Obituary: Mariam (Cook) Lichte

WAUNAKEE/ LODI - Miriam Lichte, age 85, died Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital. She was born Feb. 15, 1922, to Cecil and Isabelle (Collins) Cook on Gastrow Road in the West Point Township. Miriam graduated from Lodi High School in 1938, then attended college in Whitewater for a year, followed by a year at Madison Business College. She worked in the office at Central High School until she married Ray W. Lichte, Feb. 19, 1944. They farmed on Quietdale Farm, three miles west of Lodi on Reynolds Road, until 1983, moving to Waunakee in 1989, when they sold the farm. Miriam was a sweet, unassuming woman with a quiet, peaceful demeanor. She loved her family and gave of herself without complaint. She was active in her church teaching Sunday school, serving as an elder and was a member of the Presbyterian Women's Organization. Miriam was known for her wonderful cooking, her hospitality and charity. Even though she had no musical talents of her own to speak of, she loved music and made sure that her children cultivated their musical talents and their love for music. Miriam believed in the importance of a good education and encouraged her children to make the most of theirs while allowing each of them to follow their own interests. Miriam is survived by son, Ed Lichte and his children, Stephanie (Doug) Goodsell, Tim (Larisa) Lichte and Marcus Lichte, all of Fort Worth, Texas; son, John (Wende) Lichte of Abuja, Nigeria and his children, Luke Lichte of Madison, Nikki Lichte of LaCrosse and step-daughter, Brandie (Tom) Wolff of Sheboygan; daughter, Judy (Dave) Kopp and their sons, Chris and Jordan, all of Waunakee; as well as special family member, Mark (Leisa) Heimbecker of Lodi, (who worked and lived with Ray and Miriam for 14 years) and their children, Clint and Carly. She is also survived by two step-great-granddaughters, Lucy and Amelia Wolff and sister-in-law, Florence Brown of Lodi and her children, Jim (Marcia) Brown, Linda (Herb) Damsteegt, Tom (Liz) Brown and Donna (Dave) Rimple. Miriam was preceded in death by her husband, Ray on May 20, 1999; by her parents; an infant brother, Robert; grandson, Andy Lichte; and brother-in-law, Roy Brown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at the FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in Lodi, with the Rev. Gretchen Lord Anderson and Elder Marie Langeteig officiating. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2007, at the HAMRE FUNERAL HOME in Lodi, and from 10 a.m. until the services on Saturday at the church. The family suggests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church in Lodi. Hamre Funeral Home Lodi

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 8, 2007