Obituary of Iona "Babe" Irene Rickert

It is with loving hearts and cherished memories that we share the death of our beloved Aunt Babe (Iona Brenneman) on August 14, 2025 at University Gates Retirement Home.  Aunt Babe enjoyed a full and rich life filled with love and joy and is now resting in peace.

Loving wife of the late Ross (Carl Roswell Rickert) who predeceased her in 2020. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in July 2019.

Cherished Aunt of her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Left to cherish her memory and hold her in their hearts are her godchildren: Christine Henhoeffer, Linda Boshart, the late Linda Pfaff (2019), Steven Bingeman, Lisa Paranyi, and Bradley Bierman. Remembered by her Brenneman and Boshart cousins, church family (life long member of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Conestoga) and her former supportive neighbours, Gary and Mary Rellinger.

Aunt Babe was born 95 years ago in Baden, a daughter of the late Ezra and Lily (Boshart) Brenneman. She was the last surviving member of her family. Predeceased by her siblings and in-laws: Earl and Agnes Brenneman, Pearl and Curtis Roth, Lavern and Delores Brenneman, Fern & Delton Zehr and her twin sister Leona (2006) and Lawrence Bingeman.

Also predeceased by all of Ross’s family: father and mother in-law Addison Rickert and Era Edith Cressman; brother and sister in-laws, Clare and Eilleen Rickert, Beatrice and Donald Jacob, Doris and Elmer Jacob and Borge Nielson, and Walter and Doris Rickert. 

Babe worked for many years for John Forsyth Shirt Factory and was an avid solo and cribbage player. She enjoyed sewing and gardening in her retirement prior to the onset of dementia. A resident of The Village of University Gates since August 2020, Christine wishes to thank Pastor Joanna, Dr. Kalra, Trish, Sandy and the staff of Egerton for their kind and compassionate care.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, on Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral service will be held at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 131 Flaxmill Dr., Conestogo, on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 10am with Pastor Joanna Miller presiding. Burial in the church cemetery followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall.

In memory of Aunt Babe, donations to St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region or The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging would be appreciated and can be arranged through the funeral home: www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.