Lucille Helen Hinrichs, daughter of Henry and Emma (Roseke) Hinrichs, was born on November 4, 1922 on the family farm south of Lytton. She was welcomed into the family by her four brothers, Fred, Walter, Edwin and Russell and baptized by Rev. Dahlke at Emanuel Lutheran Church south of Lytton. Lucille attended country school in Coon Valley Township through the eighth grade. On April 5, 1936 she was confirmed in the Christian faith at Emanuel St. John Lutheran Church by the Rev H.C. Gold. In May, 1939 Lucille graduated from Lytton High School.
After graduation she continued to help her parents on the farm until February 2, 1945, when she was united in marriage to Earl Henry Helmbrecht, son of John and Eliza (Albinger) Helmbrecht. They made their home north of Lytton on the family farm for over 51 years together. They were blessed with one son and three daughters. In addition to being a wonderful mother, raising her children in a Christian home and making the Lord a center of their lives, Lucille was a very active partner in many areas of their family farm business including combining corn and beans and helping with other outside farming activities. After her husband, Earl, passed away in July 1996, she continued to live on the farm until 2011, when she moved into Park Place Assisted Living in Sac City.
Lucille enjoyed gardening, cooking, sewing, reading, music, dancing, playing cards, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Lucille and Earl enjoyed traveling with the Brokering Families and friends to the Holy Lands, Sweden, Denmark, Helmbrechts Germany, Alaska and other various places in the U.S. She was very active in her church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent & teaching Sunday School classes for over 40 years, and was a lifetime active member of the Ruth Circle. She was active in her children’s school, music, sports and 4-H activities, and spent many hours traveling to all of the events. She was an active member of the Lytton Museum.
Lucille is survived by her daughter-in-law Mary Helmbrecht; her three daughters Jean (Darold) Matter of Lytton, Kay (Dave) Zepeski, Dubuque, Carol (Ron) Woods, Fairbank; grandchildren Angie (Scot) Slickers, Cedar Falls, Holly (Eric) Snider, Louisville, KY, Doug (Anne) Zepeski, Iowa City, Scott and Laura Zepeski, Dubuque, Amy Woods, Iowa City, Christian and Collin Woods, Fairbank; great-grandchildren Jacob, Noa and Jenna Snider, Olivia and Gabe Slickers; step-great-grandchildren Danielle McCulley and Allie Johannsen; step-great-great-grandchild Blaikley Schatz. Other survivors include brother-in-law Rev. Harold Brokering, sister-in-law Lorene Hinrichs; nieces and nephews Leland (Pam) Hinrichs, Everett (Joanne) Hinrichs, Donna (Gene) Michel, Colleen (Laverne) Arndt, Dennis Hinrichs, Janet Dunlap, Paul (Sarah) Brokering, Karen Anderson, Ruth Brunner, and Cheryl (Dan) Placzek.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl July ‘96, son Robert December 23, 2001, grandson Christopher Woods, great-grandson Nicholas Snider; infant sister Rose and brothers Fred (Marie) Hinrichs, Walter Hinrichs, Russell Hinrichs, Edwin (Leona) Hinrichs and sister-in-law Dorothy (Helmbrecht) Brokering.