Lucille Marie Wiges

Lucille Marie Wiges, the daughter of Sophus and Lillian Johnson Christensen, was born February 7, 1921, at her parents home in Audubon County near Kimballton, Iowa and died April 23, 2009, at the Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 2 months, and 16 days.
When Lucille was four years old, her father, Sophus, died. In 1926, her mother married Alfred Owen, a widower with one son, August Owen. Alfred and Lillian had two sons, George and Bernard Owen. Lucille was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. She attended rural schools and graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1938. Lucille received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Rapids, IA. She taught in rural schools in Audubon County before and shortly after she was married and was also a substitute teacher.
In March of 1941, she was united in marriage to Leonard Wiges. Three children, Gary, Linda, and Jon, were born to this union. They rented several farms in Audubon County before purchasing their farm southwest of Hamlin, IA. Lucille was a homemaker and raised her family. Leonard died in 1978. Lucille lived on the farm until she moved into Audubon in 1995. She enjoyed her home for many years before moving to the Friendship Home in Audubon in June of 2008.
Lucille was an active member of the Hamlin Lutheran Church, serving as a member of the Church Board and was a past President of the Women of the ELCA. Lucille was not only active in her church, but was also very active in her community. Some of these activities include: Meals on Wheels board; Elderbridge board; 4-H leader (Hamlin Cheer-Ups); Youth Development Committee member and officer; Extension Garden Aide; Audubon County Fair (Home Economics Superintendent, Pie Contest judge, Horse Shoe Pitching Contest support); State Fair 4-H Judge; Audubon/Guthrie Lutheran Brotherhood Branch Fraternal Communicator and secretary; Election Board for Hamlin Township; Good Neighbor Council chair and secretary; Community Opportunities, Inc. board; Audubon County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary member; Parent Time-out volunteer; Farm Bureau secretary and member of Womens Committee; Audubon County Historical Society board member; Danish Immigrant Museum volunteer and Danish dancer.
Recognition received included: Recipient of the Audubon County Farm Bureaus Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, 1996; induction into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for Outstanding Service and Dedication to 4-H, 2004; and recipient of the Governors Volunteer Award.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband, Leonard, were her son Gary Wiges; her parents Sophus Christensen and Lillian Owen; her step-father Alfred Owen; her step-brother August Owen; her brothers-in-law and sistersin-law Earl and Edith Wiges, Alice and George Mortensen, and Don and Wanda Wiges.
Survivors include her children: Linda Zinke of Omaha, NE and Jon Wiges of Poway, CA; her grandchildren: Doug and wife Diana Wiges, and David and wife Carol Wiges all of Denison, IA; Dennis and wife Lisa Wiges of Killeen, TX; Scott Zinke and friend Lois Nason of Rockville, MD; Sondra Zinke and husband Todd Linnertz and Kyle Zinke and fianc Sarah Gerken all of Omaha, NE; Michelle Zinke of Lincoln, NE, Monica Zinke of Omaha, NE; and Amanda Wiges of San Clemente, CA; her eight great grandchildren: Hannah Wiges of Denison, Katie Wiges of Omaha, NE; Nick Wiges and Anna Wiges both of Denison, IA; Tyler and Trenton Wiges of Killeen, TX and Ben and Cassie Linnertz of Omaha, NE; her brothers: George Owen, and Bernard and wife Bessie Owen all of Audubon, her sister-in-law Elaine Owen of Audubon, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Monday evening at 6:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa