Donna L. Finnern

OBITUARY Donna L. Roeder Finnern, 83, a longtime resident of Wamego, Kansas, passed away at Wamego City Hospital, Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Donna was born October 18, 1926 in Norton, KS, the daughter of Russel R. and Mamie Belle (Conarty) Chase. She attended schools in Norton and graduated from Norton High School in 1945. On April 18, 1947, she married Forrest “Frosty” Roeder in Norton. He preceded her in death on September 14, 1989. She married Henry H. Finnern on June 29, 1996 in Wamego. He survives of the home. Donna worked for S.W. Bell Telephone in Norton from 1958 to 1965 and the Federal Crop Insurance office in Norton as a field secretary from 1963 until 1970. In 1970, she moved to the Manhattan office of the Federal Crop Insurance, where she was promoted to Office Manager and worked until her retirement in 1988. During her work in Manhattan, she was appointed to the U.S. Federal Committee for Women in the Workforce, serving on that position for many years. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Wamego, American Legion Auxiliary Harold Johnson Post 172, and the National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees. Donna loved going to the library and reading a good book. She also enjoyed flowers and spending the winter months living in Pharr, Texas with family and friends. She was a very compassionate person, always helping others, had a positive attitude, and loved to share family stories to the kids. She will also be loved and missed by the Finnern family. Her survivors also include: her daughter, Rosemary Scott and her significant other, Linda Stemler, of Ames IA; one son, Tim Roeder and his wife Dotty, of Lindsborg, KS; one sister, Leta Donovan, of Norton, KS; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her son, Robert Roeder (1998); a grandson, Robert Harper Scott (1997); and two brothers, Robert and Ted Chase. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 6, 2009 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Wamego with Fr. John Pilcher as celebrant. A rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the church, with the family greeting friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. A graveside committal service will held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 7, at the Norton City Cemetery with Fr. Vincent ThuLaing presiding. Memorials are suggested to the Wamego Public Library or St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.