Mildred LaVicka

Mildred LaVicka was stubborn, perfectionist, who always insisted on things being "just so". An independent woman and self-sufficient woman, Mildred worked hard throughout her life to provide her family with the things they needed to succeed.

In 1923 the world was changing. The United States was recovering from the First World War, and for the first time it became possible for some Americans to relax in front of the television set which was invented early in the year. For Joseph and Emma (Behaunck) Roth of Chicago, Illinois, however, there was no time to relax as they welcomed their first child Mildred into their family on June 14th of that same year.

Growing up in Chicago on the brink of The Great Depression, Mildred soon learned the value of hard work. While her parents worked to make ends meet, she would often help out by caring for her twin younger brothers George and Joseph Jr. From an early age, Mildred also developed a talent for sewing. What grew out of the necessity for darning socks and mending clothing soon grew into a hobby, and Mildred would continue sewing throughout her entire life until her eyesight began to fail. Although these activities kept her busy, she always made her schoolwork a priority. Though she attended school in the in the Chicago area, some of her schoolbooks were written in Bohemian! As Mildred learned in the language of her ancestors, she also mastered the English language and did well in school. During a time when many young women were abandoning their education after the eighth grade, Mildred remained dedicated to academics and finally graduated from Mortonian High School.

After graduation, Mildred met a man named Joe LaVicka. At the time, Mildred was only twenty-years old and he was quite a bit older. However, the difference in age soon faded as they began to date. The couple was very much in love and married shortly after they first met on January 4, 1945. Because the newlyweds needed to begin working, there was no time for a honeymoon. Instead, they quickly fell back into the daily routine of life. In the late 1940s the couple decided to move to the Saugatuck area, where Mildred took a job working for Chase Manufacturing in Douglas; she enjoyed her job at Chase and continued to work there until she retired in the early 60s. While living in Saugatuck, she and Joe decided to stipend their income by growing blueberries. In the early 1950s they began planting their 5+ acres of blueberries. What began as a few plants soon grew into LaVicka's Nursery in Saugatuck. The nursery became a family business, and eventually even Mildred's granddaughter would work on the farm. Jeani helped out at the nursery for eighteen years while growing up, and now maintains the family business. They enjoyed blueberry farming so much, the husband and wife team joined the blueberry association in the 1960's. It was important to Mildred that, her daughter, Carol also become active in agriculture. So Mildred became a 4H leader while Carol was growing up.

When Joe and Mildred finally decided to retire, they remained active by painting, cleaning, and taking care of the cottages along the lakeshore in the Saugatuck/Douglas area. Although her new occupation kept her quite busy during retirement, she still made time for the things that were important to her such as attending church. She was a former member of the Saint Peter's Catholic Church. During the rare times when Mildred had the opportunity to relax she enjoyed listening to music. Having been raised in the time of "Swing" music, she loved to listen to old waltzes, ballads, and the Big Band greats. She enjoyed listening to the radio and before owning a television she would devoutly follow the weekly mystery stories. It was so important for her to listen to her favorite serial that often she and Joe would fight over which radio station they would listen to that night! Mildred always fell asleep listening to WBBM out of Chicago. After finally acquiring a television, the Lone Ranger was a big hit in the LaVicka home, and she never missed the six o'clock news; this was a nightly tradition and nothing interrupted this time and program from her schedule.

A natural homemaker, Mildred loved to cook, especially from scratch. When time or circumstances forced her to make something out of a box, she would always try to doctor up the mix. Using her special touch and flavor, she would make each dish her own distinct creation. Mildred was a very talented cook and would always try to make or bake just about anything. On the rare occasions when she didn't cook, she enjoyed visiting Ponderosa. However, because of her failing eyesight it was sometimes difficult for her to recognize the items on the buffet. On one trip to the restaurant with her friend Gilly, Mildred loaded up her plate with what she thought was a heaping helping of mashed potatoes and gravy. Imagine her surprise, however, when she took a bite only to discover that what she had selected was not mashed potatoes, but instead whipped butter and gravy! She immediately spit it out and chided her friend asking, "Why didn't you tell me?" Of course, Gilly was laughing too hard to answer.

Together Mildred and Joe enjoyed a very happy marriage. While raising their daughter and caring for the blueberries during the summer months, they did not have much time to travel while they were young. An occasional trip on the old two-lane road back to Illinois to see the old homestead, was the extent of their early vacations. Mostly, however, they would rather stay at home and spend their time together. After 8pm on most evenings you could find Mildred and Joe at home in the living room drinking beer and eating smoked fish or sardines. When Joe passed away in 1985, Mildred was lonely, but never remarried. Joe knew that Mildred was a very independent person, so before he died he told her how to take care of everything so that she could remain self-sufficient. After Joe's death she found companionship in her beloved cat; she and Biter were inseparable, and together they enjoyed Mildred's final days.

After 81 years of a full and happy life, Mildred passed away on July 30, 2004. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband; Joseph J. LaVicka in 1985 and a granddaughter; Sondra Wright in 1975. Mildred's memory will survive in the hearts of her daughter; Carol Dickerson of Three Oaks, MI; 2 granddaughters- Jeani and Doug Hesse of Saugatuck and Andrea Akey of Indiana and four great-grandchildren - Amber, Kristen, Dakotae, and Brandon. A get togehter will be held at Mildred's home on Friday, August 6, 2004 from 5-8 pm. Arrangements are by the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes-Saugatuck Chapel 520 Lake Street. To read Mildred's full lifestory, share a memory, send flowers or make a memorial contribution to the Amber Hesse Scholarship fund, please visit her personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com .

Mildred's final words to her family were:

Don’t cry for me when I’m gone. I've lived a good life and have no regrets. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Remember me with smiles and laughter.If you only remember me with tears,Then don’t remember me at all.