Obituary of Lillian Margaret Strittmatter

Lillian Locher Strittmatter, 91, of Monticello died of Parkinson's Disease Monday evening, June 14, 2010, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Friends may call from 2:00 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello where a parish scripture service will be held at 7:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 18, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Keith Birch will officiate. Lillian was born May 20, 1919, in Monticello, Iowa the daughter of John J. and Lillian (Keating) Locher. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Iowa in 1940, and worked at Psychopathic Hospital in Iowa City and as a social worker in Omaha and Cedar Rapids. On May 19, 1947, she married Ambrose "Andy" N. Strittmatter at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello. They moved to Monticello in 1952, where Lillian helped organize the Meals-on-Wheels program. She was also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Delphian Club, P.E.O. and Pi Beta Phi. Lillian was a member and longtime leader of Monticello Camp Fire and an active civic volunteer. She was an avid golfer and tennis player, and an accomplished pianist and calligrapher. She had wide ranging interests such as Grant Wood and his art, the Renaissance, Ancient Greece and political history. Surviving are her husband, Andy, a daughter, Susan (Eric) Sandeen of Laramie, WY, a daughter, Ellen Strittmatter of Monticello, and a son, Nick (Anne) Strittmatter, of Monticello; four grandchildren: Alexander, David, Lucas and Katherine Strittmatter. She is preceded in death by four brothers: Simon, John, Robert and Paul Locher. Memorials may be made to the Monticello Food Pantry, Camp Courageous of Iowa, and/or Sacred Heart Catholic School.