Tommy Van Sickle 1930-2006

VAN SICKLE, RAHDAHL, HOFER, STANSBURY, PHILLIPS, YOUNG, GEE, HENSLEY

Posted By: David Hellwege (email)
Date: 9/27/2006 at 06:52:32

Tommy Eugene Van Sickle went home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, September 4th, 2006. Tommy ended his battle with heart disease at Veteran's Hospital in Des Moines early Labor Day morning.

Tommy was 75 years old.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, September 7, 2006, at the Open Bible Church in Boone where Tommy was a member.

Rev. Phil Waldo officiated. Visitation was Wednesday, September 6th, from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M., at the Carson Funeral Home in Ogden.

Graveside services were at Quincy Cemetery, rural Boone, where Rev. Ray Block officiated. Military Graveside Rites were conducted by the Boone Veterans Council.

Casket Bearers were Wilbert Gee, Pat Kelly, Drew Kaloupek, Daryl Morain, Junior Stansbury, Jacob Van Sickle, Asher Van Sickle and Bo Young.

Anita Duncan lead the congregation in singing "Amazing Grace". Dave

Freeman sang "I Can Only Imagine". Anita Duncan sang "Daddy's Hand's" and "Cry out to Jesus".

Tommy Eugene Van Sickle was born on September 24, 1930, to Charlie and Lillian (Randahl) Van Sickle in Lyon County, Kansas. He attended Emporia Public Schools. In 1950 he joined the United States Navy where he served for four years. He was stationed three years in Quam during the Korean Conflict. When he returned to Emporia he continued to work in heavy construction. While building Highway 7 through Tama, Iowa, he met and married Doris Hofer. They were married 49 years. Their union brought forth four children: Thea, Mike, Joy and Matthew. The family also welcomed two foster sisters, Karen Stansbury of Loveland, Colorado, and Cindy Phillips of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

In 1965 Tommy moved his young family to Ogden, Iowa, to begin his business, Van Sickle Construction which is still being run by Matthew Van Sickle. Tommy retired ten years ago but continued to consult and move "dirt" whenever he could. Tommy loved his profession.

Tommy was an avid paint horse enthusiast, a great narrative story teller, a lover of home made ice cream, and fresh strawberries from his patch. His favorite pastime was attending all his grandchildren's school and Church events. He was most known for his huge giving heart.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Van Sickle of Boone, Iowa; his children, Thea and her husband Bo Young of Kingwood, Texas, Mike and his wife Kim Van Sickle of Ogden, Iowa, Joy and her husband Wilbert Gee of Rochester, Minnesota, and Matthew and his wife Tracy Van Sickle of Boone, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Jacob, Hannah, Asher, Jeshua, Micah and John Shai Van Sickle, Caleb, Abby, and Mikayla Gee, and Payton and Carson Van Sickle; a sister, Dee Hensley of Americus, Kansas; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

[Source: BNR via the WWW; originally published Sept. 9, 2006.]