Veronica Riniker, 89

Jan. 1, 1930 —

Jan. 6, 2019

 

Independence - Veronica Ann (Lansing) Shekleton Riniker, age 89, of Independence, Iowa, formerly of Calmar and Cresco, both Iowa, died on Jan. 6, 2019, surrounded by her family. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2019 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, with Fr. Robert Gross as the celebrant. Visitation will be one-and-one-half hours prior to the Mass at the church. Interment will be at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church Cemetery immediately following services. 

Veronica Ann (Lansing) Shekleton Riniker was born on Jan. 1, 1930, to Fred and Monica (Stortz) Lansing on the family farm, north of Ossian, Iowa. She attended and graduated from St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in Ossian, Iowa in May 1947. 

She married James J. “Jim” Shekleton on June 23, 1947 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. They had eight children together. They later divorced in 1976 but stayed very close until Jim’s death in 1982. 

Veronica held various positions in the restaurant industry, including cook, waitress and bartender for approximately 30 years at the Curve Inn, Home Café and the Red Vest in Calmar; the Cliff House in Decorah; and the White House in St. Lucas, Iowa. In the mid 1980s, she made a career change and provided in-home daycare services to many families in the Calmar area. The children who were part of her daycare held a very special place in her heart. In fall 1993, Veronica decided it was time to retire, saying goodbye to the many children and parents who touched her life and became an extended part of her family. 

On Jan. 1, 1994, Veronica married Paul Riniker at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar and moved to Cresco, to begin a new chapter in her life. She enjoyed 15 years on the farm with Paul, reliving many of the fond memories she had of being on the farm as a child in Ossian. After Paul’s death in 2008, she moved to Independence, to be closer to some of her children in the area. She lived in a senior complex and then moved to Prairie Hills Assisted Living facility, where she lived out the remainder of her days. 

Veronica enjoyed many hobbies during her lifetime including sketching and oil painting, sewing, quilting, gardening, gambling and playing cards. She was a tremendous cook, baker and canner and provided very well for her family. She and all of her talents will be greatly missed by many.

Veronica is survived by six of her children, James F. “Jim” Shekleton of Dunkerton, Iowa, Judi O’Connor of Independence,  Frank Shekleton (Deb Champion, special friend) of Unionville, Mo., Ann Fairchild of Fertile, Iowa, Vincent Shekleton (Dorothy Fowler, special friend)  of Fairbank, Iowa and Donna (Dan) Larsen of Hayfield, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Victoria Lansing of Phoenix, Ariz. and Margaret Lansing (John Zachar) of Milwaukee, Wis.; and three sisters-in-law, Joan Lansing of Ossian, Anita Lansing of Decorah, Iowa and Caroline Lansing of Billings, Mont.

Veronica was preceded in death by her former husbands, James J. “Jim” Shekleton and Paul Riniker; her children and in-laws, Kenneth and Donna (Ruen) Shekleton, Cynthia and Robert Van Vors; daughter-in-law, Mary (Manning) Shekleton; son-in-law, James Fairchild; parents; brothers, Carol Lansing, Charles Lansing, Robert Lansing, Fred Lansing, Jr. and Donald Lansing; sisters, Madonna Collins, Eleanor Lansing and Angela Lansing; brothers-in-law, Charles “Bob” Collins and Joseph “Joe” Cody; and sister-in-law, Rita Lansing. 

The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to St. Croix Hospice or the Dementia Society of America. Arrangements are being provided by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.