Obituary for Jean L. Houck (Dickel)
Jean Louise (Dickel) Houck, 75, of Gap, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2020 with family by
her side at Brandywine Hospital after a brief illness. She was the loving wife of the late Earl
Melvin Houck who predeceased her on April 19, 2020. They celebrated their 55th wedding
anniversary on July 11, 2019.
Born June 14,1945, in Lancaster County, Jean was the daughter of the late Leonard Edward
and Loretta Gertrude (Henderson) Dickel.
Jean graduated from Pequea Valley High School in 1963 and proceeded to marry her
high-school sweetheart and the love of her life, building a wonderful family, home and life
together. After more than 35 years of service, she retired from Tyson Foods in 2015 where she
was employed in the cost accounting department. She was a lifetime member of the Honey
Brook Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of Red Rose Alliance, an
organization formed in the 1980s whose sole mission and subsequent accomplishment was to
stop the development of a hazardous waste site on the Welsh Mountain.
Jean was a loving wife, mom, Grammers, sister, Aunt “Cork” and friend to many. She loved her
family and friends and treasured spending time with them, especially her grandchildren. She
enjoyed trips to the beach and casino, eating steamed crabs, dancing to the oldies and cooking
for her family. If you ate her food, you certainly had a favorite or two.
She will be sorely missed by her loving family. Her son, Lenny, and his companion, Sandy
Maffei of Gap; her daughter, Marcie, wife of John Kaufman Jr. of New Holland; her
grandchildren, Catherine Ryan of Lemoyne, Kim (Ryan), wife of Bradley Waters of Glenside,
Elizabeth Kaufman, Emily Houck, Easton Kaufman and Macy Houck; her sister, Josephine
Margaret (Dickel), wife of Galen Miller, Honey Brook; and numerous nieces,nephews and
cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers;
Leonard Jr., John and James, her sister Betty and her daughter-in-law, Sharon Houck.
Interment will be held at Ranck’s United Methodist Church Cemetery on Tuesday, October 13,
2020 at 10 am. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.
her side at Brandywine Hospital after a brief illness. She was the loving wife of the late Earl
Melvin Houck who predeceased her on April 19, 2020. They celebrated their 55th wedding
anniversary on July 11, 2019.
Born June 14,1945, in Lancaster County, Jean was the daughter of the late Leonard Edward
and Loretta Gertrude (Henderson) Dickel.
Jean graduated from Pequea Valley High School in 1963 and proceeded to marry her
high-school sweetheart and the love of her life, building a wonderful family, home and life
together. After more than 35 years of service, she retired from Tyson Foods in 2015 where she
was employed in the cost accounting department. She was a lifetime member of the Honey
Brook Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of Red Rose Alliance, an
organization formed in the 1980s whose sole mission and subsequent accomplishment was to
stop the development of a hazardous waste site on the Welsh Mountain.
Jean was a loving wife, mom, Grammers, sister, Aunt “Cork” and friend to many. She loved her
family and friends and treasured spending time with them, especially her grandchildren. She
enjoyed trips to the beach and casino, eating steamed crabs, dancing to the oldies and cooking
for her family. If you ate her food, you certainly had a favorite or two.
She will be sorely missed by her loving family. Her son, Lenny, and his companion, Sandy
Maffei of Gap; her daughter, Marcie, wife of John Kaufman Jr. of New Holland; her
grandchildren, Catherine Ryan of Lemoyne, Kim (Ryan), wife of Bradley Waters of Glenside,
Elizabeth Kaufman, Emily Houck, Easton Kaufman and Macy Houck; her sister, Josephine
Margaret (Dickel), wife of Galen Miller, Honey Brook; and numerous nieces,nephews and
cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers;
Leonard Jr., John and James, her sister Betty and her daughter-in-law, Sharon Houck.
Interment will be held at Ranck’s United Methodist Church Cemetery on Tuesday, October 13,
2020 at 10 am. The Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.