Fern Impola

Fern Margaret (Anderson) Impola, 93, left this earthly home for her heavenly home on Thursday, May 4, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Fern loved the Lord and is now released from her pain after a three year battle with osteoporosis, dementia and COPD. Fern was born February 25, 1924 to Hal and Margaret (Kirchner) Anderson. She was raised in Orr, MN and attended the Orr grade and secondary schools. Fern married her childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Edwin Impola, on April 8, 1940. A job opportunity brought them to the Duluth area in 1942. Fern loved her Lord and served Him faithfully her entire life. As a member of Lakeview Covenant Church, Fern was an active leader for the V.I.P. Senior Bible Fellowship and has currently been a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Fern was a lady of many talents. She was an accomplished author, having published her book of poetry in 1968. Her poetry regularly appeared in the Duluth newspaper and other publications. She raised beautiful flowers-her outdoor gardens held mostly unusual specimens. She graced the church with her beautiful floral arrangements.

She was past president of the Arrowhead Poetry Society, Duluth and the Duluth Orchid Society. Fern also won awards for her ceramics, once winning a blue ribbon and trophy in a state competition.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edwin (1984); sister, Aneita Thelen (1983); brothers, Richard (1999) and Harold Jr (1990); also, sons-in-law, Robert Meyer, Jr, (1986) and Kenneth Sheils (2007).

Fern is survived by her three daughters, Louise Meyer of Duluth, Rose Sheils of Grand Marais and Marie (Lawrence) Nelson of Barnum; sister-in-law, Leah White of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Ed (Bonnie) Sheils of Columbus, Montana, Nathan (Lynn) Sheils of Grand Marais and Kevin (Op) Sheils of Grand Marais; eight great-grandchildren, Hunter, MaKenzie, Nolan, Natassja, Levi, Lucas, Landon and Mali; many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to the nurses and staff at Primrose Retirement Community, Aftenro Home, Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center and Pastor Dave Mork for your love and care of our dear Mom.

There will be no formal service per Fern’s request. A private graveside gathering for the immediate family will be at Sunrise Memorial Park in July.

Mom wishes to share this poem from her book of poetry.

LIVING MEMOIRS

This home may harbor solitude, but never loneliness;

Delightful days return at will, bestow their warm caress.

Although the glad and youthful times slipped by so very fast,

These walls reverberate with laughter from the living past.

A silver mare no longer grazes on the green terrain,

Where balsams, scarred and almost branchless, knew  a  tether rein;

But acres, gold with memory, give back the sunshine hours,

For I behold three dancing girls among the wayside flowers.

I cherish now this land, these walls, for God has richly blest

The home that held our joyous children to its throbbing breast.