Lida Sigg

LIDA M. SIGG

Iowa City

Lida Mary (Slemmons) Sigg, 94, left this earth on her next journey on Feb. 22, 2014, after several months of declining health.

Lida Slemmons was born June 16, 1919, in rural Johnson County, where she attended country schools, then University High School. She worked her way through college, graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in home economics and a minor in art education in 1943. The Slemmons family lived and worked on farms in the Scott Township area, Cou Falls, and at businesses in Iowa City. Her work ethic developed during the 1930s Depression would prevail during her whole life.

Lida married Robert Sigg in 1943. After World War II and finishing his U of I degree, they moved to Homewood, Ill., where they raised their daughter, Martha, and son, Harry. After they divorced in 1975, Lida worked first at the Lake Michigan Environmental Federation, then at Amoco (Standard Oil) food division, and finally as the personal assistant to Van Namen's Floral Products, one of the largest floral importers and distributors in the Midwest.

Knowing Lida was to encounter a true force of nature. She was a social activist with strong opinions she did not hesitate to express. The American Association of University Women (AAUW), which she joined in 1947, had always been her passion, and she held progressively more responsible positions on the branch, state and national levels. She chaired the AAUW National Convention in Chicago in 1969, was president, Illinois State Division 1971-1973; chaired the State President's Conference in Washington, D.C., in 1973; and made the Educational Foundation her special priority, providing educational opportunities to women and girls.

She loved to garden and her homes reflected her keen designer eye and flawless taste. She traveled extensively, often on Elderhostel trips and broadened her world experiences.

She dearly loved her cats and had many find her over the years. Lida was an avid golfer and rooted for the Iowa women's basketball teams.

Retiring and returning to Iowa City in 2002, Lida kept active in the local AAUW chapters, book clubs, docent at Plum Grove, Pres-byterian Church circle, and guiding her daughter and son-in-law in building their home and acreage in rural Solon.

Lida was a walking textbook, who constantly amazed us with her personal knowledge of people and local history from Johnson County and beyond. And she always wore a hat.

Lida is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Joe Rasmussen of Solon; son, Harry Sigg and wife Paula of Thornton, Colo.; and a special granddaughter, Mary Sigg of Chicago. Lida was the matriarch of the extended Slemmons family and provided the connection for many nieces and nephews to their history.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and two sisters.

A casual memorial open house to share thoughts and remembrances with the family and friends will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Iowa City Unitarian Universalist Church, 10 S. Gilbert St. Inurnment at the Slemmons family plot at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City will follow at a later date.

In honor of a long life well lived, donations in Lida Sigg's name for scholarship funds may be sent to: Lida Mary Slemmons Sigg, No. 4164 Fund - Educational Endowment, AAUW Development Office, PO Box 98045, Washington, D.C. 20090-8045.

Condolences and Lida stories to be included in a memorial book may be sent to martharasmussen@yahoo.com.