Lucille Reicks

Lucille Mary (Gebel) Reicks (age 89) of Lawler, Iowa, died peacefully at New Hampton Nursing & Rehab Center, New Hampton, Iowa surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 31, 2021, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Nick Radloff officiating. Interment will be held at St. Marys Cemetery in Little Turkey. Friends may greet the family from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Little Turkey, IA, where there will be a 7:00 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church in Lawler on Friday. 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. 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. They raised their eleven 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, her 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. We will carry her memory in our hearts, and try to live up to the example she set for us. Lucille is survived by her husband of 70 years, Francis; children, Ruth Keizer of Louisville, KY, Sister Laura Reicks, RSM, of Sinsinawa, WI, Susan (Ken) Keune of Decorah, Henry (Jill) Reicks of Swisher, Nancy (Gary) Cuvelier of Lawler, Tim (Paula) Reicks of Little Turkey, Sally (Tom) Yungtum of Sumner, Emily (Roger) Smith of Eyota, MN, Carl (Kristen) Reicks of New Hampton, Jeremy Reicks of Little Turkey, and son-in-law Keith Jerdee (Dave Poremba) of Amherst, WI; thirty-three grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren; her sister, Leona Kriener of Cresco and 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.