Connie May (Ward) Fengel

Connie M. Fengel, age 66 of Riverton, IA passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, NE. 

Connie May (Ward) Fengel was born on September 24, 1955 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Nebraska City, NE.  She went to grade school in Riverton and then attended Farragut High School where she graduated with the Class of 1973.  She furthered her education at Iowa Western Community College where she obtained her Associate of Arts in 1989 and then Buena Vista College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1991.  She began her teaching career as a substitute for the Farragut, Shenandoah and Essex School Districts.  Connie did this from 1992 to 1999.  During this time she took classes through the University of Iowa where she got her Early Childhood Endorsement in 1997.  She opened a preschool in home in 1995 and continued that until 1999.  She then worked for Head Start in Shenandoah and Hamburg before retiring in 2014.

Some of her favorite pastimes were knitting, sewing and embroidery, but her favorite things were her faith and spending time with her grandchildren.  She loved going on adventures with her grandchildren and spoiling them.  She was a member of the Victory Life Church in Sidney and enjoyed reading the bible.

Connie was married to David Widger in 1973 and to this marriage four children were born:  Aaron, Alicia, Kelle and Elizabeth.  They later divorced.  She later married Gale Fengel in 2019 at Waubonsie State Park.

She is survived by her husband Gale Fengel of Riverton, IA; children:  Aaron Widger (Wendy) of Shenandoah, IA, Alicia Thomas (Paul) of York, NE, Kelle Sweazy (Aaron) of York, NE and Elizabeth Clawson (Jon) of Oregon; step-children:  Tony Fengel of Siam, IA, Danielle Fengel (TJ Morehouse) of Dexter, IA and Nathaniel Fengel of Riverton, IA; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brother Dwayne Ward of Farragut, IA; nieces and nephews; other family and friends.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents and brother Randy Ward.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Riverton Church in Riverton, IA.  

The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday (4/21) at Shull-Gude Funeral Home in Riverton.

Memorials may be given to the Friends of Waubonsie State Park.

Remembrances may be left at www.gudefuneralhomes.com.

Shull-Gude Funeral Home in Riverton is in charge of arrangements.

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