Obituary of Helen Fickel

Helen “Ruth” Fickel, 85, formerly of Marion, died Monday, March 9, 2009 at the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center following an extended illness. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 12, 2009, at Cedar Memorial Cemetery (Garden of the Cross) in Cedar Rapids, officiating Reverend Mike Morgan. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in her memory to Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Ruth was born May 20, 1923, in Indianola, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Edith (Lyle) Pemble. Following graduation from Indianola High School, she attended and graduated from Simpson College with a degree in Home Economics. On May 19, 1946, she married Lawrence “Larry” Fickel. The couple lived in Marion for many years while Ruth taught second grade at Squaw Creek Elementary in Cedar Rapids. Ruth had many passions in life including sewing, crafts, cooking, creating children’s poetry for children’s books, and teaching young people. As a child, her family was one of the fixtures at the Iowa State Fair year after year. In college she enjoyed her membership in the Pi Phi Sorority. Her family includes her children, Steven E. Fickel of Cedar Rapids; Catherine A. Overbaugh and her husband, Al of Polk City, IA; and Gary B. Fickel and his wife, Diane of Iowa City; grandchildren, Bryan Fickel (Stephanie), Jaimee Fickel, Jen Slauson (Ed), Jeremy Overbaugh (Julie), Megan Snyder (Pat) and Lindsey Fickel; twelve great grandchildren, and one sister, Dee McGinnis of Tucson, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Larry; granddaughter, Cory; brothers, William Pemble, Vincent Pemble, and Lorence “Red” Pemble; and sister, Mary Barton. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Ruth’s family and her services.