GENE LEEROY SICKELS 1927-2005

THORP, SICKELS, SNITKER, TEEPE, SCHUMACHER, GENZ

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 12/16/2005 at 14:11:29

Gene Sickels

Gene L. Sickels, 77, of Waukon, Iowa, died Friday, November 4, 2005, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, November 7 at Waterville Lutheran Church in Waterville, Iowa, with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

Gene Leeroy Sickels was born December 29, 1927, in rural Fayette, Iowa, the son of Andrew and Bessie (Thorp) Sickels. When he was 4 years old he moved with his family to a farm near Waukon Junction. Later they moved to a farm near Waterville. Gene attended schools in Waukon Junction, Harpers Ferry, and Waukon. At the age of 21 he became ill with polio and spent nine months at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. The first three months he underwent the Sister Kenny Treatment and later was allowed short term visits home.

April 6, 1953, he married Darlene Snitker at the Waterville Lutheran Church. He worked at several different jobs, including The Peyton Garage in Waukon, Bob Nall Garage and Henderson Mfg. in Manchester, Allis Chalmers in Cedar Rapids, Case in Davenport, and Strothers Construction. He also hauled cream for the Waterville Creamery and co-owned the DX Garage in Waterville. Gene was well known for his mechanical and welding ability. From 1960 until 1979, Gene and Darlene farmed in Paint Creek Township, rural Waterville, before retiring and moving to Waukon.

Gene was a member of the Waterville Lutheran Church and formerly served on the church council and cemetery board. He liked playing cards, watching westerns, rebuilding automobiles, afternoon drives, and having breakfast every morning with friends. He and Darlene spent several winters together in Arizona and Nevada. He enjoyed special times with his family when they were able to visit and was a very devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Survivors include his wife Darlene of Waukon; three children, Gary (Bonnie) Sickels of Postville, Dennis (Melanie) Sickels of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Linda (Lenny) Teepe of Webb, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Katie, Kendal, and Karisa Sickels, Casey (Darcy) Teepe, Stephanie (Eric) Schumacher, and Kristi and Brad Sickels; a step-great-granddaughter, Saige Rinken; a great-grandson, Corbin Teepe; two brothers, Cecil (Agnes) Sickels of Barneveld, Wis., and Oakley (Joyce) Sickels of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Alvina Sickels of Waukon; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Genz of Monona.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Corey Gene Teepe; a brother, Arthur; and a sister, Eva Genz.

Casketbearers were Arlyn, Russell, and Bruce Snitker and Richard, Robert, and David Sickels.

Waukon Standard, November 16, 2005