Lorraine Eichenberger

Lorraine Eichenberger, age 86, of Calmar, formerly of Waucoma, IA, died Sunday, September 2, 2012, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian, IA. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 7, 2012, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, with Rev. Donald Hawes presiding. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Waucoma, IA. Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 Washington Street, in Calmar with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Lorraine Frances (Schlichte) Eichenberger was born on March 26, 1926, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Bruess) Schlichte in Waucoma, Iowa. Lorraine attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Waucoma High School in 1943. Lorraine married Tony Eichenberger on October 17, 1945, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma and they were the parents of five children: Peggy, Robert, Dennis, Tom and Tina. Together they farmed near Waucoma and Lorraine also worked at Bucheit Produce in Calmar. Tony and Lorraine moved into Waucoma in 1951and to Calmar in 1993. She was a wonderful baker and enjoyed visiting and socializing with friends and family. Her greatest joy was to be around her family and especially her grandchildren. She always looked forward to Sunday afternoons when they would play cards together. Lorraine was a former member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waucoma and currently a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar. Lorraine is survived by her five children: Peggy (Delbert) Franzen, Waucoma, IA; Robert (Denise) Eichenberger, Carson City, NV; Dennis (Bonnie) Eichenberger, Norco, CA: Tom (Deb) Eichenberger, Calmar, IA; and Tina Eichenberger, Ossian, IA. Sixteen grandchildren: Brad Franzen, Renee (Sam) McElhenie, Robert Eichenberger, Jr., Derek Eichenberger, Ryan Eichenberger, Daine (Jordan) Eichenberger, Britaney Eichenberger, Sherry (Steven) Lacomb, Andrea (David) Struck, Adam (Carrie) Eichenberger, Joe Eichenberger, Sara (Corey) Claeys, Tracy (Alex) Howell, Jennifer Timp, Lucas Timp, and Megan (Billy) Hackman, along with sixteen great grandchildren. Three sisters: Margaret Kleve, Waucoma, IA; Helen Woodard, Hawkeye, IA; and Irene (Bob) Weigel, New Hampton, IA. One brother-in-law: Don Riha, Fort Atkinson, IA. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents: Joseph and Agnes (Bruess) Schlichte. Her husband: Tony Eichenberger in 1996. One sister: Rose Riha. One brother: Ed Schlichte.