Maurice Dean Lykke

Maurice Dean Lykke was born November 4th, 1925 in Elk Horn, Iowa to Martha Hansen Lykke and Carl Lykke. Maury shared his parents with sisters Honor, and Joanne. He grew up in Elk Horn and on November 17, 1942, Maury enlisted into the United States Navy. He served on the USS Elden and received honorable discharge on January 26, 1946. Since his mother was presently living in Fargo North Dakota, Maury decided to go to Fargo to further his education. He attended and graduated from NDSU in June of 1950.

While attending college, Maury met Katherine Ann Gesme of Emmons, Minnesota. Kathrine Ann (Kay) was a nurse in Fargo and was renting an apartment from Maury’s mother. After a nine month courtship, Maury and Kay were married March 19, 1949 in the Emmons Lutheran Church in Emmons and five children were born into this union. Mark, Paul, Craig, Keith and Ruth Ann. Craig only lived three months. Maury and Kay brought him home from Mayo in a small wooden casket in the back seat of their car and buried him in St.Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Ringsted, Iowa.

Maury’s career was with the USDA as an egg inspector, which meant moving several times through the years. Irwin, Iowa (1950), Carroll, Iowa (1951), Ringsted, Iowa, (1951-1953), Fargo, North Dakota, (1953-1956), Irwin, Iowa, (1956-1957), Independence, Iowa, (1957-1958), LeMars, Iowa (1958-1959), Guthrie Center, Iowa (1959-1966), Goldfield, Iowa, (1966-1970), Eagle Grove, Iowa (1970-1971), Malvern, Iowa, (1971-1973) and Wayne, Nebraska (1973-1984). When Maury retired, in 1984, the couple moved back to Elk Horn, where his mother was currently living and later returned to Fargo (1997) to live near their daughter and her family.

Maury was an active individual in every community in which they lived. He called himself a Happy Dane! He loved making aebleskiver, baking bread and of course golfing. The rule in their home...no golfing on Sundays! Whenever something bad happened, Maury would only shake his head and say, “God only knows and He ain’t telling”. Maury’s strong Lutheran Faith carried him through many heartbreaks. When asked to name a favorite memory for himself. He replied, “Golf trips with my sons.”

Maury is survived by: son, Mark (Fae) Lykke, Spencer, Iowa, sister Joanne Potts, Elk Horn, Iowa, brother in law, Don Gesme, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, brother in law, Spencer (Mary) Honsey, Burlington, Iowa. Daughter in laws Diana Lykke, Omaha, Nebraska; Gwendy Lykke, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Grandchildren: Natane (Michael) Sadusky, Suzanne (Thom) Mendlik, Sarah Hughes, Wendy (Jeremy) Lamb, Jason Romey, Niels Lykke, Kristina Lykke, Jacob (Justine) Curtis, and Jared (Rain) Curtis. Great-Grandchildren: Sydney Sadusky, Jack Sadusky, Christian Mendlik, Garrison Mendlik, Madisyn Hughes and Peyton Curtis. Also special friend Isabelle Weaver and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

Maury was preceded in death by his parents, wife Katherine Ann (Kay), sons Craig, Paul and Keith, daughter Ruth Ann Curtis, and sister Honor Lykke Sanville.

Maury will be buried along side his wife Katherine Ann, sons Craig, Paul, Keith, daughter Ruth Ann and son in law Richard Curtis in St Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Ringsted, Iowa.

"Thanks be to God!"