The Superior Express -

Cleora Mabel Ficken, 95, daughter of Louis (Wilhelm Ludwig) and Carolina (Meyer) Kramp, was born on Nov. 21, 1925, at her family farm near Davenport. She died Sunday at the Heritage Care Center in Fairbury.

Her generous heart was always saving quarters for Mite boxes, putting quilts together for the Orphan Grain Train, working on baptism napkins and baking countless dozens of cookies for various church events. She served as a long-time member of LWML and numerous Bible study groups at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Davenport.

Cleora married Wilfred Ficken on Sept. 30, 1950, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Six children were born to this union: Martin, Roger, Larry, Paul, Lucy and Bruce. They lived on the farm north of Oak until 1980 when they built and moved into their new home north of Davenport.

Cleora and Wilfred started Ficken Quilting, a long arm quilting business, after the children had all graduated from high school. Cleora continued quilting until she moved to Courtyard Terrace Assisted Living in September of 2017. Starting off, they worked mostly on quilts for family and friends. In time, the business grew into hundreds of quilts a year (one year stitching more than 600 customerquilts) from all over the United States. Sewing was a true passion of Cleora’s and she loved sharing her talents and advice with others.

Cleora enjoyed the friendships she made with her “quilting ladies” and looked forward to their visits when dropping off or picking up their quilts. When Cleora wasn’t quilting, she could be found outside in the garden or in the canning kitchen in the basement. There was homemade bread and homemade jam at every meal and cookies in the freezer just in case someone stopped by unannounced.

Cleora was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis; sisters, Mrs. Ernst Sorge (Viola), and Mrs. George Loontjer (Laura); brother,

Oscar (Wilma) Kramp; sister-in-law, Wyona Wagner; and brother-in-law, Wilbert Ficken.

Cleora is survived by her children, Martin Ficken of Edgar; Roger Ficken of Hastings; Larry Ficken of Grand Island; Paul of Olathe, Kan.; Mrs. Don

Wegener (Lucy) of Hebron; and Bruce Ficken of Davenport; grandchildren, great-grandchildren.