Virginia Ann Lickteig

Virgina Lickteig was born on April 7, 1930 the seventh of ten children of Peter and Clara Gubbels. She attended St. Boniface Grade and High School in Westphalia, IA and graduated in 1948. After graduating she worked for Dr. Bisgard in Harlan and then moved to Omaha where she worked for Mutual Benefit until she married her high school sweetheart, Cletus Lickteig on June 19th, 1954. They lived in Westphalia with their four children, Mike, Bob, Gaileen (Tudy Fosmer,) and JoAnn (Monahan.)

The family moved to Denison where Ginny and Clete, with their children’s help, operated Clete’s Open Market for 5 years, A&W Family Restaurant for 12 years and Denison Fruit Market for 12 years. They retired at the end of 1994. It was a busy life for Virginia; working full time and raising four children.

"Mom worked long hours, but at no time was being a caring mother impacted," said JoAnn, who now lives in Texas, and appreciated her mother's weekly letters to keep her posted of family happenings. " But," Bob adds, "Mom wasn't only a caring mother for us four kids but helped and mothered dozens of A&W car hops and workers, as well." Mike recalls the special efforts she made for their birthdays. "Mom always made sure we had great birthday parties and friends, cousins and a lot of fun activities-not to mention her good food. She has great recipes for pizza and homemade bread" And she could cook up a mean goulash dinner in an electric skillet," adds Bob.

Tudy, who lives in Omaha, appreciated her mother's letters. " I bet everyone in the family has received a card or letter from my mother at one time or another. There is nothing better than to get a letter in the mail to know that someone is thinking of you-simple, but so hard for most of us to do. I think this is very special."

In all those years of working in the public, Virginia (or Ginny) has kept her sense of humor, made many friends, always ready to tell a story with much joking and laughter. She has touched the lives of many; including recipients of blood from the Bloodmobile. Eleven gallons of blood were donated by Virginia over the years!

All four children agree that their mother did enjoying her well-deserved retirement; reading, visiting, and volunteering for church activities. She also spends a good amount of time organizing information for the annual family newsletters she initiated. When she retired, she said" It's been a good life, I look back on my heritage with pride and look forward to many more years of enjoying life with family and friends, especially our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ginny's story from one of the family newsletters in 2003.

Virginia passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison attaining the age of 93 years, 5 months, and 19 days. She was preceded in death by her parents: Peter and Clara Gubbels; husband, Clete Lickteig; siblings: Peter Gubbels Jr., Sabina Conrad, Alvin Gubbels, Sylvia Goeser, Ambrose Gubbels, Cyril Gubbels, and Fr. Richard Gubbels.

She is survived by her two sons: Mike Lickteig and his wife, Kathy of Kiron and Robert Lickteig of Odebolt; two daughters: Gaileen Fosmer and her husband, Mike of Omaha, Nebraska and Jo Monahan and her husband, Mike of Denton, Texas; six grandchildren: Erika Bygness and her husband, Ryan of Denison; Jordan Lickteig and his wife, Sara of Fairfield, Texas; Garret Fosmer and his wife Alexa of Omaha; Katelyn Fosmer and her husband, Scott Golub of Kansas City, Missouri; Taylor Lickteig of Scottsdale, Arizona; and Makayla Monahan of Denton, Texas; nine great-grandchildren: Quinlan, Roman, Monroe, and Ezra Bygness; Bennett, Asher, and Lennon Lickteig; Graham and Adelaide Fosmer; two sisters: Helen Wubbenhorst of Harlan and Mary Ann Koesters and her husband, Francis of Earling; sister-in-law, Rita Gubbels of Harlan; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 4:30 p.m. and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2023 at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison with burial to follow in the Parish Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family.