In loving memory of our mother, Fawna Jalene (Latimer) Haremza-McFee who passed away on February 7, 2022. Fawna was surrounded by her family and passed away peacefully. She will be deeply missed by all that knew her.Fawna was born on October 25, 1934, to Wayne and Florida (Heselius) Latimer in Cheyenne County, KS. She spent her first eighteen years living in rural Rawlins County where she attended a country school before attending and graduating from Atwood High School. In 1952, Fawna moved to Colby, KS, and began working at Southwestern Bell. Soon after moving, she met and married Bernard D. Haremza. They were the proud parents of Benjamin (Bennie) Wayne, Cynthia (Cyndi) Ann, Susan Renee, and Sally Jo.
A devout Catholic, Fawna joined the Catholic church when she married Bernard, and they were both active in the Sacred Heart church community in Colby, KS. She was an active member of the Daughters of Isabella and Queen Mary Circle and delighted in the time she spent volunteering as a preschool teacher’s aide at Sacred Heart School.
Throughout her life, Fawna’s career focused on accounting and bookkeeping positions, and she worked at numerous local businesses including the Prairie Museum of Arts and History. A true historian, Fawna enjoyed this job greatly and loved sharing her knowledge and passion for the area’s history with museum visitors. Fawna was an active volunteer in the community and enjoyed the time she spent volunteering with RSVP and as a 4-H leader. Fawna believed in being active politically in the local community, and she served as the first female city council member in Colby, KS. Fawna was also involved in the local Red Hat Ladies group and wore her purple and red proudly.
Later in her life following Bernard’s passing, Fawna was blessed to rekindle a relationship with her high school boyfriend, Rodney McFee of Atwood, KS. Fawna and Rodney’s friendship grew, and they married joining the Haremza and McFee families. Fawna and Rodney enjoyed many adventures traveling together and liked to spend time fishing in the area lakes. The couple was active in the local 6th Street group’s Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon community.
A lifetime western Kansas native, Fawna relocated to Lawrence, KS in 2015 to be closer to her family. In August 2019, she moved to Vintage Park Assisted Living in Baldwin City, KS where she resided until her passing. A celebration of life ceremony was held for Fawna at Wyndham Place Senior Residences in Lawrence, KS, on March 5, 2022.
Fawna is preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Florida Latimer, a brother, William, her husbands, Bernard and Rodney, her youngest daughter Sally Jo (Haremza) Owens, her granddaughter, Jodie Dyann Thompson, and step-grandson, Joey Mcfee. She is survived by her brother, Richard Latimer, her children Benjamin (Vickie), Cyndi Hurst, and Susan, grandchildren, Jason (Gretchen), Jeremy, Jamey (Margaret) Cabell, Chris Thompson, Jessica (Papa) Diop, Jacy (Joshua) Hoskins, Jennifer (Mely Montgomery), Amos Hurst, Adam Owens, Jacob (Sara), John Owens, and Catie Owens, and twenty-three great-grandchildren, step-children, Rob (Loretta), Becky, Dan (Kay), Sam (Susan), Karla, and Tim (Hope), step-grandchildren Kelda (Hilton) Queiroz, Bart (Tricia), Byron, Ray, Meghan (Mitch) Huber, Nathan, Josh, Dayln, Kaleigh, Tom, Sherry, and six step-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and friends.
Memorial services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on August 5, 2022, starting with a rosary at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial mass at 10:30 a.m. Fawna will be laid to rest in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Colby, KS. The service may be viewed via live streaming at www.sacredheartcolby.com.
Memorials can be made in Fawna’s honor to Sacred Heart School, Colby, KS, or Prairie Museum of Arts and History, Colby, KS.