Vernon H. Ricke, age 87, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa. His service will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheldon with Fr. Siby Punnoose ~ officiating.
Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Sheldon, Iowa with Military graveside rites presented by
McGlothlen-Cowie American Legion Post #145 of Sheldon.
Visitation will be after 2:00pm Monday, December 21, 2015, with the family present from 5:00 – 7:00pm at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon with a Christian Wake Service at 6:30pm and a Parish Rosary at 7:00pm.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Arrangements under the care of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, Iowa.
VERNON H. RICKE
Vernon Henry Ricke, the son of Henry and Mary (Wildschutz) Ricke, was born July 6, 1928 in Granville, Iowa. Vern attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Granville, Iowa. After school he helped his dad on the farm until joining the United States Marine Corp in February of 1952, serving in the Korean Conflict and receiving the Purple Heart, he was honorably discharged in February of 1954. Vern returned home and started farming north of Paullina, Iowa. On July 24, 1956, he was united in marriage to Leona Kruse at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Primghar, Iowa. They made their home on the farm north of Paullina, where they farmed until his retirement in 1978 and they moved to Sheldon. Vern kept busy during his retirement helping area farmers with field work. Vernon passed on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon reaching the age of 87 years, 5 months and 11 days.
Vern was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheldon. He enjoyed football, baseball, music and dancing.
Vern is survived by his wife, Leona of 59 years and their children, Theresa Helmers of Sibley, Iowa; Duane and his wife, Pam Ricke of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Kevin and his wife, Sue Ricke of Sac City, Iowa and Robbie and her husband, Heath Warntjes of Boyden, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Julie Ricke; Lucas (Tonya) Helmers, Justin Helmers, Melanie (Brandon) Powell; Jenn, Kelly and Jill Ricke; Kaitlin, Jacob and Alyssa Ricke; Hunter Warntjes; 5 great-grandchildren, Abbie, Brooklyn and Carter Helmers; Mecca and Emory Powell; a sister, Clarice and her husband, Cyril Schmit of Remsen, Iowa and sister-in-law, Jeanette Ricke of Remsen; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Sharon Marie Ricke on May 21, 2013; 3 brothers, Omar and Leola Ricke, Robert and Kathleen Ricke and Clarence Ricke; 2 sisters, Helen and Fred Plathe and Kathleen and Melvin “Jim” Klein.
