LaVaughn Marie Wickenkamp
LaVaughn Marie Wickenkamp
LaVaughn Marie Wickenkamp
May 13, 1920 – October 23, 2012
Oskaloosa, Iowa
LaVaughn was surrounded by her children as she passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa at the age of 92 years, 5 months and 10 days.
LaVaughn Marie Wickenkamp was the first of ten children born to Floyd and Hazel Hoit Wolver, May 13, 1920, near Truax in Mahaska County. In 1934, after finishing eighth grade in country school, LaVaughn became an in-home employee for neighboring families. While doing this, she met George Wayne Wickenkamp and they were united in marriage, September 9, 1939, in Oskaloosa. They made their first home in Keokuk County. They lived in Mahaska and Keokuk Counties throughout their 68 years of marriage. They moved to Beacon in 1954, where they lived for 53 years. George passed away January 23, 2008. After George’s death, LaVaughn moved to Maple Ridge Assisted Living until her health declined when she then moved to Crystal Heights Care Center. While living in the Sigourney area, LaVaughn was employed as a waitress and also as a cook at the Keokuk County Hospital. Later, after moving to Beacon, she was employed at Sears in Oskaloosa and later still did cleaning in many area homes. During most of the years when her children were young, LaVaughn was a wife, homemaker and mother to their four children. She was a hard worker, excellent and thrifty cook and seamstress, and always had a large vegetable garden. She took pride in canning and freezing produce for her family. Throughout the years, LaVaughn attended United Methodist Churches in the areas where they lived.
Those left to mourn her passing are her children and their spouses: Opal and Jerry Westercamp of Bloomfield, Joan and Ron Waits of Pella, Janice and Jim Hansen of Montezuma and Mesa, AZ, and Wayne and Tami (Ferree) Wickenkamp of Oskaloosa; ten grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; a sister and brother-in-law: Lila and Roland Singley of Moulton; a brother and sister-in-law: Estel and Reta Wolver of Moravia; two sisters-in-law: Annett Wolver of Eddyville and Dorothy Wolver of Taintor; a brother-in-law: Duane Oswalt of Newton; and twenty five nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her husband’s sister, Lucille DeMoney of Oskaloosa.
In addition to her parents and her husband, LaVaughn was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Cindy Johnson in 1997; four brothers and a sister-in-law: Ernest and Alfreda Wolver, Marvin Wolver, Melvin Wolver, Edwin Wolver; three sisters and two brothers-in-law: Lucille and Everett Curl, Lois and Merle Houser and Lorna Oswalt, and two nephews: Mike and Lonnie Wolver.
Visitation: will begin at 11 a.m., Friday morning, October 26, 2012 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday morning, October 27, 2012 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jason Gutzmer of Beacon United Methodist Church, Beacon officiating.
Interment: Beacon Cemetery near Beacon, Iowa.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Beacon United Methodist Church.
