 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Fred and Ginny enjoyed bluegrass festivals and traveling in the southern United States during the winter months. Fred was active in his church and Gideon's International for many years. He volunteered with the Cedar Valley/Grundy County Hospice Association and served as advisory board chairman. He enjoyed beekeeping and was a member of the Iowa Honey Producers Association. Fred was an avid amateur photographer his entire life. He loved tinkering and fixing things, especially if someone said it couldn't be fixed. He enjoyed woodworking, making, painting and carving wood items for family and friends. Fred loved his family, and very much loved doing things with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Palmer Terfehn; daughter, Melissa (Tim) Laughlin of Grundy Center; former foreign exchange student, Ingrid Sandman of Silver Spring, Maryland; step-daughter, Sheila (Michael) Troudt of Waterloo; step-son, Gene (Jennifer) Palmer of Boston, MA; son-in-law, Thomas L. Hansen of Reinbeck; Sister, Lois Clauson of Omaha, NE; brother-in-law, Burt(Mary) Volker of Waterloo; sisters-in-law; Nancy (Daniel) Naughton of Cedar Rapids, Phyllis Grimstad of Waterloo; three grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, one great-grandson and three step-great-grandchildren. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Norma in 2003 and a daughter, Cheryl Hansen in 1994.