Obituary for Florence Eliza Dickey (Gafner)
Florence “Liz” E. Dickey, age 95, went home to our Loving Savior on July 27, 2023. She was born on October 29, 1927, to Fred and Marie (Minnig) Gafner in Wisconsin.
On December 2, 1945, she married the love of her life, Gilbert Dickey, in Yuma, Arizona.
She was a long-time member of First English Lutheran Church, assisted with the Salvation Army Auxiliary and volunteered with numerous organizations in the community. Florence was also very interested in genealogy and researching her lineage. She was able to travel abroad to Switzerland with all her siblings and returned several times afterwards with additional family members. She was a foster mother and worked in the cafeteria at SNC transformers for 28 years as a lunch lady. She kept in touch with many friends and enjoyed meeting up with groups for mornings at Hardees. She will be remembered for her warm heart, open kitchen, and generosity.
Survivors include her four daughters, Kathy (partner Joel T.) Dickey, Debra Sprout, Diane Miller and Jean Kleveno; sister, Ruth Denow; grandchildren, Jessy Hollis, Trisha Hollis, Ryan (Charlie) Pitzen, Justin Pitzen, Natalie Lyons, Carrie (Jordan) Priest, Andrea (Nathan) Mianecki, Eric (Noelle) Schlichting, Cammie Proctor, Kelly Kleveno and Christopher Kleveno; 22 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She is proceeded in death by her husband, Gilbert Dickey; sons-in-law, Alex Kleveno, Harry Miller and Craig Sprout; 4 brothers, Walter Gafner, Jake Gafner, Fred Gafner and Arnold Gafner; 2 sisters, Marie Kemmel and Emma Lord-Burr.
Florence will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother to many.
Pallbearers include Ryan Pitzen, Justin Pitzen, Eric Schlichting, Matthew Proctor, Clint Hoffman and Don Lord.
Visitation will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 1013 Minnesota St, Oshkosh, Wisonsin, on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023, from 9:00am to 11:00am, with service to follow. The burial will take place the same day at 2:00pm at Lake View Memorial Park Cemetery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.
Florence lived with her daughter Debra for a year and a half with excellent care before moving to Elijah’s Place Assisted Living. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at Elijah’s Place for their compassion and care they have provided.
On December 2, 1945, she married the love of her life, Gilbert Dickey, in Yuma, Arizona.
She was a long-time member of First English Lutheran Church, assisted with the Salvation Army Auxiliary and volunteered with numerous organizations in the community. Florence was also very interested in genealogy and researching her lineage. She was able to travel abroad to Switzerland with all her siblings and returned several times afterwards with additional family members. She was a foster mother and worked in the cafeteria at SNC transformers for 28 years as a lunch lady. She kept in touch with many friends and enjoyed meeting up with groups for mornings at Hardees. She will be remembered for her warm heart, open kitchen, and generosity.
Survivors include her four daughters, Kathy (partner Joel T.) Dickey, Debra Sprout, Diane Miller and Jean Kleveno; sister, Ruth Denow; grandchildren, Jessy Hollis, Trisha Hollis, Ryan (Charlie) Pitzen, Justin Pitzen, Natalie Lyons, Carrie (Jordan) Priest, Andrea (Nathan) Mianecki, Eric (Noelle) Schlichting, Cammie Proctor, Kelly Kleveno and Christopher Kleveno; 22 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She is proceeded in death by her husband, Gilbert Dickey; sons-in-law, Alex Kleveno, Harry Miller and Craig Sprout; 4 brothers, Walter Gafner, Jake Gafner, Fred Gafner and Arnold Gafner; 2 sisters, Marie Kemmel and Emma Lord-Burr.
Florence will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother to many.
Pallbearers include Ryan Pitzen, Justin Pitzen, Eric Schlichting, Matthew Proctor, Clint Hoffman and Don Lord.
Visitation will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 1013 Minnesota St, Oshkosh, Wisonsin, on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023, from 9:00am to 11:00am, with service to follow. The burial will take place the same day at 2:00pm at Lake View Memorial Park Cemetery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.
Florence lived with her daughter Debra for a year and a half with excellent care before moving to Elijah’s Place Assisted Living. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at Elijah’s Place for their compassion and care they have provided.