Community unites in support of Fangmann family
Jeff Fangmann, seated at center, was recognized last weekend for his thirty years of volunteer service to the local fire department. Fangmann's commitment to serving his neighbors has led to overwhelming support from the community during the family's time of need. (Photo submitted)
By Molly Moser
When Jeff Fangmann was diagnosed with scleroderma in 1998, his wife, Laurie, began to educate herself. She went to the library, joined an online community of families fighting the disease, and accompanied her husband to every appointment.
“Whenever we’ve been in the Iowa City hospital, Jeff is always an ‘attraction’ of sorts… they explain him as unique, special, and many other kinds of words you don’t want to hear when you are in the hospital talking to doctors,” said Laurie. An estimated 300,000 Americans have scleroderma, a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as an autoimmune rheumatic disease. Female patients outnumber male patients by four to one. According to scleroderma.org, hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease – but internal organs, blood vessels, muscles and joints can also become hard and fibrous, causing them to function less efficiently.
“Whenever we get the chance to educate people about scleroderma, we do it. We’ve had so many doctors bring in their residents and students to come and talk to Jeff, ask questions, feel his skin, etc., but it teaches them about something most people have never heard of, much less dealt with.”
Jeff and Laurie’s daughter, Emily, works as an ICU nurse at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. “My dad is like the town mascot… He is always lending a hand out to someone in need. He would be the first person to stop and pull your car out of the ditch in the dead of winter and would even stop to help a random stranger fix a flat tire on the side of the road, without a blink of an eye. My dad is the true definition of a good Samaritan,” said Emily. “Even on his worst days, he still remains positive and I envy him for that!”
Community members have come together to organize a benefit for the Fangmann family, planned for Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Garnavillo Fire Station, 206 W. Centre St., from 3-8 p.m. A meal will include pork sandwiches, Mr. Rib, and turkey and dressing sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, chips and dessert. Lemonade and water will be provided, and guests are encouraged to bring their own coolers with other beverages.
A silent auction will be held and a live auction will start at 6 p.m. Items include artwork, handmade furniture and quilts, donated guns, seed corn, loads of dirt/rock, a wood pellet grill, Hawkeye items, fire rings, Tim McGraw/Faith Hill club seat tickets, hogs, and more. Organizers noted that because of all the generous donations from individuals, churches and businesses and the surrounding community, the event is being put on with zero expenses - so every dollar raised at the benefit will go directly to the Fangmann family.
“Dad always lived by the motto of treating others how you would like to be treated. He taught me it is always better to give than to receive. Whether it would be his volunteering for the fire department, helping with church fundraisers or just being a good neighbor by mowing somebody's yard, he always treated everyone with kindness, honesty and respect. Dad would just do things out of the goodness of his heart and not look for anything in return,” said son Joe Fangmann of Huxley. “It was these traits that ultimately led to him becoming my best friend and why I chose him to be the best man in my wedding.”
Joe and his father share a deep bond in music. “Dad taught me how to play guitar at the age of eight. I always loved playing along with him at family gatherings, at church, and I especially enjoyed sitting upstairs in the living room playing next to the fireplace at night. I'm forever grateful for his patience in taking the time to teach me. Those were some of the most special moments of my life,” Jeff’s son told The Press.
“Once my dad was diagnosed with scleroderma, it became too hard for him to play because his fingers were so tender that it hurt. It was heart wrenching to watch him give this up, but thankfully he could still live vicariously through Joe,” explained daughter Emily.
Jeff was working as a mechanic when he and Laurie met in February of 1981. “A mutual friend introduced us. It was definitely love at first sight, but he was too afraid to ask me out, so I asked him out,” smiled Laurie. The couple has now been married almost 33 years. “He always loved his work, whether he was working for someone else or working for himself and building his dream shop on the edge of town in 1994.”
Laurie has become her husband’s full time caregiver, making it difficult for her to continue working as a massage therapist. “My mom is my hero. She is the rock that holds this family together,” said Emily, recalling her mother’s support throughout high school and through nursing school. “She was the number one person I could vent to on the phone and she would still come back with positive vibes/energy for me. I love her dearly for that.”
“My mom is the most strong-willed person I know. What she has been through emotionally the past 18 years of this horrible disease is unbearable to say the least,” said son Joe. “However, rather than running and hiding from the situation, she instead dove in head first. She spent thousands of hours going to doctor’s appointments with dad, researching this very rare disease and reaching out to the great online community support groups for scleroderma. She has connected with other families across the United States who were going through the same scenario she was. I always kid my mom about how bull-headed she is, but in reality it's one the best traits she passed along to me.”
Laurie’s ‘pay it forward’ mentality has made an impact on the lives of others, and on her children. "My parents have never had a crazy amount of money, but when they did get some saved up, my mom would do a ‘pay it forward’ to someone in need. She always said, ‘They need it more than we do.’ She has taught us the true morals and values in life. She has a heart of gold,” said Emily, who is recently engaged to partner of seven years, Cameron Olson. “My dad is very lucky he found such a wonderful woman like her. Even with my dad being sick for many years, my mom has been right by his side helping take care of him. I am so blessed to have the best parents ever who really show what true love is.”
“The kindness, caring and unconditional love she always showed our family has helped me become a better parent for my two beautiful little girls,” said Joe, father of Madelyn, age two, and Maggie, age four, and husband to Amy (Kilstofte) Fangmann. “I now know not to sweat the small stuff, enjoy every day as though it were your last and always put your family first.”
Cash donations for the family may be sent to Community Savings Bank, P.O. Box 100, Garnavillo. Checks should be made payable to Fangmann Benefit.
