Obituary: Randy Lichty

Randall "Randy" G. Lichty, 71, of Waterloo, Iowa passed into eternal life on  December 11, 2025 on the century farm where he was born, raised and lived his life. Surrounding him in prayer and  song was his wife, Pat of 50 years and their large family of children and grandchildren. He was a loving and devoted  husband and father, and a fifth-generation farmer, who dedicated his life to farming, a vocation he pursued with  pride, love and a deep respect for the land. Farming was not only his livelihood but his calling, one he honored every  day through hard work, stewardship and faith. 

Randy was born on December 8, 1954 in Waterloo, to Quinter and Alice (Schroeder) Lichty. He graduated from Central High School in 1973, then attended the Farm Operations Program at Iowa State University. On 

November 22, 1975, Randy married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Jo Schmitz at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. 

Together they raised six children, all sons. Their oldest son, Matthew, returned to the Lord on December 4, 1997, at the age of 20. Their other children include Tiffany Lichty-Gaffey (Greg) of Ames; Chris of Cedar Falls; Joe of Waterloo; Clark of Chicago; Luke (Brooke) of Waukee; and John (Kayla) of Waterloo. They have been blessed  with 14 grandchildren: Caleb of Davenport, Connor, Cohen; Reiley (Sebastian Vargas) of Columbia, South Carolina,  Makenna (Seth Dukeshier) of Fairbank, Emerson; Jameson, Remi; Charlotte, Conrad; Harper, Hayden, Henley and  Huxley; as well as one great grandson, Arlo Vargas. 

Randy joined the Catholic Church as an adult and embraced it wholeheartedly. He was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waterloo, where he was involved in nearly every aspect of parish life, including the parish board, school board, parish committees, communion minister, fall festivals and countless other activities. He  was a devoted supporter of Catholic education, generously giving his time and talents to the schools his children  attended. 

For 25 years, Randy served as a 4-H leader, another one of his passions. In recognition of their dedication, Randy and Pat were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2016. He was a longtime leader in the cattle industry, serving for decades as President of the county Cattleman Association, and he spent many years on the local Hudson Co-op Board of Directors. 

Randy believed in a strong work ethic and was a natural teacher to his children, grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who helped on the farm. He taught countless young people how to make hay. He was a simple  man, with deep convictions. He loved God, his family, his friends and his community. 

Randy was a long-time volleyball player and an avid fan of both volleyball and basketball, especially when his children and grandchildren were competing. Practical minded with common sense, he could fix just about anything. Above all, he cherished spending time with his grandchildren. 

He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, brother Ron (Marilou), sisters Patti Bammert, Julie (Carl) Peterson, and Beth (Shawn) O'Rourke, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew, his parents, Quinter and Alice Lichty. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 23 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with burial at Orange Cemetery. Public visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, December 22 at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, where there will be a 2:30 p.m. rosary and a 7 p.m. vigil. Public  Visitation will continue for one hour before mass on Tuesday at the church. The funeral mass will be livestreamed at  https://blessedsacramentwaterloo.org/blesac-live or https://www.facebook.com/blessedsacramentchurch/ . 

Memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Black Hawk County 4-H, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools or St. Patrick's Catholic School in Cedar Falls.