Linda Lichtblau Obituary

Linda Lichtblau, 65, of Lake City passed away Sunday, Feb. 19,
2017 at home, surrounded by family.  
    She was born on Aug. 6, 1951 to Evelyn (Geronime) and Llewelyn Ecklund in Red Wing at St. John's Hospital. Linda graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969. Creative in many art forms, Linda hand stitched her graduation dress as well as her wedding gown.  On Sept. 15, 1972, she married Curtis Lichtblau at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake City. Linda had been accepted on full scholarship to the Minnesota College of Art and Design, but decided starting a family was more important to her at the time.  After they were married they lived in Lake City and she worked at the Red Wing Shoe Company from 1969 to 1984. Linda spent her free time using her artistic talent to paint, sketch and create gifts and sale items for friends, family and members of the community.
    In 1984 the family moved to Locke Mills, Maine where she stayed home with their three children, including newest addition Meggan.  Curtis’ work had them returning to Lake City in 1988 where Linda gained employment at Kwik Trip. She remained employed there for 21 years, retiring in 2014 and making many friends of co-workers and customers alike along the way. Linda liked to stay busy, so also during those years employed she remained active in the arts. She spent her leisure time teaching painting, sketching and card making classes for community education locally, being an active member of Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists (SEMVA) and having her works displayed and shown at their Rochester Gallery, doing many, many commissioned works acrylic paintings on different mediums for the community, selling her goods direct at art shows as well as teaching, and instilling, a love of art in her children, grandchildren, and anyone else that was interested.
    After her retirement in 2014 Linda enjoyed filling those years surrounded by friends and family that she loved, soaking up as much grandchildren time as she could, as well as special time with Curtis as well. Linda also created a masterpiece garden, including a picking garden for the children, and a koi pond, where the entire family spent many relaxing hours with Linda, celebrating, playing and just being together.
    Linda is survived by her husband, Curtis Lichtblau; two daughters, Kandace (Justin)  Lichtblau-Schierts of Lake City and Meggan (Rick) Evans of Lake City; one son, Damon (Carrie) Lichtblau of Lake City; nine grandchildren, Naomi and Colette Lichtblau-Tepley, Elias, Caleb and Abigail Lichtblau, Gwen Evans, Aerith and John Schierts and Sean Schierts; three sisters, Debra (Donald) Stokes of Red Wing, Vic (John) Breidel of Oakhurst, Fla. and Valarie (Charlie) Lichtblau of Oakhurst, Fla.; two brothers, Jeff (Donna) Ecklund of Lake City and Jay Ecklund of Lake City; mother, Evelyn Ecklund; and mother-in-law, Millie Lichtblau. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Beatrix Lichtblau; brother, Gregory Ecklund; father, Llewelyn Ecklund; and father-in-law, Herman Lichtblau.
    A memorial service will be Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Lake City with Rev. Phillip Schmidt officiating. Burial will be at Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be
Friday, Feb. 24, from 5 p.m. to 8  p.m. at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel in Lake City and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
    Online condolences can be sent to www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.