Obituary for Lucille Varner
Lucille Varner (née Grace Lucille Wade) passed away February 10, 2020, surrounded by family in her Colorado Springs home. She was 104.
She and her twin sister Lorraine (née Etha Lorraine Wade) were born February 9, 1916, to parents Etha (Nelson) and Earl Wade in their Arion, Iowa, home. They weighed three and half pounds each, and their mother kept them warm behind the wood stove. Their older sister, Bernadine, passed away later that year. Younger brother George “Buss” Donovan Wade was born in October 1917. Following Earl’s death, Lucille, Lorraine and Buss moved to Nebraska to live with their aunt, Alta, and her husband, George, on their farm.
Lucille married Howard Varner December 8, 1940. In 1948, they moved with their two young children, Jim and Diane, to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1957, Silver State Cadillac recruited Howard to work as its service manager, with a 50 percent raise (prompted by Lucille’s insistence that he negotiate up from 25 percent), and the family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. They remained in Colorado from that time forward. Lucille worked as an editor with Shepard’s Citations for several years and had worked at Lerners department store prior to that. Together, Lucille and Howard also ran a service station in Lakewood. Lucille and Howard were married for 60 years.
Her family and friends knew Lucille as a strong woman who always spoke her mind, and she had a wry sense of humor that kept everyone on their toes. As an animal lover, she raised many dogs throughout the years and kept canaries and finches. She also bred poodles and produced many AKC-certified litters. Throughout the years, she created scores of beautiful crochet blankets and crafts. She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church for many years.
She is survived by her son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Joan; her daughter, Diane; her grandchildren, Mike Thompson, Janet Pickles, Linda Ericson, Tamara Thompson and Amy Atwell; her great grandchildren Rachael Field, Kayla Thompson, Ashley Faleao, Wesley Pickles, Cody Thompson, Jonathan Pickles, Lucas Ericson, William Ericson and Reed Atwell; step great grandchildren Noah Atwell and Abi Atwell; and her great great grandchildren Noah Seiberlich and Remington Faleao. She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard; her sisters, Bernadine and Lorraine; and her brothers, Wesley and Buss.
Donations can be made in Lucille’s honor to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
She and her twin sister Lorraine (née Etha Lorraine Wade) were born February 9, 1916, to parents Etha (Nelson) and Earl Wade in their Arion, Iowa, home. They weighed three and half pounds each, and their mother kept them warm behind the wood stove. Their older sister, Bernadine, passed away later that year. Younger brother George “Buss” Donovan Wade was born in October 1917. Following Earl’s death, Lucille, Lorraine and Buss moved to Nebraska to live with their aunt, Alta, and her husband, George, on their farm.
Lucille married Howard Varner December 8, 1940. In 1948, they moved with their two young children, Jim and Diane, to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1957, Silver State Cadillac recruited Howard to work as its service manager, with a 50 percent raise (prompted by Lucille’s insistence that he negotiate up from 25 percent), and the family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. They remained in Colorado from that time forward. Lucille worked as an editor with Shepard’s Citations for several years and had worked at Lerners department store prior to that. Together, Lucille and Howard also ran a service station in Lakewood. Lucille and Howard were married for 60 years.
Her family and friends knew Lucille as a strong woman who always spoke her mind, and she had a wry sense of humor that kept everyone on their toes. As an animal lover, she raised many dogs throughout the years and kept canaries and finches. She also bred poodles and produced many AKC-certified litters. Throughout the years, she created scores of beautiful crochet blankets and crafts. She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church for many years.
She is survived by her son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Joan; her daughter, Diane; her grandchildren, Mike Thompson, Janet Pickles, Linda Ericson, Tamara Thompson and Amy Atwell; her great grandchildren Rachael Field, Kayla Thompson, Ashley Faleao, Wesley Pickles, Cody Thompson, Jonathan Pickles, Lucas Ericson, William Ericson and Reed Atwell; step great grandchildren Noah Atwell and Abi Atwell; and her great great grandchildren Noah Seiberlich and Remington Faleao. She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard; her sisters, Bernadine and Lorraine; and her brothers, Wesley and Buss.
Donations can be made in Lucille’s honor to Holy Cross Lutheran Church.