Fern Eileen McCoy

Fern McCoy passed away peacefully with her daughter, Kathy, at her bedside on October 13, 2023. Fern was the youngest of seven children born to Marie (Mary) and Charles Kahler on August 28, 1934, in Hillsboro, WI. They lived on the family farm in Hillsboro until Fern was 10, then moved into town. The family spent summer vacations in Hayward at a cabin on Round Lake purchased in 1949. Fern attended Hillsboro High School where she began dating Palmer McCoy. She graduated at the top of her class in 1952. After graduation she moved to Madison and worked for Madison Gas and Electric while taking evening classes in accounting and business at Madison Vocational School. Later she worked for Reynolds Transfer and Storage. Fern and Palmer married on September 3, 1955.

Palmer was serving in the Air Force, and they moved seven times including assignments to Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, and South Dakota. While in South Dakota Fern gave birth to their daughter, Kathy. A few years later they moved to Beaver Dam, WI and Fern gave birth to their son Allen. While the children were still young, they moved again to Portage, WI. In Portage Fern worked at J.C. Penney and then at the Production Credit Association.

In 1971 the family moved to Eau Claire, WI. While living in Eau Claire Fern worked for H&R

Block as a tax preparer. In 1979 they made their final move to Hayward, WI. Fern purchased a H&R Block business in Spooner. Then later added another office in Hayward. Fern ran both offices for several years. In 1985 she opened an additional business, financial planning services, IDS, in Hayward. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed playing cards, curling, golfing, bowling, and gardening.

In 1990 Fern and Palmer retired. Fern loved her work and continued to volunteer preparing taxes in retirement. She also enjoyed playing golf and Bridge. In the winter they spent time in Florida to escape the cold winters in Hayward. She and Palmer also traveled to see many different places around the world. But they came home for Christmas to be with their children and grandchildren. She loved to host a big Christmas meal with all the trimmings on her good china. Grandma made sure everyone was well fed and taken care of. Many long conversations over coffee were had to get caught up on what was happening in everyone’s lives and discussion on how the real estate market was doing. It brought her great joy to be surrounded by her family.

Fern excelled at being Grandma. She always made sure no one ever went hungry, and every birthday was celebrated with a hearty sit down meal finished off with birthday cake topped with candles and served with ice cream. She liked to have the grandchildren assist her in making cookies when they visited, and every morning started with a pancake breakfast. She also enjoyed supporting her grandchildren in their many activities including water-skiing, cross-country skiing, hockey, baseball, log rolling, show choir, ice skating and fishing. Grandma was a competitive opponent when playing Monopoly and Go Fish with anyone.

Fern is being welcomed to heaven by her parents, brothers, sisters, many cousins and especially by her beloved husband of 68 years Palmer. She is survived by her daughter Kathy, son-in-law Peter Sievert and their children Paul and David, her son Allen, daughter-in-law Maureen and their children Samantha (Joseph), Brady and Catrina. She is greatly missed, but the memories live on in all those she loved.

Funeral services will be held November 4, 2023, at First Lutheran Church 10680 Main Street Hayward, WI. Visitation at 10:00 am, service 11:00, lunch following the service at the church.

Memorials in honor of Fern can be sent to the Endowment Fund of First Lutheran Church, a Foundation Fern was instrumental in establishing at P.O. Box 436 Hayward, WI 54843. (This fund is used to support people and organizations that serve local and global communities worldwide in times of need). Or to the Hayward Community Food Shelf at P.O. Box 779, Hayward WI 54843.