Laura Jeane Fry

Laura Jeane Fry, 96, of Washington, formerly of Kalona, died Monday, August 29, 2022, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. A memorial service will be held Friday, September 9, 2022, at 10:30 AM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona, where the family will greet friends from 9:30 AM until the service begins. A private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are directed to the UP Home or Hospice of Washington County.

Laura Jeane (Stout) Fry was born November 29, 1925, in Brighton, Iowa, the daughter of Amos and Fern (Blick) Stout. She was the youngest of nine children and graduated from Washington High School in 1943. On November 13, 1943, she was united in marriage to Walter Rich. The couple raised six children on the family farm near Crawfordsville. Jeane and Walter moved to California in 1975 where they were active in their church. Walter passed away on November 30, 1979. On January 31, 1982, she married Russell Ellinger in California. Together they were active in their church and Jeane started a custom drapery business called Jeane’s Seams. They moved back to Iowa in 1998. Russell passed away on December 26, 2003. On April 10, 2010, she married Earl Fry in Kalona. Earl passed away on June 3, 2015. Jeane resided at the UP Home in Washington since 2016.

Jeane was a hard-working farm wife and worked as a bookkeeper. She was an excellent cook and baker, making many wedding cakes and pies. Jeane was also a wonderful seamstress, making clothing, wedding dresses, and draperies, and especially enjoyed machine embroidery in her later years. She had a heart of hospitality and welcomed many people into their home. She had a strong faith and lived it each day.

Jeane is survived by her son Steve (Jerilyn) Rich of Kalona, daughters-in-law: Jacque Rich of Crawfordsville, IA, Riella Rich of Fairhope, AL, sons-in-law: Emery Gingerich of Kalona and Bill Sebok of Eugene, OR, step-daughter Virginia Farris of Paris, TX, 12 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding Jeane in death were her parents, husbands Walter Rich, Russell Ellinger, and Earl Fry, three sons: Kenneth, Wesley, and Philip Rich, two daughters: Jane Gingerich and Marti Sebok, daughter-in-law: Claire Rich, step-son John Ellinger, three grandchildren: Perry Rich, John Rich and Lori Rich, four sisters: Mary, Ethel, Annie and Elsie and four brothers: Amos Jr, Ralph, Taylor, and Donald.