Lucille Reicks, 89

March 11, 1932 —

Dec. 28, 2021

 

LAWLER - Lucille Mary (Gebel) Reicks, age 89, of Lawler, Iowa, died peacefully at New Hampton (Iowa) Nursing & Rehab Center surrounded by family on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Nick Radloff officiating. Interment was to be at St. Marys Cemetery in Little Turkey, Iowa. Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with services. 

Lucille was born on March 11, 1932, the fourth oldest of 10 children, to Frank and Helen (Schwickerath) Gebel at their farm near North Washington, Iowa. The family moved to Lawler, where she graduated from Lawler High School in 1950.

After graduation, she met and married Francis Reicks. They made their home on a farm west of Little Turkey and raised their 11 children in a faith-filled home, where each learned the value of working hard to reach their goals.

Lucille will be remembered for her work ethic, deep religious faith, home-cooked meals, homemade bread and pies, huge garden and ability to can and freeze enough food to last the year, her not-so-perfect haircuts and numerous embroidery and sewing projects. 

She was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, the Rosary Society and various card clubs.

Lucille gave her whole life to others as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend and diligent servant of faith. Those who knew her will carry her memory in their hearts and try to live up to the example she set.

Lucille is survived by her husband of 70 years, Francis; children, Ruth Keizer of Louisville, Ky., Sister Laura Reicks, RSM of Sinsinawa, Wis., Susan (Ken) Keune of Decorah, Iowa, Henry (Jill) Reicks of Swisher, Iowa, Nancy (Gary) Cuvelier of Lawler, Tim (Paula) Reicks of Little Turkey, Sally (Tom) Yungtum of Sumner, Iowa, Emily (Roger) Smith of Eyota, Minn., Carl (Kristen) Reicks of New Hampton and Jeremy Reicks of Little Turkey, son-in-law, Keith Jerdee (Dave Poremba) of Amherst, Wis.; 33 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; her sister, Leona Kriener of Cresco, Iowa; brother, Joe (Diana) Gebel of Lawler; in-laws, Jim Leibold, Darlene Gebel, Laverne Blue, Alex Reicks, Ardwin Reicks, Lorraine (Wayne) Carlson, Marian Retterath, Elsie Swehla, Harry (Barb) Reicks and Roy (Carolyn) Reicks; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helen Gebel; parents-in-law, Victor and Mary Reicks; daughter, Cindy Jerdee in 2007; son-in-law, Henry Keizer in 2019; siblings and in-laws, Marilyn (Francis) Burns Leibold, Leroy (Mary) Gebel, Bob (Rita) Gebel, Luke Kriener, Francis Gebel, Jean (Leon) Hageman, Doris (Ray) Balik, and Loretta (Pete) Kleve. 

She was also preceded in death by Reicks in-laws, Monsignor Leander Reicks, Norbert (Virginia) Reicks, Neal (Alice) (Vernice) Reicks, Lucille (Linus) Kruse, Eugene (Grace) Reicks, Luella Reicks, Edna Reicks, Jerry Reicks, Roche Lensing, Norbert Retterath, Dan Swehla and Don (Doris) Reicks.