Lidtka, Virginia J. 1921-2007

LIDTKA, SODOMKA, KRIEGEL, WINBURN, SMITH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/22/2010 at 09:59:40

The Montezuma Republican (Montezuma, Iowa) Aug. 1, 2007

VIRGINIA J. LIDTKA, 85

Virginia Lidtka, 85, of Montezuma, passed away Tuesday evening, July 24, 2007 at Montezuma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Her service was held Friday morning, graveside, at Ivy Hill Cemetery, Malcom, with Father William Reynolds, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Grinnell, officiating. Lunch and fellowship with the family followed at The Apple Basket Restaurant. Watts Funeral Home, Montezuma, was in charge of the arrangements.

Honorary pallbearers included Charles and Linda Boeding, Artie and Patti Craver, Kenneth and Janice Schultz, Frank and Dorothy Wheeler and Harold and Patricia Wheeler, all of Montezuma, and Robert and Phyllis Rauch of Barnes City.

Virginia Jane Catherine Kriegel Lidtka, the daughter of Roy Kriegel and Julia (Sodomka) Kriegel, was born Nov. 25, 1921 in Poweshiek County. She attended Brooklyn High School and was graduated with the Class of 1939. Virginia was united in marriage to Fred Donovan "Sye" Lidtka following his return from military service after World War II. During World War II, Virginia served her country as a professional welder on a production line for the war effort. She was a homemaker, but worked several years for Sig Manufacturing in Montezuma after her children entered high school.

Virginia helped co-found and generously supported the Montezuma Animal Relief Fund (ARF). As an only child, Virginia grew up with a menagerie of pets and had a true love of all animals, especially horses and dogs. Throughout her life she opened her home to many pets including a squirrel.

She loved her family and enjoyed traveling with Sye throughout the United States and later to Florida to see daughter Karen. She had a talent for drawing and music and loved playing the organ and piano. She was a member of the Catholic Church and the Montezuma American Legion Auxiliary.

Those left to honor the memory of Virginia include her daughter, Karen Lidtka of Montezuma; brother-in-law Garold Lidtka of Montezuma; the Russell Winburn Jr. family of Malcom and Grinnell, the late Don Smith's family of Bloomfield, and several cousins on her father's side of the family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Sye Lidtka and son John Lidtka.

Memorials may be designated to the Montezuma Animal Relief Fund (ARF), c/o Montezuma State Bank, P.O.B. 128, Montezuma, IA 50171