Obituary of Fern Burmeister

Fern Burmeister, age 99, longtime Iowa City Educator died peacefully surrounded by her family, Thursday, July 2, 2026.     

Private family services will be held at the First United Methodist Church followed by burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  An open house celebrating her life will be held on her 100th. Birthday, Saturday, September 19th 10am till 1:00 pm at the North Ridge Pavilion in Coralville. 

Dortha Fern Shelton was born September 19, 1926, in Drury, Missouri, daughter of Thomas J. and Ermal (Hutchison) Shelton. Her father died when she was a toddler and throughout Fern’s childhood she & her mom spent periods of time living with her mother’s family in Louisville , NE.   It was during high school in Louisville that Fern met the love of her life, Ivan Burmeister.  After their HS graduation, Ivan enlisted in the Navy and Fern became a teacher in a one room rural school house in the Louisville area.  Fern and Ivan stayed in touch by writing letters (almost daily) and were married on February 5, 1945 while Ivan was home on leave.

Iowa City became home in 1959. Fern and Ivan now with two young daughters focused on raising their family, serving their community, building friendships and embracing the Hawkeye spirit. When their girls were in jr high/high school Fern pursued her passion for teaching and enrolled at the University of Iowa, completing her degree in education in 1965.

Her first teaching assignments in Iowa City were at the former Nelson School and Lincoln Elementary and then Hoover Elementary where she taught third grade from 1968-1985.  In 1985 Fern was named Teacher of the Year by the Iowa City Education Association.

Fern lived 99 years with a philosophy that applied to whatever, whoever and wherever she was at that moment in her life. Growing up during the depression, her father’s death at a young age, and all that followed during those tough times she found ways to not only survive, but thrive and she would say, Look what it brought me… my family, my career, so many former students, lifelong friendships and a community that she loved!

…And always with that beautiful smile that so many knew!

Fern is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Linda Howar (John) and Carol Wise (Bob); seven grandchildren; Susan Zabaronick (Bill), Sara Siebold, Melissa Howar, Amanda Roo Howar, Emily Bildstein LaMantia (Dennis), David Bildstein and Michael Bildstein (Maria); eight great-grandchildren, Sam, Ian, Sophie, Sean, Evan, Jayden, Colin and Kolton; her siblings, John Baker (Linda), Lee Baker and Barb Nair (Vasu).

Fern and Ivan hosted foreign exchange students over the years, opening their hearts and home to these special young people.  Paivikki Jantunen Berry (Steven) from Finland made Fern and Ivan their USA Mom & Dad.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ivan, step-father Earl Baker, sister Lillie Mae Shelton and sister-in-law, Mary Baker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her honor to Oaknoll Foundation-Employee Scholarship Fund, Iowa City Library, Iowa City Hospice or the First United Methodist Church for the Appalachian Service project.  To share a thought, memory or condolence, please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.