Judith Gayle Fehrmann

Judith Gayle Fehrmann, age 78, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 9:45 P.M. on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Centralia Manor in Centralia, Illinois.  She was born on June 25, 1942, in Nashville, Illinois, the youngest daughter of T. H. “Ted” and Gladys (Clark) Fehrmann.

Ms. Fehrmann is survived by her sister, Jane Edmonson of Centralia, Illinois; nieces, Rondi Edmonson of Saratoga Springs, New York and Jana Musial and husband Joe of Centralia, Illinois; nephew, John W. Edmonson, II of Centralia, Illinois; great-nieces, Anna Carr Bates and husband Doug of Granville, New York, Ariel Edmonson Moon and husband Dustin of Beaverton, Oregon, Tiffani Musial of Saint Louis, Missouri and Ashton Musial of Rawlings, Wyoming; great-nephew, Michael A. Carr of Watervliet, New York; great-great-nephew, Morgan Bates of Granville, New York, and brother-in-law, Duane Edward Niekrenz of Centralia, Illinois.  She leaves dear friends and fellow teachers, Helen Bailey, Dave Rehberg and Tod Wright, all of Indiana, as well as many friends in the world of classical music.

Ms. Fehrmann was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Gladys Fehrmann; sister, Helen Niekrenz, brother-in-law, Ronald Edmonson; great-niece, Carrie Lynn Kavanaugh and Carrie’s father, Thomas G. Kavanaugh.

Ms. Fehrmann was a member of Free Methodist Church in Centralia, Illinois.  She graduated with Centralia Township High School’s “Class of 1960” and Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, in 1964.  She studied for her master’s degree in Latin at Ball State University in Bloomington, Indiana, Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts and Indiana University.  Judy taught Latin at the high school level briefly at Danville, Illinois and North Vernon, Indiana, but the majority of her teaching career was at Highland High School in Anderson, Indiana.  She took her Latin students to many Junior Classical League Conventions, many of them winning honors in the competitions.  The conventions took them to many states, but the most memorable trip had to be when they went to Rome, Italy, where she climbed Mount Vesuvius.  Judy was awarded the Latin Teacher of the Year Award by the Indiana Classical Conference for the 1988-1989 year, in recognition of her good teaching with imaginative approaches, innovative programs and effectiveness in the classroom.  The Indiana Classical Conference awarded a scholarship in her name to an outstanding Latin student. 

Ms. Fehrmann’s passion in life was classical music and she played the French Horn from the early years of grade school until her Parkinson’s disease forced her retirement from LaFayette Philharmonic Symphony in LaFayette, Indiana and Indianapolis Brass Choir.  Upon her retirement and return to Centralia, Illinois, she played with the Belleville Philharmonic in Belleville, Illinois, and the Centralia Cultural Society Orchestra and Kaskaskia College Orchestra.  In the off-seasons, she enjoyed playing with the Kokomo Park Band in Kokomo, Indiana, as well as summer bands in Waterloo, Illinois, Greenville Park Band in Greenville, Illinois and Carlyle, Illinois

As per Ms. Fehrmann’s wishes, she will be cremated.  There will be no public visitation nor services.   Cremation Rites accorded by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois 62801.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ms. Fehrmann’s honor to the American Parkinson Disease Association - Greater St. Louis Chapter, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Doctors Without Borders, USA and will be received by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois.  Please view the online obituary, send condolences or share memories with Ms. Fehrmann’s family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

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