Fern L. McKusker age 86 of Marengo, died peacefully on Monday, December 14, 2009 surrounded by her loving family.  Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 19, 2009, First United Methodist Church, Marengo with Rev. Jim Davis and Rev. Katie Dawson officiating.  Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday, December 18, 2009 at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. A memorial fund has been established.

Fern is survived by her husband Carroll “Buck” of almost 63 years; 5 children, Joann Cuppy (Gayle) of Kalona, James McKusker (Donna) of Burlington, WI, Julia Phillips (Dave) of Marengo, Jeffrey McKusker (Lori) of Mead, CO, and Jerome “Jerry” McKusker of  Marengo; 14 grandchildren, Stephen (Jan), Brian (Jen) and Heather Cuppy, Kevin, Karen, Krystal and Kyle McKusker, Stacy (Mike) Pfister, Cari (Stoney) Kriegel, Valerie and Gabrielle Phillips, Jacob and Karly McKusker, and Jennifer McKusker; and 9 great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Jacob and Benjamin Cuppy, Hailey and Kaitlyn Rohm, Dakota Cuppy, and Hannah, Cole and Rhet Pfister. She is also survived by a brother, Russell Tuttle (Mary) of Malcom, two sisters, Edna Marie Shepherd of Williamsburg and Delores Schmidt of Deep River and several nieces and nephews. Fern was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Howard, Earl, Richard, and Bernard Jr., and a sister Vera Tuttle.

Fern Lucille Tuttle was born June 28, 1923 in Victor, Iowa, the daughter of Bernard and Edna Mae Hiner Tuttle.  She graduated from Victor High School in 1942 and went to work as a telephone operator for the Victor Phone Company.  Fern married Carroll M. McKusker on February 10, 1947 in Lancaster, MO. She left the phone company and focused her energy on becoming an excellent homemaker.  Fern was a member of the Koszta Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She also was a member of the Marengo and Ladora American Legion Auxiliaries, and the Iowa River Good Sams Club.  Fern enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to quilt, play card games and sports, especially basketball and softball.  Fern was a state champion horse shoe pitcher. In later years she enjoyed bowling and talking with her many friends and family members on the phone.