Verabeth (Eckert) Bricker, 19 Apr 1927 - 30 Dec 2024

BRICKER, ECKERT, HUMPHREY, NIEDFELT, LEWIS, WORLEY, DAHLSTROM, KOCH, ERKAMAA, SAYERS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/8/2025 at 15:37:20

Verabeth Bricker, 97, of Victor, died on Monday, December 30, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, January, 4, 2025, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor with Rev. Scott Lemaster presiding. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Victor.

A rosary will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor. The family will receive friends at the visitation held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor.

Memorials may be designated to St. Bridget Catholic Church, St. Luke's Foundation (hospice), or to Compass Memorial Hospital in Marengo, and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.

Verabeth Eckert was born on April 19, 1927, in Marengo, Iowa, to Carl Leroy Eckert and Sarah Ellen (Humphrey) Eckert. Raised in Marengo, Verabeth graduated from Marengo High School in 1945, where she was a proud member of the National Honor Society, earned Honorable Mention at the state level for basketball, and participated in music.

Her passion for education led her to Marycrest College in Davenport, Mount St. Clare College in Clinton, Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, and the University of Iowa, where she achieved a BSN degree and later a Master’s degree in nursing.

On April 19, 1948, Verabeth married Dean Marvin Bricker at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Marengo. Together, they raised six children: Terry, Larry, David, Denise, Kurt, and Kris, making a loving home on their family farm near Ladora and Victor.

Throughout her life, Verabeth wore many hats: school teacher, school bus driver, and registered nurse. She was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Marengo, served as the publicity chairperson for the Iowa County Association for Retarded Citizens, and was a dedicated member of the Iowa Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau National Honorary Nursing Society, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Verabeth’s faith in Jesus Christ and her love for her family were her guiding lights. An accomplished musician, she played the organ for over 83 years, lending her talents to countless weddings, funerals, and church services. She often said that performing music was like “praying twice” and felt closest to heaven when accompanying a singer or choir.

Known for her joyful spirit, graciousness, and love of music, Verabeth also cherished animals, delighted in watching birds from her window, and found peace in the beauty of sunrises.

Verabeth is survived by her son, Terry (Sandy) Bricker of Grand Island, NE and their children, John (Aundrea) Bricker and Jackie (John) Niedfelt; son, Larry (Toni) Bricker of Marion, IA and their children, Tonya Bricker, Dustin (Beth) Bricker, and Gretchen (Adam) Lewis; son, David Bricker of Brooklyn; daughter, Denise Bricker of Victor; son, Kurt (Deb) Bricker of Ladora and their children, Marshall Bricker (Erika Worley) and Holly (Andreas) Dahlstrom; her great-grandchildren, Jonah, Isabella and Noah Bricker, Reagan, Avery and Kennedy Lewis, Joshua, Lauren and Ella Bricker, Emily (Zack) Koch and Brandon Erkamaa, and Jacob, Jeremy and Justin Niedfelt; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Sarah Eckert; husband, Dean Bricker; son, Kris Bricker; sister, Darlene Eckert Sayers; and her brother, Edwin Eckert.

Published on Smith Funeral Home website, an abbreviated version was published in The Gazette on January 1, 2025.