Lucy M. (Schmitt) Dietzenbach

Lucy Mary Dietzenbach, 94, of Cresco, IA died September 14, 2020, at the Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, holding her daughter’s hand.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Lucy will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2020 at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco with Father Jacob Rouse officiating. Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, September 20 at Heritage Events Center in Cresco and will also be held at Notre Dame Parish church from 10-11 a.m. on Monday.

Lucy was born February 21, 1926 on a farm south of St. Lucas. Lucy was the daughter of William and Anna (Kuennen) Schmitt. She graduated from the 8th grade at St. Luke Catholic School in St. Lucas, Iowa. After graduation she worked for her aunt and uncle until she met Urban.

On October 3, 1944 she was united in marriage to Urban Dietzenbach at St. Luke Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa. Of this union they had 8 sons and 1 daughter. They started their marriage farming near St. Lucas. In 1951 they moved to a farm west of Cresco and farmed until 1991 when they retired and moved to a new home they built in town.

Lucy was a member of Notre Dame Circle family of faith, and  helped make rosaries and sewed for the missions. She was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association.

Lucy was very active in the family farming operation and proud that the farm is still being farmed by the next generation. Lucy had large gardens, canning the fruits and vegetables and in addition, she raised chickens. There were always baked items to enjoy including her apple pies, kolaches, and cinnamon rolls. You could not leave her house without lunch.

She enjoyed quilting, gardening, reading and especially embroidery work. During the years she made embroidered quilts, dresser scarfs and over 100 pillow cases, giving them to her children and grandchildren for weddings and Christmas. Many of her embroidered pillow cases won blue ribbons at the Howard County Fair. Urban and Lucy enjoyed wedding dances, polka music and traveling. Lucy also enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, and friends.

Urban and Lucy were proud of their 75 years of marriage and lived long enough to see their family grow to 5 generations.

Lucy is survived by her children Don (Jan) of Evergreen, CO, Jim (friend Barb), Robert, JoAnne (Gary) Larson, Dean (friend Deb), Kevin, Dale (Julie) all of Cresco. The family includes 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Helen Noska, 3 brothers Edmund (Norma) Schmitt, Alex Schmitt, Gerald (Rosetta) Schmitt and many nieces and nephews.

Lucy is preceded in death by her husband Urban of 75 years and sons Duane and Richard, two daughters-in-law Kathy and Sheri. Her parents William and Anna Schmitt, 3 sisters, Rita, Irma Bullerman, Della Langreck and one brother Arthur Schmitt.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Howard County Community Hospice, 225- 8th Ave West, Cresco, IA 52136.

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