Morris Ward Fender

Morris Ward Fender, one of two children of Morris Oliver Fender and Mabel Cecil (Varley) Fender, was born on his parent's farm near Imogene, Iowa. He attended country school near his home and graduated from the Shenandoah, Iowa high school in 1935. Ward farmed with his family until his marriage to Marthabelle Ludington on April 11, 1939. They established their first home south of Emerson, Iowa where Ward continued to farm. Their marriage was blessed with five children, Marcia, Morris (Bill), Marnie, Martin, and Margo.
Ward learned to weld and established a shop in nearby Hastings. Ward eventually gave up farming and expanded his welding business and became an expert machinist, metal fabricator, crane operator, and millwright. Ward loved to work and was faithful to his many customers.
Ward was a member of the Humanity Masonic Lodge No. 378 of Emerson and enjoyed the comradeship of his fellow Masons.
Marthabelle's health began to fail and Ward devoted more and more time to her care. In 2003, Marthabelle moved to the Red Oak Rehabilitation and Care Center where Ward visited each day and stayed long into the evenings. Marthabelle died on April 3, 2004, just eight days before their 65th wedding anniversary.
Ward died at their Hastings, Iowa home on September 4, 2004 at the age of 86 years, 2 months, and 29 days. In addition to his beloved Marthabelle, Ward was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by their five children, Marcia Vanderpool of Gray, Louisiana, Morris (Bill) Fender of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Marnie Hamilton and her husband Jerry of Hastings, Iowa, Martin Fender and his wife Jill of Glenwood, Iowa, and Margo Bolton and her husband Ken of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; brother Edward Dean Fender of Columbia, MO; 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren;nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.