Barbola Funeral Chapel

Ervin C. Fay

“Dad, your daily question about where mom is, is finally answered.” Ervin Clemon Fay, age 102, of Omro, died peacefully on Monday, August 26, 2024, at Country Villa Assisted Living in Omro.

He was born January 20, 1922, in Racine, WI, the son of Clemon and Ellen Rehfeldt Fay. Erv was the oldest child in a family of 10 brothers and sisters. After being “loaned out” to his grandparents in Plainfield, WI, Erv grew up working on their farm. He was a 1940 graduate of Plainfield High School then attended Wautoma Technical School for mechanical training.

Erv entered the U. S. Army in 1943 and was stationed on Adak Island in the Aleutian West Census Islands of Alaska keeping the construction equipment in working order as the Army built bases and runways and later served in Washington D.C. He joined the U. S. Air Force immediately after WWII. Erv served on Guam at Andersen Air Force base during the Korean War, where he and his squadron of mechanics kept our bombers running and in the air. After the Korean War he continued his military service with the Air Force, in the 440th active reserves, stationed at Mitchel Field, Milwaukee, until his retirement in 1982, with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. One of Erv’s proudest achievements was his record of 38 years, 10 months and four days in the military, which he proudly shared with anyone who asked, “How long were you in the military?”

His Air Force service took him to many countries throughout the years and he would proudly claim he had been to “all four corners of the world”. Erv’s list of medals he received over the years for military and government service is extensive, varied and honorable. His working career found him in many “hands-on” jobs. Construction, mechanics and government inspection were on top of the list. With a constantly growing family, there was always a used car to be bought, fixed up and sold for a few more grocery dollars. After long days with a construction crew, there was the house in Berlin that needed a new heating system to replace the aging space heater, insulation in the attic and a new bathroom. If it involved tools, Erv did it. His number one career was working for the Defense Supply Agency, inspecting everything from winter uniforms to ammunition to diving helmets to generator engines and finally at Oshkosh Truck. Erv retired after a career of 25 years making sure the equipment your taxes paid for was worth every dollar. Erv was honored to be on an Old Glory Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2011.

While working at Berlin Glove, Alice Piotrowski began a letter writing campaign to Ervin Fay, a WWII army mechanic, at the urging of GI’s sister. On August 24, 1946, he was united in marriage to Alice at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Berlin. For the next 77 years they raised a beautiful family of eight children, nine grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

After raising their family in Berlin, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, and Omro, Erv and Alice spent the last 45 years on “The Farm” just south of Omro. Early on, Erv’s favorite place on the farm was the “machine shed”. Erv put his mechanical skills to work on cars, tractors, boats and lawn mowers and even an International Motorsports Association Road Racing team. If anyone needed a car repaired Erv was the first guy they thought of and chances are he would get it done. Erv loved going to car shows and his favorite personal classic was his 1975 Buick LeSabre convertible which he transformed from “OK to very nice”. He loved to fish and while he was mostly a “drown-a-worm” type of angler in the local waters, he did make a trip or two to Florida for some offshore Mahi-Mahi and Tarpon fishing, and a lobster “hunt”.

Erv and Alice enjoyed traveling. It all started with their honeymoon in Holland, MI. Later adventures included several trips to Florida and even a visit to Disney World. They toured most of the upper Atlantic seaboard states and parts of Canada. They took in all the sights throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and all the states in between.

The family would like to extend a very special thanks to the caregivers at Country Villa Assisted Living in Omro who always made dad feel cared for and safe right up to the hour he passed, and to Tara, Megan, Jayna, Mandy, Penny and Ava who cared for dad at his home after mom passed away.

He is survived by his four sons, James (Carol) Fay, John (Diane) Fay, Jeffry Fay (Patty) and Michael (Angie) Fay; two daughters, Mary Schuessler and Patricia (Carl) Wolfgram; nine grandchildren, Stefanie, Benjamin (Jennifer), Adam (Angela), Charles (Amie), Sarah, Ali (Nate), Dominic (Payshence), Michael Jr. and Maxxwell; eleven great-grandchildren, Bailey, Jaydon, Kyra, Mckenna, Haylee, Graydon, Eliana, Chase, Sam, Emmelyn and Scarlett; many nieces, nephews and friends. Erv was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Fay, on August 4, 2023, two daughters, Jeanne Fay and Julie Hornung; four brothers, Donald, Warren, Willard and Raymond Fay; and five sisters, Arlene Schunulle, Luella Sandrin, Pearl O’Kon, Marjorie Hallman and Marion Ceman.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Omro. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., with Father Joe Mattern and Deacon Paul Vidmar officiating. Interment with military honors performed by Wells-Krause VFW Post #2925 will be in St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery in Berlin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Memorials may be directed to Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, VFW, Wounded Warriors, American Legion, Tunnels of Towers or a military charity of your choice. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Ervin Fay, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.