Michael F Fehn

Michael F. Fehn, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2026 at the age of 95. A devoted husband to Olga and proud father of Michael, John Paul, Kenneth, and Elizabeth, Mike was known for his bright eyes, welcoming smile, integrity, and incredible dedication to a job well done.

Born in Unter-Schönborn, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine) on May 11, 1931, Mike took on a great deal of responsibility on his family's farm from a young age and during uncertain times. In 1943, his family fled to Austria. After the war they settled in Germany, where Mike learned his trade and became a master machinist. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1951, became a citizen and was drafted into the Army to serve in the Korean War. He was assigned a post in, of all places, Germany. With his knowledge of the area and the language, Mike became a valuable asset to his unit and his fellow soldiers.

After his service, Mike quickly found work as a machinist. He and Olga were married in 1957 and began their family. In the early 1960s he decided to open his own business, and started R & F Machine, a successful tool-and-die company in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1970s, he participated in a reentry and trade initiative which provided job training for formerly incarcerated adults. His talent brought him to Newport, Rhode Island in 1982, where he took on the challenge of creating and managing the machine shop at Derecktor Shipyard. He was proud of his work on Naval ships, Coast Guard cutters, Staten Island ferry boats, and the largest private yacht by volume built in the U.S., called Cakewalk. Mike continued working well into his 80s, only taking time off to have both knees replaced.

A devoted family man, he enjoyed weekends with his family at "the farm" in upstate NY, cutting firewood, planting vegetable gardens, warring with woodchucks, and target and trap shooting. Deer hunting was an annual Thanksgiving weekend event. Mike, his sons, and brothers-in-law would depart for the farmhouse immediately after the turkey dinner and take all the leftovers with them. They didn't always have a successful hunt, but the stories were legendary.

Mike and Olga were married for 69 years and they deeply enjoyed time spent with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mike's 90th birthday celebration was a wonderful three-day-long expression of his family's love and admiration for him. He lived a full and amazing life and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Olga; children Michael (Jan), John Paul (Diane), Kenneth (Diana), and Elizabeth Cotta (Steven); grandchildren Christopher Fehn (Natalie), Michael Fehn (Brittany), Kyle Fehn, Jessica Fehn, Corinne Cotta, Lauren Cotta; great-grandchildren Ryder and Cody Fehn; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Rose, Anna, Barbara, and Margaret, and his brother Bill.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 10:00am, followed by a private burial at St. Columba's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Mike's memory.