Fannie "Tillie" H. Cerka Obituary (1921

Fannie'Tillie' Cerka, 91, of Portsmouth, Virginia passed away on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at her home. Visitation will be on Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. at the Dankins Community Center in Zearing, Iowa. Memorial services will begin immediately following the visitation at 10 a.m. at the Dankins Community Center with Pastor Lewis Flannigan officiating. Fannie will be laid to rest in the Lincoln Township Cemetery in Zearing, Iowa. Fannie Harvelle Cerka was born on May 1, 1921 to Bennie and Fannie (Fewell) Blackmon in Jackson, Mississippi. She attended and graduated from Jackson Central High School in 1938. Fannie married Staff Sgt. William Loren Cerka on November 4, 1943 at Gulfport Field Biloxi, Mississippi. She drove a staff car for the Base Commander from 1942 - 1946. In 1946 the family relocated to Zearing, Iowa where they began to raise their family. She later worked at R. H. Donnelly Corporation, in Nevada and the Tri-County State Bank in Zearing, Iowa. In 1977 the family returned to Mississippi and Fannie became the care giver for her Aunt Nell. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Zearing, Iowa. Fannie was very active and enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and planting flowers, sewing, bowling, and watching the birds. Those left to cherish her loving memories are her children, Anita Jean McKinnon, Bennie L. (Brenda) Cerka; grandchildren, Robert McKinnon, Jason Cerka, Laura Cerka Burkley; great-grandchildren, Stephan McKinnon, Chase Burkley, Ana Burkely, and Addison Burkley; sister-in-law, Jane Blackmon, of Mississippi and Lois Cerka, of Colo, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Fannie was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1989; brothers, Bennie Blackmon Jr., Will Richard Blackmon, Ben Allen Blackmon, and Burnett Blackmon. In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to the American Legion Post #116 or American Legion Auxillary Unit of Zearing. Fredregill Funeral Home, in Zearing, has been entrusted with the care of Fannie and her family, 641-487-7500.