September 6, 1938 — December 17, 2025
Wilma Winona Thurnau-Fickess, 87, of Osage, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2025, after living with dementia. A cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, she spent her final moments surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Riceville, Iowa, on September 6, 1938, she was the youngest of four children to Cecil and Edna (Ehrenstein) Foote. As a child, she’d ride along with her dad, hauling ice, milk, livestock, and coal in his straight truck, and cherished taking the train by herself to stay with her aunt in Waterloo, Iowa. She also had a silly and mischievous side, once climbing up the old Riceville water tower.
Raised on the edge of town, her family kept a cow, chickens, geese, dogs, and cats, and lived in a home with no indoor plumbing. When Wilma was fourteen years old, her mother passed away, forcing her to become independent at an early age. Long before her children and grandchildren would think of her for whipping up a pot of goulash and a rhubarb pie, unmatched anywhere in the Midwest, Wilma learned to kill and prepare a chicken for dinner.
She graduated from Riceville High School in 1956 and met her future husband, Albert Thurnau, during her senior year. They were married on October 5, 1957, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage, where they made their home and had four children together. They were married for thirty-three wonderful years until Albert passed in 1990. Several years later, Wilma met Robert Fickess, and they were married on May 12, 1995, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.
Wilma worked many jobs over the years, including at Fox River Mills and as a hall monitor at Osage High School. She held multiple positions at Mitchell County Hospital and particularly disliked it when her children prank-called the emergency room, requesting an ambulance be sent to their home.
A lifelong member of the VFW Auxiliary, Wilma loved to support her country, serving as president of the VFW Auxiliary for the state of Iowa for a time. She was a devout Lutheran and attended Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, where she was a member of the women’s circle for many years. She was also a member of the Xi Epsilon Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, where she researched and authored the history of Spring Park displayed on a donated sign at the front of the park spring.
Just as you could count on Wilma to give you a run for your money in a game of 500, you could count on her being there for others and bringing people together. She was an avid seamstress and crocheter, making many homemade clothes and gifts over the years, though her favorite gift to give to family were towels. She loved putting puzzles together and was known to hide a piece so that she could put the last piece in, even mailing a piece of a puzzle to her daughter on the East Coast, with a note attached that said, “I got the last piece!” Her Coca Cola memorabilia collection was so extensive that every family member was able to keep several items in her memory. She kept a garden beloved by many and grew and canned tomatoes that you would be blessed to eat. Within hours of visiting the homes of her children, she had fixed dinner for everyone, vacuumed, dusted, mopped, organized, and washed the laundry, all while loving on her grandchildren and grand pets. One of her sons-in-law often remarked that she was the only person who would leave your house cleaner than it was when she arrived!
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Clinton (Clare), Martha (Eddie) Arndt, and Bertha (Karl) Brigson; and her husbands, Albert Thurnau and Robert Fickess.
Wilma is survived by her four children, Rita (Steven) Howe, Cathie Sveum, Douglas “Doug” (Jennifer) Thurnau, Diana “DeeDee” (David) Bycoffe; thirteen grandchildren, Eric (Katy) Howe, Emily Howe, Atticus Sveum, Ashlie Sveum, Alexandria “Alex” (John) Romano, Alberto Sveum, Zackary “George” Thurnau, Jaida Thurnau, Maci (Mohammad “Nafay”) Nafay , Reid Bycoffe, Chase Bycoffe, Myles Bycoffe, Sydney Bycoffe; seven great-grandchildren; Dave Sveum, and many loved nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Osage, Iowa. The visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at a later date.
Hoff Celebrations – Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements.
hoffcelebrations.com