Anna (Ann) Fern Scarff, 91, went to be with her Lord on Monday, May 3, 2021 at Parkview Nursing Home in Wayland, Iowa.
Funeral services have been set for 1:30 PM Friday, May 7, 2021 at the Trenton Missionary Church. Facebook livestream of the service will be at the Betty-Peterseim facebook page. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant.
Open visitation will be from Thursday, May 6, 2021 from Noon-7:00PM at the Beatty Funeral Home in Wayland. Memorials in the name of Anna Fern Scarff have been established for Hospice Compassus and the Trenton Missionary Church.
Ann was born May 28, 1929 on her family’s farm near Dolton, South Dakota. She was fifth of the seven children of David and Tena (Duerksen) Engbrecht. She attended elementary school at a country school near Dolton. When the family moved to Bridgewater, Ann attended the Bridgewater High School, graduating in 1948.
Ann met her husband, Ray Scarff, at church camp in Weeping Water, Nebraska. They were married in Dolton, South Dakota on October 17, 1948. They made their home first on a farm in rural Henry County, then in Mt. Pleasant, finally settling in Trenton. Ann remained in Trenton for 55 years, moving to Wayland when it was time to downsize. Ann and Ray were blessed with two children; Ron and Sharon.
Ann worked at the Ordinance Plant, Sylvania and the Hy Vee bakery. For about 40 years, Ann delighted people with her cake decorating. She created hundreds of birthday, graduation and wedding cakes. Her first wedding cake was for her son’s wedding.
With a twinkle in her eye and smile on her face, Ann’s orneriness would show. She had a strong work ethic and carried on the Engbrecht pickle tradition with her garden.
Ann’s father passed away when she was ten. Because of that loss her mother, Ann, and her six siblings developed a bond of strength, faith, and love that endured throughout her life.
Ann demonstrated what being a servant of God truly was. Whether helping at church, caring for neighbors, sharing garden bounties, baking cakes, or loving her family, Ann showed the importance of living out her Christian faith.
Survivors include her son, Ron (Wendy) Scarff and daughter, Sharon Scarff of Wayland; two grandchildren, Chad Scarff of Kalona and Sara Sanchez of Austin, TX; six great grandchildren and one great great grandson; her sister, Esther Ratzlaff of Colorado Springs, CO; and brother, Ben Engbrecht of Sioux Falls, SD.
She was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, Ryan Scarff; sisters, Martha Hofer and Vi Schuler; brothers, Marvin Engbrecht and Dave Engbrecht.