Nancy Ellen Redfern

Nancy Ellen Redfern Nancy Ellen Redfern, 92, died Tuesday morning, May 13, 2014, at the Western Home Communities. She was born July 21, 1921, in Wheatland, Wyoming, the only child of Isaac Benson and Maude Roys Jones. Nancy’s mother passed away before she turned two. Her father, an engineer, traveled extensively throughout the west, Mexico and Latin America working on irrigation projects. When Nancy was five, he arranged for her to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Carroll Lewis in Peru, Nebraska. Soon after Nancy moved to Peru, Margaret and Carroll presented her with a new baby brother, John. In 1942, she received her B.A. Degree from the State Teacher’s College in Peru. In September of 1942, she married LeRoy H. Redfern of Peru, who lived down the street and whom she had known since the age of 5. LeRoy left almost immediately after the wedding to serve in the Navy. While he was overseas, Nancy taught history and English in Brock and Loup City, NE. After the war they moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where LeRoy attended the University of Michigan Law School. After his graduation in 1948, they moved to Cedar Falls. Nancy is remembered for her selfless service to her family, friends and community. In her children’s early years, she was a Cub Scout den mother, a Girl Scout leader and P.T.A. volunteer. She served as board member of the Goodwill Auxiliary and the Black Hawk-Buchanan Operation Threshold. She was active in the First United Methodist Church, Tuesday Club and P.E.O. Chapter KL. Nancy had a passion for the arts, culture and history. She helped establish the James and Meryl Hearst Center for the Arts, helping to lead the fundraising and becoming a founding member of the Board of Directors. Her most extensive involvement was with the Cedar Falls Historical Society and the Ice House Museum. She led the effort to save and restore the Ice House building which has become a nationally known museum for the ice harvesting and distribution industry. Later she served as publisher and editor of the National “Ice Harvester” newsletter. She served as President of the Society for four years and Ice House Council Chair for many years. She led fundraising for the Carriage House addition to the Victorian Home Museum. Among the awards and recognitions she received are the 1978 Representative Citizen of Cedar Falls Award, the Governor’s Leadership Award, the Iowa State Historical Society Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievement in local history, a Certificate of Commendation by the American Association for State and Local History and the first Peter Melendy Award from the Cedar Falls Civic Foundation in 2011. In 1998 she received the Iowa State Historical Society Petersen/Harlan Award which recognizes one individual or organization that has made a significant long-term and continuing contribution to Iowa history. Nancy was predeceased by her husband and her brother. Nancy is survived by her four children: Don (Lorelei) Redfern of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Dick (Kathy) Redfern of Naples, FL; Anne Redfern of Excelsior, MN; and Dr. Sallie Redfern (Jeff Tomaszewski) of Temecula, CA; nine grandchildren including Bridget (Tom) Carlson, Chris (Ali) Murphy, Jeff and Luke (Hannah) Redfern, Jackie (Jeff) Zicarelli and Julie Tomaszewski and Benson, Harrison and Grant Redfern; six great-grandchildren, Connor, Paige and William Murphy and Noah, Gabriella and Jacqueline Carlson; a sister-in-law, Donnie Lewis, of Kansas City, MO; a brother-in-law, Willard Redfern of Soquel, CA; and an “adopted” son, Karl (Elisabeth) Severens of Krefeld, Germany; and “adopted” grandchildren Carina and Alexander Severens and many nieces and nephews. Nancy Ellen Redfern’s family expresses their gratitude to Carol Bryant, Donna Clabby, Julie Mikkelson, Jessica Kelchen, Melissa Sturges, Alissa Root, and Western Home Communities for their loving care and support. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 19, 2014 at First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls, with lunch immediately following. Visitation will be before the service from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund or the Cedar Falls Historical Society Ice House Archives Fund. Richardson Funeral Service (266-3525) is assisting the family.

Nancy Ellen Redfern

July 21, 1921 - May 13, 2014