OSKALOOSA — LaVaughn Wickenkamp, 92, of Oskaloosa, was surrounded by her family as she passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa.

LaVaughn was the first of 10 children born to Floyd and Hazel Hoit Wolver, May 13, 1920, near Truax in Mahaska County. In 1934, after finishing eighth grade in country school, LaVaughn became an in-home employee for neighboring families. While doing this, she met George Wayne Wickenkamp and they were united in marriage, Sept. 9, 1939, in Oskaloosa. They made their first home in Keokuk County. They lived in Mahaska and Keokuk counties throughout their 68 years of marriage. They moved to Beacon in 1954, where they lived for 53 years. George passed away Jan. 23, 2008. After George’s death, LaVaughn moved to Maple Ridge Assisted Living until her health declined when she moved to Crystal Heights Care Center.

While living in the Sigourney area, LaVaughn was employed as a waitress and also as a cook at Keokuk County Hospital. Later, after moving to Beacon, she was employed at Sears in Oskaloosa and later still did cleaning in many area homes. During most of the years when her children were young, LaVaughn was a wife, homemaker and mother to their four children. She was a hard worker, excellent and thrifty cook and seamstress, and always had a large vegetable garden. She took pride in canning and freezing produce for her family. Throughout the years, LaVaughn attended United Methodist Churches in areas where they lived.

Those left to mourn her passing are her children and their spouses: Opal and Jerry Westercamp, of Bloomfield, Joan and Ron Waits, of Pella, Janice and Jim Hansen, of Montezuma, and Mesa, Ariz., and Wayne and Tami (Ferree) Wickenkamp, of Oskaloosa; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister- and brother-in-law: Lila and Roland Singley, of Moulton; a brother and sister-in-law: Estel and Reta Wolver, of Moravia; two sisters-in-law: Annett Wolver, of Eddyville, and Dorothy Wolver, of Taintor; a brother-in-law: Duane Oswalt, of Newton; and 25 nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her husband’s sister, Lucille DeMoney, of Oskaloosa.

In addition to her parents and her husband, LaVaughn was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Cindy Johnson in 1997; four brothers and a sister-in-law: Ernest and Alfreda Wolver, Marvin Wolver, Melvin Wolver, Edwin Wolver; three sisters and two brothers-in-law: Lucille and Everett Curl, Lois and Merle Houser and Lorna Oswalt, and two nephews: Mike and Lonnie Wolver.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jason Gutzmer of the Beacon United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Beacon Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet visitors. Memorials may be made to the Beacon United Methodist Church.