Linda Vick

Linda Rae Vick passed away February 8, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 72 years. She was born July 19, 1951, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was the first child of Anna Mae and Eugene Lee until the arrival of Marilyn in 1956. Her big-sister status grew in the family as Donnie and Lois arrived and filled the three-bedroom home.

Linda attended Bancroft Elementary, Whittier Junior High and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969. Linda greatly enjoyed music, taking both accordion and piano lessons, and was the family accompanist when singing carols on Christmas Eve. As a teen, she enjoyed listening to top 40 rock and roll hits on KISD AM radio and attended dances at school and the downtown River Parking Ramp. Linda brought the world of rock and roll dancing into her living room on Saturday mornings as she and her family tried the dance moves on American Bandstand. She continued pursuing her passion for choral music at Lincoln High School and performed in the musical "Oklahoma" during her sophomore year.

Fashion was a fun part of family life. Linda and her sisters often had dresses or pajamas that matched or were made from matching fabrics. Linda and her sisters would wear dresses she had sewn for the fashion show during the East Side Lutheran Mother/Daughter Banquet.

Family vacations and events were also a big part of life when growing up. Get-togethers with cousins for picnics, birthdays, overnighters and holidays created a lot of good memories. A recent trip to Disney World with cousins was a very special retirement adventure for Linda.

At an early age, Linda developed a strong work ethic as the designated babysitter for her three young siblings. She was an expert at popping a huge bowl of popcorn and gathering all in front of the black and white TV for Lawrence Welk or Shindig on Saturday nights when her parents had date nights. Linda would guide her siblings through other early life adventures such as bus trips to downtown. When she turned 16, she became a family chauffeur and took her sisters and brother to practices and church events. Linda took on new work adventures at the neighborhood Dairy Queen and spent the summer of 1968 as a ranch hand at Outlaw Ranch Lutheran Bible Camp in the Black Hills.

In 1969, Linda moved to the dorms of Augustana College (Augie). She was elected the Freshman Beanie Queen in the fall, evidence of her skills in making new friends. Linda loved college life. She shared some of this on Augie's Little Sister weekend, adding Western Mall carnival rides to the experience and testing the physical limits of the Lee girls. While her major was in education, Linda worked at a bank through college and discovered her talent in the world of banking and insurance.

During her freshman year, Linda met Curtis Vick, a dignified leader of WEBS (Wednesday Evening Bible Society). He soon became her best friend and love of her life, and they shared a beautiful life together. Linda and Curtis were married June 3, 1972, at Eastside Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and they were blessed with two daughters, Katie and Kristin.

Becoming a mom and eventually Gammie to her four grandchildren was Linda's greatest pride and joy. She adored her daughters and would always boast in their accomplishments, and she made sure they always knew just how much she loved them and was their biggest cheerleader. Her love of fashion carried on as she made her daughters homemade costumes, and she always left her closet open for her girls to play dress up in anything she had made over the years.

Linda especially loved being Gammie to her grandchildren and treasured every memory and homemade keepsake. She enjoyed a variety of activities with her grandchildren, whether taking trips to the zoo, playing board games, watching Barbie movies and getting nails done with her granddaughters, or talking Chiefs and Iowa State sports with her grandsons.

Over the years, family life took Linda and Curt to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa before they settled in Omaha, Nebraska in 2002. With every move, Linda enjoyed making new friends, hosting parties and having get togethers with neighbors, and it gave her joy to watch her girls play with kids in the neighborhood. Linda always loved having everyone gathered around her dinner table, cooking big meals and hosting family for holidays. She created new traditions that continue to be carried on, a favorite being making Christmas Eve lasagna for dinner.

After the first few years of raising her daughters full time, Linda transitioned back into the workforce. She worked in the insurance industry where she guided companies to select health insurance benefits and showed their employees how to use the benefits for themselves and their families. Linda loved the opportunity to help people navigate this part of their lives before her retirement.

Linda faced many challenges in life, and despite the obstacles she had a positive attitude, sense of humor, fierce drive, and determination to find joy that inspired all who were blessed to know and love her. Many of these qualities continue to live on in her children and grandchildren.

Linda is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Vick; parents Eugene and Anna Mae Lee; and son-in-law David Schaaf.

She is survived by her daughters Katie (Brad) Smith and Kristin (David †) Schaaf; grandchildren Ethan Smith, Brennan Smith, Hannah Schaaf, and Hailey Schaaf; brother Don (Becky) Lee; sisters Marilyn (Ben) Chambers and Lois (Joel) Running; and nieces, nephews, and other family.

Services for Linda will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, with a 10 a.m. Visitation and 11 a.m. Funeral. Any memorial contributions may be made in Linda's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the American Cancer Society.