Marlene L. Fehr

Marlene Lera Fehr, 89, of Freeport, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 23, at Parkview. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was born on November 18, 1934, to Lera and Clarence Scheider.

Marlene grew up on a farm near McConnell, in an area so densely inhabited by her relatives that it was dubbed “Scheiderville.” She graduated from Orangeville High School in 1952, and married her high school sweetheart, Allen Fehr, on December 18, 1955, after he returned from the Army.

Early in their marriage, Marlene worked for a local law firm. She provided bookkeeping support to her husband when he started Fehr-Graham and Associates, an engineering business that now has locations in three states. She was also an active volunteer, spending many hours on projects for the United Way, Amity, FHN, and Faith United Methodist Church, where she was a member for nearly 70 years. She felt it was important to be involved and give back to the community.

Marlene was a longtime member of the Freeport Country Club and a fixture in the women's golf league every Tuesday for many years. She also enjoyed tennis, water skiing, snow skiing, and windsurfing.

Marlene and Allen both loved a good adventure, and were fortunate to travel extensively in retirement. They lived for a time in both Chicago and Provence, France, where Marlene learned basics of the language and embraced time spent in the French countryside. The pair ultimately settled in Naples, Florida, during the winter months, and returned to Freeport each summer.

Family was Marlene's top priority, and she looked forward to hosting her children and grandchildren at Lake Carroll, where she and Allen lived for many years. "Camp GG,” as they called it (for Grandma and Grandpa), became a foundational event, filled with wonderful memories and valuable life lessons for both the young and the old. This spirit of love and encouragement was present in all the family get-togethers, whether it was vacations, holidays, or just a casual weekend.

Marlene truly had a gift for making everyone feel special. Her greatest pride and joy was watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren learn, grow, and thrive in their own passions. It turned out that Marlene and Allen were the kids' biggest cheerleaders — and the kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were Marlene and Allen's biggest fans.

A loyal friend, Marlene was also a generous hostess, welcoming guests to the lake house with warmth and hospitality throughout the years. She was a competitive bridge player, taking on worthy opponents to the end. She embodied grace, appreciated good humor, and had a personal affinity for a Manhattan cocktail. Her smile lit up a room, and her quiet presence was keenly felt. She was filled with unwavering love, hope, kindness, and happiness.

Marlene is survived by three children: David (Lillian) Fehr, Pamela (Ken) Loebel, and Neil (Christa Crehan) Fehr; six grandchildren: Crystal (Preston) Pfeifer, Steven Fehr, Alexa Loebel, Michaela Loebel, Isaac Fehr, and Valla Fehr; and two great-grandchildren: Emmett Pfeifer and Owen Pfeifer; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister, Leone Shippy, and a brother, Virgil Scheider.

The visitation and funeral will be held Friday, August 30, in the All-Purpose Room at Parkview, 1711 W. Church St., in Freeport. The visitation will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with funeral services starting at 3:00 p.m. Those attending should enter through the Church Park entrance.

Private burial services, for family members only, will be held immediately following the funeral at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends are invited to stay at Parkview to socialize and remember Marlene. Light refreshments will be served in the adjoining Rathskeller Room.

A memorial fund has been established in Marlene's name for Parkview Retirement Home. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the entire Parkview staff for their loving care.