Obituary of Eva Helen Fine

Eva Helen (Karg) Fine was born to Jesse Carrol Brown and Opal Alice (Cunning) Brown on April 17, 1923, near New Market, Iowa. She passed away at the Cedar Ridge Village in West Des Moines on March 7, 2024, with her family by her side.

Eva attended Turner Country School near New Market and graduated from New Market High School with the class of 1940. Eva furthered her education at the Normal Training School in Maryville, MO, where she earned her teaching certificate. She taught at various country schools in the New Market and Clarinda area for eight years.

Eva married Alvin Charles Karg on July 1, 1942, in Reno, NV. Alvin was deployed eight days later, July 8, 1942, and they didn't see each other for over three years. After Alvin was discharged, in October 1945, they lived in New Market and Clarinda, starting several businesses. Along with her teaching assignments, Eva kept the financial records for those businesses, including the New Market Gas Station, New Market Feed Store, and New Market Laundromat. Eva and Alvin were blessed with three children: Gary Allen, Karen Kae, and Kathy Jayne.

Eva was a homemaker for most of her marriage to Alvin after her children were born, subbing for teachers in the New Market School District from time to time. Then, in 1972, she took a job as an office assistant at Lisle Corporation in Clarinda where she enjoyed working and playing with her co-workers for 15 years.

After 32 years of marriage, Alvin unexpectedly passed away on July 8, 1974, from a brain tumor. In 1986, Eva married Eldon Fine. They loved to travel, go to ballgames, and participate in “everything New Market” until his death in November 2012.

Eva was a founding member of the New Market Women Who Care Club (WWC), and she served as Mayor of New Market for a term after she retired from Lisle Corporation in 1987. She was instrumental in the building of the New Market Community Center/Fire Station during her time as Mayor. Eva was also known for her love of gardening and sewing Pillowcase Dolls for those around the area.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Opal Brown; husbands, Alvin Karg and Eldon Fine; daughter, Kathy Ohm; brother, Willard Brown; and sister-in-law, Jayne Brown.

Eva is survived by son, Gary (Cindy) Karg of Franklin, TN; daughter, Karen Karg Woodard of Grimes, IA; son-in-law, Pat (Diane) Ohm of Mesa, AZ; granddaughters, Jennifer (Shaun) Rucker, Julie (David) Guthrie, Kellie (Seth) Leopold, Amanda (Dallin) Stradling and Sara (Leland) Mccort; grandson, Bradley (Shawna) Ohm; stepdaughters, Shirley (Morris) Sump and Sharon (Serle) Kirchner of Clarinda; step-grandson, Seth (Mandy) Kirchner; step-granddaughters, Rachel (Karl) Miller, Sandy Kirchner, Tara (Ryan) Wolff, Roxanne (Daniel) Finn, Debbie (Ryan) Martin, Donna (Dennis) McClain, and Denise (Kevin) Green; 29 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

“I truly never learned what the words 'I miss you' were until I reached for my mother's hand, and it wasn't there.”