Obituary of Jody Rickman

A memorial service for Jody Rickman, age 84, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Arnolds Park, will be held Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 11:00AM at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. JoAlyce (Jody) Rickman, was born on May 22, 1934 to Hazel and William (Bill) Christenson. She always said she was hatched on a rock by West Lake. She was raised and educated in Arnolds Park (a park rat). She graduated in May of 1952 from Arnolds Park High School (Go Wildcats!). Jody and Bobby Rickman were married on August 19, 1951 at Calvary United Methodist Church. Jody loved children and started her work career taking care of friends' children in her home. In June of 1968, Jody and Bob took over managing and cleaning The Villa and Marshall Cottages in the summers until 1991, she also cleaned the church. Jody became a cook at the Red Rooster Café, this woman who couldn't make pancakes for her children was making Mickey Mouse pancakes for other children!! From there she moved to the Koffee Kup Kafe as a cook. She gave up cooking and got her dream job taking care of babies at a couple daycares. After she retired from the daycares, she began volunteering at the Humane Society in the cattery. She also enjoyed playing Bingo, Kings in the Corner, Cribbage, knitting and making plastic canvas decorations. Jody belonged to the Sarah Circle of the United Methodist Women and ARPOKI. She was a Girl Scout leader with Ev Faulkner and a Sunday School teacher. Bob and Jody were honored as Outstanding Alumni from Arnolds Park Alumni Association in 2011. Jody passed away at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake on March 21, 2019 at the age of eighty-four. Surviving Jody are her children, Beth (Dave) Smith of Milford, Iowa, Nancy Rickman of Arnolds Park, Iowa, Sue (Rick) Cansler of Lawson, Missouri, Tim (Jaymee) Rickman of Milford, Iowa and Kris (Bob) Heitner of Arnolds Park; thirteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren; step-brother, Harlan (Nancy) Christenson and family; many nieces and nephews. To welcome her to heaven are her parents; husband, Bob; son, Bobby (Butch) Rickman, Jr.; sister, Bette (Lloyd) Hamlett; Aunt Floss, and Aunt Blanche; several of Bob's family and many of her beloved animals.