In Memory of Kathleen Mary Lichtenberg

Kathleen M. Lichtenberg, age 90, of Ida Grove, Iowa went home to heaven on November 6, 2013 at the Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove, Iowa after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 11, 2013 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa with the Reverend Adam J. Peck officiating. Burial will follow in the Schaller Cemetery of Schaller, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm with family present Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Kathleen Mary Lichtenberg was born March 7, 1923 in Peterborough, England to Frank and Emily (Sexton) Williamson. Kathleen grew up in Peterborough where she attended school and was a librarian after graduation. When England entered World War II, she became a machinist at a torpedo factory…a British “Rosie the Riveter”!

On September 23, 1943 Kathleen married Clifford Lichtenberg while he was stationed with the Army in England during WWII. When Cliff proceeded on to Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg and France in 1944, Kathleen had a unique experience of coming to America aboard the “The Aquitania”, a cruise ship that was converted to a hospital ship to transport wounded American soldiers back to the States. She was one of 19 war brides and over 2,000 wounded aboard the vessel. After landing at New York City, she traveled by train to Schaller, Iowa where she lived with Clifford’s parents until he returned from the war. She proudly became an American citizen 7 years later. Kathleen lived in Schaller until she moved to Ida Grove with her daughter, Karen, in 2003. She was a faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller and then St. Paul in Ida Grove after her move.

Besides her jobs in England, Kathleen also worked at the popcorn plant in Schaller and after the last of her six children went to school, she worked in the kitchen at Schaller Community School.

Kathleen enjoyed taking bus trip vacations, playing cards and games (especially 500), and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved to read books, enjoyed musicals and stage plays, and was a skilled knitter and knitted baby hats for Horn Memorial Hospital. Kathleen was an avid Chicago Cubs baseball fan plus she loved watching any Iowa State sports on television.

Kathleen is survived by her sister, Marion Bode, of Schaller, IA; daughters, Karen Lichtenberg of Ida Grove; Ann (Samuel) Sears of Ida Grove; Kathy (Daniel) Ladwig of Arthur; Janet (John) Brinkman of Ida Grove; son-in-law, Roger Frank of Ida Grove; and her son, Mark (Diane) Lichtenberg of Bettendorf, IA, along with 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 10 step great grandchildren, and 6 step great-great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; and infant son, John Lichtenberg; husband, Clifford; daughter, Sandra Frank; brother John Williamson, and half-brother Ricky Rickards, brother-in-law Reinhold Bode, sisters-in-law Dorothy Williamson and Doris Rickards, Step great granddaughter Dejon Williams, Step great- great granddaughters Victoria and Faith Williams.