Phyllis Fick

Earth lost, and heaven gained, a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother when Phyllis Adelyne (Pabst) Fick passed away peacefully March 15th, 2026, at Callista Court in Winona, MN. Phyllis was born August 25, 1933, the only child of Arthur and Barbara Pabst in Clayton, WI. After graduating from Clayton High School, Phyllis went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. While attending UW-River Falls, Phyllis met the love of her life Donald Leonard Fick. They eloped and wed on November 7, 1954, at the “Little Brown Church” in Nashua, Iowa. Phyllis taught in Glenwood City, WI before spending time in Grand Forks, ND, and Corvallis, OR where Don was working on his graduate work. Once Don and Phyllis settled in Winona, Phyllis frequently did long term substitute teaching in the Winona schools while also raising their children. Together Don and Phyllis raised five children: Richard (Bobbi) Fick of Turtle Lake, WI, Robert (Cathy) Fick of Portage, WI, Barbara Fick (Chad Finn) of Corvallis, OR, Becky (Tom) Navarre of Altoona, WI, and Mary Kae (Carl) Walters of Eau Claire, WI.

Phyllis will be remembered for her passion for home keeping and memory making. She was a connecting force between family and friends and was always welcoming and willing to help others. She was a constant gardener and plant doctor, knitter extraordinaire, talented seamstress, coupon clipper, garage sale enthusiast, auction adventurer, and furniture refinisher. She loved to get together with friends for coffee and to play a good game of cards or dominoes. Phyllis was a longtime member of Central Lutheran Church where she was active with numerous committees, bible studies, and Lutheran women’s organizations over the years. Don and Phyllis spent many winters in Coolidge, Arizona where they made wonderful lifetime friends exploring the desert, small towns, and historical sites. Her generosity, kindness, and loving heart will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Phyllis is survived by her four children, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, eleven grandchildren - Jesse (Tara) Fick and Janel (Ryan) Kuebker, Grant, Spencer, and Elizabeth Fick, Elliott and Ian Finn, Victoria and Trenton Navarre, Mikaela and Garrett Walters, and four great grandsons - Carson and Nolan Fick, and Ross and Riley Kuebker and well as sister-in-law Elaine Hardin and Ruth Ann Berger, brother-in-law Edward Fick (Karen), and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Donald, son Richard, son-in-law Chad, granddaughter-in-law Clara, and great grandson Theo as well as sisters-in- law and brothers-in-law Gene Hardin, Joanne (Tom) Obenberger, Joyce (Bruce) Harrison, Bernard Berger, and Charles Fick.

A funeral service will be held at Central Lutheran Church on a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorials for the Donald & Phyllis Fick Scholarship Fund at Winona State University or for Central Lutheran Church. The family would like to give thanks to the staff and residents at Callista Court, Winona Health Hospice, and the Wound Care Department at Winona Health as well as a special thank you to family friend Edwina Wolfe for all her recent extra care, love, and friendship.

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