Arlene Quinn

Arlene Quinn, 82, of Fort Dodge, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 20th, 2022, at Trinity Regional Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, July 29th at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity Church. Burial will follow in Corpus Christi Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Laufersweiler Funeral Home. Arlene Rae Johnson was born on March 14, 1940 in Jefferson, IA to parents Henry R. and Ethel (Stock) Johnson . She was raised on the family farm in Paton where she had many fond memories of homesteading with her extended family and riding her horse, Ginger. Her upbringing on the farm fostered her community values, strong work ethic, and compassion for all that would guide her in life. In 1960 she started her life-long career as an RN after graduating from St. Joseph School of Nursing. Arlene married Vernace Gilley that same year. The couple lived in Alaska and Iowa and to this union were born 2 sons, Gregory and Timothy. The couple were later divorced. On December 14, 1972, Arlene was united in marriage to her beloved husband of 47 years, Donald "Corky" Quinn, gaining four more children, and the family established their cozy, busy home in Fort Dodge. Arlene lived in the same neighborhood for over 40 years where she and Corky built deep ties and met some of their best friends. She believed it was important to know your neighbors and would make it a point to introduce herself or say hello to passers-by from her little red bench. There, she would read a mystery novel, point out different birds, and watch her "silly" squirrels. Arlene's love of animals inspired her to open her door to many cherished pets over the years, both planned and surprise companions. As a long-time resident of Fort Dodge, Arlene was very involved in the community. She and Corky were often found meeting friends for coffee at Brownies and Ja-mars. They both loved attending local Dodger sporting events, specifically Softball and Wrestling. As long-time I-Club members, they often traveled to follow the Hawkeye Football and Wrestling teams armed with their brackets. For many years, Arlene paddled with fellow breast cancer survivors in dragon boat races. Arlene was involved with many local clubs in which she found strength and touched the lives of countless people. She also was a member of Holy Trinity Church, Catholic Daughters of America, and served as a Eucharistic Minister. Arlene found nursing to be hard but rewarding work that her empathetic and energetic self was well-suited for. Arlene served on the board of the 8th District Nurses and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Central Iowa. She served as an RN at Trinity Regional Hospital for decades in "every department but OB" before retiring from the surgical unit in 1999. In retirement, Arlene loved to stay busy and was able to travel the US widely and explore many places in Europe, Asia, and Australia with her steadfast travel companion, Corky. As his health declined she was a devoted caregiver, demonstrating unwavering patience and love that was an inspiration to those who witnessed it. Arlene was a creative, energetic, compassionate gem of a person who was devoted to helping her family, friends, patients, and community. Her wry sense of humor, zest for life, and pure heart will be missed deeply by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She is survived by her children, Greg Gilley, John Quinn (Holly), Mary Anne van Rossen (Arne), Thomas Quinn, Sara Fadem (Brett), grandchildren: Tawny and Jessica Gilley; Sophia and David Fadem; April and Gracie, and great-grandchildren Ellie, Chloe, and Riley Rae. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Daniel Johnson, husband Corky, and son Timothy Gilley. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Visitation Thu, Jul 28, 2022 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Funeral Mass Fri, Jul 29, 2022 at 11:00 am Holy Trinity Church 2501 6th Avenue North Fort Dodge, IA 50501