Fern Marie Van Gieson
January 13, 1928 ~ April 13, 2023
Fern Marie Van Gieson was born to Fred and Fern Merrifield in Stillwater, OK on January 13, 1928. She died on April 13, 2023. She moved with her family to Washington, DC in 1936, and her family moved to Wichita in 1940. She graduated from East High in 1946 and from Oklahoma A & M College (Oklahoma State University) in 1950. After a year in Santa Barbara, she moved to Gary, Indiana to work with the YWCA. After a few years, she returned to Wichita to work with the local YWCA and as a copywriter with Boeing. While in Wichita in the 1950s, Fern was one of the organizers of the Wichita branch of the Urban League. Fern is survived by her husband of 59 years, Herbert Van Gieson. They had a partnership of social action and Herb’s work with the Veteran’s Administration allowed Fern to devote herself to social activism and later, to caring for her aging parents. Fern was active in organizing for civil rights, feminist issues, international peace, and Democratic politics. She was one of the organizers of a local chapter of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Kansas Women’s Political Caucus, where she worked toward the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Later in life, she added the push for equality for the LGBTQ community to her social justice work. An ardent environmentalist, Fern lived in accordance with her ideals. She was an active member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church. She was the Woman of the Year at the 1985 Wichita Women’s Fair, and she received the 2014 Civil Rights Trailblazer Award from The Kansas African American Museum. Fern was predeceased by her parents and her three siblings. Fern is survived by nieces and nephews, as well as friends for whom she cared deeply. A memorial has been established with the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 7202 E. 21st, Wichita, KS 67206. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Chapel.
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The Bible provides an encouraging message of hope at Rev 21:4 to …”wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore”…So sorry for your loss!
Herb and family, what a privilege it was to know, be mentored by and work alongside Fern after we met in 1988. Saying she was a trailblazer is so true in describing her and her dedication to bettering the human condition for so many. You both are loved.
Terese Johnson, Former Chair, Sedgwick County Democratic Party
Fern meant a lot to Floyd and Tarizona Watson and their seven children. My middle name “Marie” was in honor to Fern. Fern was not only a dear friend, but she was like a sister to my mother and a surrogate mother to me and my siblings. I can’t remember a time when Fern was not in our lives always teaching and encouraging us. Fernie will be missed R.I.P. dear one.
Fern was a friend/co-worker with my mother also (Ermalee Skillman). They & your parents helped Wichita move forward, adding their footprints to the path.
Oh Fernie. The world is a little less brighter now. I know there are no adequate words to express how much you mean to me. But, thank you. Thank you for showing what it means to be a fierce friend, like you were to my mother. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a phenomenal woman, as you took my 10, 11 & 12 year old self to the local NOW meetings with you and introduced me to feminism and the intersectionality of race, sex and politics. I also accompanied you to the Audubon Society meeting where I was introduced to Oliver Sacks (Nature is my Religion) – a philosophy that sits firmly at the seat of my core values. Thank you for showing me that activism is important and resistance, sometimes necessary. There is no amount of time or space that could hold all the gratitude I have for the positive impact and blessings I’ve been afforded because of you. Most of all, thank you for unconditionally loving me, my mother, and my six siblings . I hope you’re driving around in your VW beetle with the top down.
Fern was a friend/co-worker with my mother also (Ermalee Skillman). I wish I had seen her in her VW convertible (I was out in CA for years)