Arlene Fenske Koons

On Thursday, September 20, 2018, Arlene Fenske Koons, loving wife and mother, passed away at age 94 years, 8 months, and 7 days in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Arlene was born January 13, 1924, on the family farm in Audubon, Iowa, to Einer and Esther (Andersen) Jensen. She received her nursing degree from Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Neb., in 1946. Arlene was a nurse in several hospitals early in her career and later Director of Nurses at the Friendship Home in Audubon.
On March 18, 1949, she married David Fenske, and they raised three children: Craig, Dona and Steve. They were also an important part of raising niece Ruth Spehr Stone, nephew Paul Spehr and exchange student Ingemar Wessling from Sweden. Tent camping with the kids in numerous national parks was a passion.
Following retirement, Arlene and David moved to Woodland Park, Colo., in 1976 to live their passion for the Rocky Mountains. After the passing of David, she married Chet Koons in 1997 in Gunnison, Colo. Mom was supported by her faith and always actively engaged in her church wherever she lived – Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon; Faith Lutheran Church in Woodland Park, Colo.; and Mission Lutheran Church in Las Cruces, N.M.
Arlene had a green thumb and loved sharing her gardening skills to assist others in greening up their spaces. She shared her passion for creating art from the earth – clay creations and dried flowers arranged in all kinds of formations. Family and friends may remember her for a dried flower notecard, a clay bowl or a clay nativity scene.
She loved sewing and her “quiet books” for the grandkids or quilts, and other sewing projects remain as a remembrance of her craftiness.
Arlene was preceded in death by her husbands David Fenske and Chet Koons; youngest son Steve; parents Einer and Esther Jensen; and brothers Leroy and Marvin Jensen.
She is survived by her daughter Dona and husband Larry Nixon in Yachats, Oregon; son Craig and wife Britt Fenske in Las Cruces, New Mexico; and son Steve’s former wife Sherry Fenske in Holiday Island, Arkansas; her six grandchildren and three great granddaughters; her sister Marge and husband Willis Hansen in Elk Horn, Iowa; brother Eldon Jensen in Heber City, Utah; and her much loved sister-in-law Jean Jensen from Audubon, Iowa. She leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Ben Unseth on Saturday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Inurnment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The family prefers memorials to the Friendship Home, 714 N. Division St., Audubon, Iowa 50025.