Veronica Shekleton Riniker January 01, 1930 – January 06, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| View Guest Book Entries| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Veronica Ann (Lansing) Shekleton Riniker, age 89, of Independence, Iowa, formerly of Calmar, Iowa, died on January 6, 2019, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on January 11, 2019 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, IA 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. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers that memorials could be made to St. Croix Hospice or the Dementia Society of America.
Veronica Ann (Lansing) Shekleton Riniker was born January 1, 1930, to Fred and Monica (Stortz) Lansing on the farm, North of Ossian, Iowa. Veronica attended and graduated from St. Francis de Sales Catholic School in May, 1947. Veronica married James J. “Jim” Shekleton on June 23, 1947 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Ossian, Iowa.
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 thirty years.
She held these positions 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 80’s Veronica made a career change and provided in-home day care services to many families in the Calmar area. The children that were part of her day care held a very special place in her heart.
In the Fall of 1993, Veronica decided it was time to retire, saying goodbye to the many children and parents that touched her life and became an extended part of her family. On January 1, 1994, Veronica married Paul Riniker at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, Iowa and moved to Cresco, Iowa 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, Veronica moved to Independence, Iowa 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 including: James F. “Jim” Shekleton, Dunkerton, IA; Judi O’Connor, Independence, IA; Frank Shekleton (Deb Champion, special friend), Unionville, MO; Ann Fairchild, Fertile, IA; Vincent Shekleton (Dorothy Fowler, special friend) Fairbank, IA and Donna (Dan) Larsen, Hayfield, MN.
She is survived by 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters: Victoria Lansing, Phoenix, AZ; Margaret Lansing (John Zachar), Milwaukee, WI; and three sister-in-laws, Joan Lansing, Ossian, IA, Anita Lansing, Decorah, IA; and Caroline Lansing, Billings, MT. Veronica was preceded in death by her former husbands: James J. “Jim” Shekleton and Paul Riniker, her children and in-laws: Kenneth & Donna (Ruen) Shekleton, Cynthia & Robert Van Vors; Mary (Manning) Shekleton, daughter-in-law, and James Fairchild, son-in-law; 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, Joseph “Joe” Cody, and sister-in-law, Rita Lansing.
The family would like to give a heart-felt thank all of the staff at Prairie Hills Assisted Living facility in Independence, Iowa and St. Croix Hospice.
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