Claudia Horick

CLAUDIA JAN HORICK

Iowa City

Claudia Jan Horick, 81, of Iowa City, placed her hand in God's hand Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids surrounded by her family after a long courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of the Christian Faith and the life of Claudia will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at Zion Lutheran Church, Iowa City. The Rev. Dr. Mark Pries will officiate. Visitation will be Friday, March 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.

Claudia was born Feb. 2, 1936, at home, due to a record-breaking winter. Home at that time was near Jolley, Iowa. Two days following her birth, she turned blue and the decision was made to hurriedly baptize her because they didn't think she would thrive. But thrive she did; it seems God had other plans for her. Claudia was a survivor from the get-go! In 1950, the Ringgenbergs moved to their permanent home place, later described by Paul Horick, the geologist, as "an idyllic farm located some 34 miles west of Fort Dodge along old U.S. Highway 20 on the level prairie of the glacial Des Moines Lobe." Claudia excelled academically and enjoyed playing basketball and percussion in the band and singing in the chorus and many other student organizations, graduating from Lytton High School in 1953 in Lytton, Iowa. Claudia attended UNI (formerly Iowa State Teachers College) as a freshman in 1953-1954 and transferred to Wartburg College in Waverly, where she obtained a two-year teaching certificate in May 1955. After procuring her first teaching job in Rockwell City, she pursued her education studies by attending summer school sessions at the University of Iowa, obtaining a B.A. in education in August 1959. She took additional graduate course work to be certified in special education and also obtained a reading endorsement.

Claudia married the love of her life, Paul J. Horick Jr., on Aug. 16, 1958. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage. An active church member of Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City since 1956, she taught Sunday School and participated in the Women's Circle Bible Study group.

Claudia taught elementary school in the Rockwell City, Solon and Mid Prairie school districts. The latter part of her teaching career was spent teaching remedial reading and working with special needs students. Claudia loved teaching and her students and was a tireless champion for the underdog. Additionally, she was a proud member of the NEA (National Education Association), ISEA and her local education association. Claudia served as the lead negotiator for the teachers many years.

She was generous with her loved ones, and she loved people from all walks of life. She had a great memory for names, places and relations. Once she met you, she remembered you, where you were from, where you've been and your lineage. After church, she and Paul would invite visitors to their home for a meal to get to know them better and build relationships. Her self-deprecating humor was endearing and she would talk about any subject, including faith, and even politics. She enjoyed cheering on the University of Iowa football and women's basketball teams. In addition, Paul and Claudia were faithful supporters for years of their own two children and later four grandchildren, as they attended all their music performances and many, many athletic events, as well as other activities. Across several decades, they logged hours in auditoriums and outdoors on bleachers in all kinds of weather.

Claudia and Paul traveled to Europe three times to check out their roots in Switzerland, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Scotland. When their family was young, they toured the country by tent camping in national parks for vacations.

Music was a huge part of Claudia's life. At a very young age, she had been given the choice to either practice the piano or assist in the chores on their family farm. Note: Claudia hence became a very accomplished pianist, with a fondness for classical and sacred music. She especially loved the "three Mr. B's" as she jokingly called the composers Bach, Brahms and Beethoven. Claudia enjoyed attending music recitals at the University of Iowa Clapp Recital Hall and cultural events at Hancher Auditorium. She also taught private piano lessons for over three decades and served as the organist for several years at St. Paul Lutheran Chapel. Additionally, she volunteered at the Shelter House in Iowa City and was an active member of the Johnson County Republicans.

Throughout her life, Claudia was unendingly dedicated to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

Claudia is survived by her daughter, Joan (Horick) Rasmussen, and son-in-law, Jon Rasmussen, of Mount Vernon; her son, Jonathan P. Horick, and granddaughter, Jessica Horick, of St. Louis Park, Minn.; grandson, Luke, and wife, Lesley Rasmussen, and great-grandson, Gabriel, of Minnetrista, Minn.; grandson, Grant, and wife, Whitney Rasmussen, and great-grandsons, Anders and Nels, of Cedar Rapids; granddaughter, Elizabeth (Rasmussen) Grandon, and husband, Jon; and great- grandson, Wyatt, of Fargo, N.D.; sister-in-law, Margaret Eileen (Horick) Savage of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; brother, Don Ringgenberg, and wife, Lana, of Pella; and their four daughters (Claudia's nieces), Kari Pingel, Heidi Kleve, Randi Hill and Rachel Ringgenberg and their families, living in Pella and Prole, Iowa, Wichita, Kan., and Southern Pines, N.C.

Claudia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul; parents, Russell Jay Ringgenberg and Bertha (Kreft) Ringgenberg; and infant brother, Merlin D. Ringgenberg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Claudia have been established and may be sent to Eastern Iowa Lutheran Bible Camp (EWALU) in Strawberry Point; University of Iowa Foundation: Oncology Department; or Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City.

The family is deeply grateful to Dr. Jamie Wallace Smith of UnityPoint, Dr. John Callaghan, Dr. Frank Scamman, Dr. Ronald Weigel, Dr. Wei F. Chen, Dr. Susan Duffy, Dr. Herbert Berger, Dr. Alexandra Thomas and Dr. Praveen Vikas from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the staff at The Meth-Wick Community for their loving care of Claudia.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.