Kaia Maxine Fry

Kaia Maxine (Jerdee) Fry, 77, of Deerfield, peacefully entered her heavenly home on December 6, 2023.

Kaia was born on August 27, 1946 in Madison, Wisconsin to Edwin and Dora (Sperle) Jerdee.  She grew up with two sisters, Ruth and Joyce, on the family farm located near Cottage Grove, Wisconsin (Rinden Road).  Kaia attended West Koshkonong School, where she was the only student in her class for eight years.  She then graduated from Stoughton High School in 1964 and went on to study Home Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, graduating in 1968.

She met her future husband, Fred, at a dance at the former Madison Gun Club in 1965, and the rest was history.  Kaia and Fred were married at West Koshkonong Church on August 10, 1968.  Kaia began her teaching career at Royal High School in Elroy and at Jefferson Middle School until the Air Force relocated Fred to King Salmon, Alaska.  There, Kaia taught third and fourth grade and lived in a Quonset hut with grizzly bears in her backyard.  Upon return, the Frys fell in love with a little town called Deerfield where Kaia put her lifelong passion for reading and serving the community to work at Deerfield Public Library for 30 years.  As Library Director, she spearheaded making the dream of a new library for Deerfield a reality.

Her greatest treasures in life were her family and friends.  Kaia was a constant source of love, light, and laughter in their lives.  A beloved mother and grandmother, she gave unwavering love and support to her two children and, later, four grandchildren.  She and her husband attended every game, concert, and performance.  Kaia not only taught her children and grandchildren everything from how to drive to how to make a family recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup, she also inspired them with her strength, positivity, and values, which will be carried on for generations. Kaia cherished many summers spent at their cottage in Door County and, recently, winters in Myrtle Beach with family and friends.

Kaia was blessed to have amazing friends in Deerfield and everywhere she went.  Her wonderful sense of humor always came out when cooking, playing cards, and solving puzzles with friends and family.  From sewing and quilting, to knitting and crocheting, to Norwegian Hardanger and rosemaling, Kaia was also always creating beautiful handmade projects, many of which she made with friends.

Kaia is survived by her husband, Fred, her daughter, Kela (Thomas) Feldman, son, Karl (Carrie) Fry, and beloved grandchildren, Kaia and Addison Feldman, and Brayden and Belah Fry.  She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Worth Tiffany, brother-in-law, Phil Wildt, and nieces and nephews Cheryl Rice, Judy Knoernschild, Kerry Tiffany, Brenda Petersen, and Monica Larson and their families.  She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Joyce.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at St. Paul’s Liberty Lutheran Church at 3494 Oak Park Road in Deerfield.  Visitation will be held the church on Friday, December 15, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday December 16, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  A luncheon will follow the service.  Burial will be at 3:00 PM on Monday, December 18, 2023 at Roselawn Memorial Park.  Memorial donations in honor of Kaia can be given to St. Paul’s Liberty Lutheran Church in Deerfield or to the Deerfield Public Library.

Please share your memories of Kaia by posting in her Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Services

201 Bue Street, PO Box 376, Deerfield

(608) 764-5369