Fern Kathleen Ramirez

Fern Kathleen Ramirez, 91, of Fond du Lac, went to heaven on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Hospice Home of Hope. She was born on August 12, 1926, in Fond du Lac, the daughter of Frank and Lettie (Baker) Pygall. She was a graduate of Fond du Lac Senior High School, Class of 1944 and was declared Valedictorian of her class. She was awarded a scholarship to Carroll College (Waukesha) and also attended Marian College (Fond du Lac). She taught primary grades at Lincoln School, Fond du Lac, middle grades at Grace Episcopal in Florida and St. Mary Springs in Fond du Lac. She served as a substitute teacher in Ocala and Fond du Lac. Oddly enough she also taught a course in Astronomy at Taycheedah State Prison. On September 20, 1947 she married Thomas P. Ramirez at the First Baptist Church, Fond du Lac. She gave birth to daughter Vianne Marie (1949) and son Gregory Thomas (1951). She was an avid reader of science fiction, loved to dance, and had numerous friends all over the United States. Fern loved to travel and engineered summer trips to National Parks all over the United States. She joined her daughter briefly at an archaeological “dig” in Peru, and also took in the pyramids of Egypt. She later travelled to Spain with her husband. She lived in Buffalo Grove, IL for two years where he wrote for a tabloid newspaper. In 1979 they moved to Ocala, FL, where he continued writing novels, also ran a hotel/motel service business. He was a stringer for The National Enquirer for 21 years. They always spent a summer month and Christmas in Fond du Lac. She and Agnes Edwards were instrumental in establishing The St. Paul’s Cathedral “Mouse Factory”. She is survived by her husband, her daughter, Vianne and her husband William Sakoda, grandsons: Carlos and Akira and her son Gregory’s (deceased) children, Jason and Courtney, her great granddaughter, Lylah and great grandson, Sebastian, and Courtney’s children, Carter and Hayden. VISITATION: Friends may call on Saturday, July 28, 2018, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 51 West Division Street, Fond du Lac. FUNERAL: Mass will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral. A luncheon in the cathedral parish hall will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to St. Paul’s Cathedral or Fern’s favorite charity, animal retreat, Valley of the Kings. Sweet love--- May bands of angels bear thee to thy rest

Fern Kathleen Ramirez

August 12, 1926 - July 19, 2018