Wilma F. Lamka
September 10, 1921 ~ November 13, 2017
Wilma F. Lamka, age 96 of Fredericksburg, IA passed away on Monday, November 13, 2017.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Hillcrest Baptist and Brethren Church in Fredericksburg, IA with Pastor Todd Yeaton officiating. Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, IA.
Visitation will be from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM at the church on Saturday November 18, 2017. Online condolences for Wilma’s family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Wilma Frances was born September 10, 1921 at Williamstown, IA, the daughter of William and Marie (Kolthoff) Averhoff. She moved from south of Williamstown to rural New Hampton when she started New Hampton Public Schools. When in third grade, Wilma’s family moved to Nashua where she attended and was a 1940 graduate. After graduation, she attended Upper Iowa University at Fayette. Wilma taught rural schools in Chickasaw and Floyd Counties for seven years.
Wilma was united in marriage to Clarence Lloyd Lamka on August 24, 1947 at the Congregational Church in Nashua. The couple moved east of New Hampton to their 22 acre farm where their three children, David, Randy and Connie were born. Wilma was a fulltime homemaker and Clarence worked as an electrician and truck driver. They moved south of Williamstown in 1955 to Clarence’s grandparent’s farm, then to the Lamka family farm in 1960.
Wilma was a member of Hillcrest Baptist and Brethren Church, where she was Historian for many years. She has a gift for writing which included autobiographies about her and Clarence, as well as receiving the Iowa State Award for a piece she had written about the Nursing Home. She enjoyed gardening, making rolls for church suppers and taking care of her chickens. Throughout her life, Wilma especially enjoyed being the “hostess” of the family and servered several family holidays. When people thought of Wilma, the memories are of her passion for cooking large meals and having her family together. Even though her house was small, her meals were always big, and she put an incredible amount love and thought into them, not to mention, pride.
Left to cherish Wilma’s memories are her children; David (Judy) Lamka of Marion, IA, Randy Lamka of New Hampton and Connie Lamka of St. Louis, MOtwo grandchildren, Jeffrey (Erin) Lamka and Nicolas Lamka, both of Cedar Rapids; three great-grandchildren, Peyton, Carter and Cole and numerous neices and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence; one sister, Vida Wheelock.
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I’m so glad I stopped in to see her before Halloween. She told me she was going to live to be 100. She said, “My eyesight’s good, I’ve got no hearing aids, my mind in sharp. I’m going to live to be 100!” I’ve always loved Wilma’s exuberance for life, and readiness to laugh, and her love of all living things. I will miss her very deeply.
So sorry for your loss. My condolences and love. Peggy Drake
Wilma will greatly missed she was a amazing woman we shared the same birthday I’m just heartbroken for Wilma’s family
Larry and Darlene Throndson
Our sincere sympathy to all pf Clarence and Wilma’s Family! I remember of talking to Randy at Sara Lee about his Mom. He spoke of the kind and loving mother she was. Keep your memories close to your
hearts!
My sincere sympathy goes out to the family of Wilma Lamka in a loss of my 44 past years of having Wilma as my pen pal. I will always remember many a meal and conversation around the farm house table with Wilma and Clarence!
Family friend-Dwight Stapher, Flandreau South Dakota
Prayers for Wilma’s Family. I grew up a half mile South of Williamstown, Merle & Dorothy Vorwald were my Parents. We used to buy eggs from Wilma. We bailed hay with Clarence on halves. We would do all the bailing & put half in their barn & half in our barn. Many a Summer, helped Dad & Grandpa bail hay. I remember she fed a bunch of cats & was always smiling. My what a long life she was Blessed with. God Bless You All. Debbie (Vorwald) Morrison.
So sorry for your loss, thoughts and prays go out to you. Wilma will be greatly missed.
Sweet lady that I got to know the past few years. Will miss your smile Wilma. I always enjoyed our short talks we had about life and grand kids and all the baking we loved to do. Lori
I first met Wilma when my late husband Ron candidated for the position of minister at Hillcrest Baptist and Brethren Church in 2004. I liked her immediately! And…she liked cats just like me!
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Wilma at both the farm where she proudly showed off her garden and the chickens, and at the nursing home. She LOVED her life whether she was living at the farm or at the nursing home.
My most cherished memory of Wilma is the time she had invited Ron and me to the farm for a delicious supper. As we said our goodbyes, Wilma gave me a kiss, making me feel like family because all of my family are out in New York.
After Ron and I moved to South Dakota, I started writing “real” letters to her, even after she was no longer able to write back as she used to do. Wilma’s letters were so positive and uplifting.
Wilma will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her…